Jim Lilkendey

Consultant

If I had to pick a mantra for my life, it would be ‘always learning and growing.’ As a young child, I had a thirst for knowledge and read incessantly. In my pre-teens, I taught myself computer programming and pursued Computer Science in college. When I left school and began applying what I’d learned, I quickly realized that the technical challenges experienced by teams paled in comparison to the people challenges.

This inspired me to shift my focus from designing software and systems to supporting leaders, teams, and organizations with improving effectiveness. Over the next 20 years, I was fortunate to work as an employee and consultant to businesses ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies across many sectors. While my knowledge, skills, and experience grew, I often found myself cobbling together various methods and models to address organizational needs. That is until I discovered the mutual learning approach that Roger Schwarz shares in his books — the closest thing to a unified theory of team and leadership effectiveness I’ve found.

After attending an RSA workshop, three things became abundantly clear. First, despite my already deep appreciation for the mutual learning approach and desire to align with it, I realized how far I was from consistently applying it in my daily work and personal life — a humbling but catalyzing realization! Second, I knew that I wanted to bridge that gap and make mutual learning my default operating system – an ongoing process. Finally, after meeting and working with Roger and other RSA associates, I knew I’d found my tribe and wanted to learn and grow with them.

Now, as a member of the RSA team, I delight in sharing this work and my passion for it with clients, hearing their insights and appreciation for the outcomes they achieve in applying it, and the endless opportunity to learn and grow together.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, walking, hiking, photography, playing strategic board games, and experiencing other cultures through food, language, movies, and travel.

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