Pam Ragland


Rancho Santa Margarita

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Pam Ragland is President and Founder of Aiming Higher Success Coaching. She has over fourteen years quality, corporate change, and coaching experience. Her educational background is business administration. Most recently Pam worked for Andersen Consulting (Accenture), a technology and business consulting firm that is one of the four major consulting firms in the world. As an executive, she worked with Fortune 100 clients to define and implement corporate change programs, total quality management, strategic planning and measurements, transform the organization for better results, and facilitate mergers and acquisitions. Throughout this work, Pam coached executives and managers at all levels to achieve lasting change and better business results. Accenture adopted many of the methods she introduced worldwide.

Pam has extensive experience with leadership development and coaching, strategic planning, metrics (Balanced Scorecard), organizational dynamics, facilitation, process management, team building, organizational redesign, and she has a technical background. Most of Pam’s work has been with high-tech companies and divisions. She spent ten years in the healthcare industry, and several years in the cellular telecommunications industry. With more than 20 years total corporate experience, her past clients include the following industries:

• Cellular Telecommunications
  
• Insurance
  
• Financial Management
  
• Manufacturing
  
• Energy
  
• Mining
  
• Chemicals
  
• Retail
  

If you want lasting results, Pam will help you get them! With Pam's proven track record and extensive experience, she knows what really works--and what doesn't. She is committed to helping her clients create lasting, sustainable change through people.

What experiences have you had that make you a strong leadership coach?
First off, I have learned many things the hard way! I started managing people when I was 22 years old -- 30 of them. If I had to do it over again, I would do a lot of things differently. In fact, I often say I feel badly for those people! I actually thought that the easiest way to deal with a problem was to fire someone. At some point I realized that what I was doing was not working. OK, it got results. At least so I thought… However, my employees didn't seem to be happy and motivated. I started searching, and began learning on my own to be a better leader. I still have a lot to learn…the more I learn the more I realize all I have to learn. However, having done things the hard way and the easy way, I enjoy being able to help others learn the easy way. Why go through the pain if it's not really necessary?

I also understand what it really takes for a business to be successful. I believe the key is navigating change successfully. Let’s face it--the world is changing at breakneck speeds. Those who don’t adapt with it will find themselves left behind. Change at some level is no longer a luxury to move forward--it is a necessity to survive. In my work, I have seen this over and over. It is also important to change in the right direction. Again, I have learned many things the hard way here. As a result, I have become very astute at anticipating resistance to change, and then mitigating it. My philosophy has always been to 'minimize fallout'. What I mean by that is, minimize the number of people who simply can't adapt to the change so they leave. Sure, this happens sometimes. However, I have learned there are ways to make change as painless as possible. The Drive Your People Wild program is excellent in this regard, as it's a great foundation.

My focus is always lasting, sustainable change. Many, many companies try different things. They pay the money, get great or limited results for a time--then the results don't last. What good is that? Not only does it waste your valuable resources, but your people also get cynical. My approach is to help my clients put all the right things in place so that when I leave, the change lives on.

Because of my work with many different businesses, I am also lucky to have been exposed to numerous business practices. I have seen what really works, and what doesn't. I am never afraid to let my clients know that others have been down the path they are headed on, and whether or not that path worked for them. Again--why learn the hard way if you don't have to? My business background means I also have an understanding of what businesses really need to do to be successful. I use a holistic, well-rounded approach to ensuring lasting change. I work with you to focus on the people, the strategies, the work processes, and last but not least the impacts to your own customers--where the rubber meets the road.

I have worked with leaders at many different levels in the company--from the highest-level executives to the people doing the work. I am comfortable working at any level. Because of my technical background, I also enjoy working with people in technical industries. It is a business I understand very well. My personal experience also includes doing consulting, so I am familiar with that lifestyle. In fact, I used to travel every week…AND work 60-80 hours per week. I understand how hard it can be to try to juggle all the work…and to have more to do than it seems can ever possibly be done. Again, I work from my experience here--I know if I can learn to do these things in the program then anyone can!

What is my philosophy in working with managers and leaders?
My basic philosophy is very simple. I believe everyone wants to do a great job, and make a real difference. I also believe that sometimes along this path it helps to get fresh ideas, and to be accountable for making the changes you want to make. That's where a great coach comes in.

What are the special gifts I bring as a coach?
I have learned I have a gift for understanding and seeing where people really are. Often, I can see the 'root cause' of an issue that is hidden deep under the surface. The value in this is once this root cause is dealt with (no easy task, oftentimes!), my clients are able to experience real breakthroughs. This results in lasting change. After all, about 85% of what we do is by habit. When we break those big habits, and replace them with actions and behaviors that better suit where we want to go, then we can accomplish big things. I desire that each of my clients is able to dream big--and achieve those dreams!

In addition to my work experience, I also find my life experience helpful in working with my clients. I have had many, many challenges keeping balance in my life. I have worked too much, and neglected myself in the process. I have dealt with major illnesses, including cancer. I have had to learn organizational skills (and I am still learning them!), as these don't come naturally to me. I have equated success with money--and then learned that there is more to life. I could go on and on…

I tend to take a very holistic approach. That is--I look at the whole person, the whole situation. I believe it is only by approaching coaching this way that true balance can be achieved. I am also a very honest and challenging coach. If you don’t want to hear the real truth, then I am not for you. If you appreciate hearing the truth, like being challenged, and desire lasting change then I am the coach for you!

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