The Leading Simply Mission

Leading Simply was founded in 2017, with the purpose of helping leaders make leadership more manageable. Leading Simply is really the toolbox and somewhat unorthodox thinking and work of Dr. Scott Kuffel. Through very purposeful discovery and design, Dr. Kuffel is committed to delivering services—whether facilitation, coaching or development activities— in ways that align clearly with partners explicit needs.

The world is already a very complex place, there’s no sense in making it complicated as well. So join me in creating processes that take us on a journey of improvement, strategy and improved performance.

 

Dr. Scott Kuffel

 

Great description of living a mission of partnership

Gary tipsord, retired leroy supt & current exec director of iarss

I believe there were three key elements leveraged in our work with Dr. Kuffel. Scott initiated his work with our school district with genuine curiosity.  He did not show up with a prescriptive solution to an assumed challenge, but instead he invested the time necessary to gain an understanding of our concerns and goals.  In fact, he helped us better understand ourselves before designing the work he would do with our team.  The initial enrollment process was essential to our successful engagement.

Scott possesses an expansive set of skills that allowed him to effectively design and facilitate a program that led us through a journey of self-discovery and ensured that we finished with a commitment to action for our leaders and our organization.  I’ve engaged in similar work where the work was enjoyable and interesting, which was also true in our work with Scott.  What was different, we concluded our work with a well-articulated plan/system that included key indicators of success and a reasonable cadence of accountability to ensure our execution. 

 As a part of our engagement, we requested executive coaching for our key leaders as a critical element for the implementation of our plan.  I found this to be a significant tool in helping our leaders better commit to the work we were engaged in and serve to provide an outside perspective for each of them to be challenged in their growth as leaders.

 The best evidence of our successful engagement with Dr. Kuffel is that six years after our initial engagement the language, tools, and systems we developed continue to guide the actions of our organization and our leaders.  We have been very fortunate to have Scott as a partner throughout our journey in leadership and strategic decision making. 

Gary Tipsord, Executive Director/ Illinois Association of Regional School Superintendents

Better Conversations

Quality facilitation is paramount in ensuring productive and impactful group interactions. A skilled facilitator possesses the ability to steer discussions, manage conflicts, and draw out diverse viewpoints, ultimately leading to more effective decision-making and problem-solving. By maintaining a balanced and inclusive dialogue, a facilitator can create an environment where all participants feel heard and respected, fostering collaboration and innovation. Moreover, a proficient facilitator can guide groups through processes in a manner that maximizes efficiency and minimizes wasted time. Ultimately, quality facilitation is essential for harnessing the collective intelligence and potential of a group, leading to meaningful outcomes and sustainable results.

 

Facilitation Practice

There are many times when a leader wishes to be an active participant for discovery, planning, learning, and seeking contributions from others— and does not wish to be the facilitator in the room. I can provide direction and opportunity for small and large groups to reflect, discover, hold each other accountable, and produce contributions beyond what is possible without facilitation. Learn more about what this can look like both internally and externally, whether you want to embark upon larger-scale strategic planning, shorter-term action planning, or even simply to plan for a ‘one-off’ event.

Our firm has often engaged Dr. Kuffel for internal and external facilitation. Over the past decade, his ability to build consensus and clarity amongst our team and clients has allowed us to grow and evolve as a firm. We regularly recommend his services to our most important clients and find his council and collaboration a clarifying and powerful tool in our business. His leadership has been critical in supporting our staff and clients through his visioning and planning exercises.

Scott has been critical to our corporate and client district strategic planning.
— Todd Cyrulik, Principal, BLDD Architects, Inc
 

Development and Growth Opportunities

My work with you and your organization can be to help grow capacity and confidence in areas that have not been common experience, and can be a wonderful link to individual and/or team coaching. The addition of half-day and full-day workshops can be customized so that there is a ladder of learning—- awareness, knowledge construction, and then application to your desired outcomes of professional practice. We can even discuss how you may be better served to partner with other leaders and their organizations to be more efficient and create your own learning community.

Coaching For Performance

At Leading Simply, we understand the critical role of effective leadership in driving individual and organizational success. Our leadership coaching program is meticulously designed to empower leaders at all levels to enhance their capabilities, inspire their teams, and drive sustainable performance improvement.

Understanding Your Needs

I recognize that each leader and organization is unique, facing distinct challenges and opportunities. This coaching begins with a thorough assessment of your current leadership capabilities and organizational dynamics. By understanding your specific context, I can tailor our coaching to address your most pressing needs.

Personalized Development

I will work closely with you to build a personalized development plan that targets your areas for growth. Whether it's enhancing communication skills, fostering a more inclusive culture, or navigating complex change, this coaching focuses on practical strategies that align with your individual and organizational goals.

Measurable Results

I firmly believe in the power of data-driven improvement. Throughout the coaching journey, we track progress against predefined metrics, ensuring that your investment in leadership development yields tangible results. My aim is to drive not just individual growth, but also measurable enhancements in team performance and overall organizational success.

Embracing the Future

As I guide leaders in honing their capabilities, I also emphasize the importance of forward-looking leadership. My coaching encourages leaders to embrace innovation, foster a culture of continuous learning, and envision the future trajectory of their teams and organizations.

Conclusion

With our leadership coaching program, your leaders will emerge with strengthened skills, heightened self-awareness, and a renewed sense of purpose. Ultimately, this investment in your leaders translates to a more resilient, agile, and high-performing educational system. Ideally, schools and districts may want to consider combining performance coaching with some “Leading for Performance” professional development, to further embed and apply new learning in a more strategic way.

Facilitation, professional development, and coaching all align with the goal of improving performance, gaining contributions from others, and building a system of support and effectiveness that is unique to you and your organization.


To discuss how facilitation, development, and our coaching program can specifically benefit your organization, please reach out to me for a personalized consultation. At Leading Simply, I am committed to driving enduring leadership excellence and organizational success.