Rusty Shields 

PROPOSED GOODWILL EXPERIENCE

Coach and Develop People for Performance

Strong leaders are often exceptional problem solvers. But when leaders become the source of every answer, they can unintentionally limit the very capability, confidence, and ownership they're trying to develop in others. 

This highly interactive leadership breakout helps leaders make a critical judgment:

Does this person need my answer, or do they need my coaching?

Through experiential learning, realistic leadership situations, and coaching practice, participants explore when to provide direction, when to build capability, and when to use questions that help employees think, take ownership, and determine their next action.

The goal isn't to stop giving answers. It's to recognize when an answer helps performance and when a question helps develop the person.

The Leadership Experience

1. Recognizing What People Need 

Leaders explore how the instinct to help can sometimes limit employee thinking and development. Through an experiential leadership challenge and realistic workplace situations, participants examine when people need direction, skill development, or an opportunity to think through the situation themselves.

2. Coaching for Thinking, Ownership & Performance

Participants explore how purposeful questions can shift a conversation from simply providing answers to developing employee thinking and ownership. Leaders practice coaching conversations while recognizing when direction or instruction is the more appropriate leadership response.

3. Applying It Back at Work

Participants identify a real leadership situation and determine how they can adjust their approach to better develop capability, accountability, and performance.

Designed to Support Goodwill's Leadership Priorities 

Primary Goodwill Competency 

Leaders explore how the instinct to help

Supporting Competencies

Communication | Decision Making

Leadership Conference Alignment

Coaching for performance and growth | Developing the next generation | Helping Others Reach Their Potential | Leading with Ownership | Building High-Performing Teams

The session translates these priorities into practical leadership behaviors participants can begin applying immediately.

About Rusty Shields 

Rusty Shields is an international speaker, master facilitator, author, and CEO of Develefy Consulting with more than 19 years of experience in learning and development.

Known for creating highly engaging, experiential learning experiences, Rusty helps professionals and leaders translate insight into practical workplace application. His work combines adult learning principles, research-backed practices, dynamic facilitation, and an inclusive approach that encourages participation and meaningful connection.

Rusty is an experienced ATD facilitator who delivers 15 certificate programs, including ATD's Coaching Certificate, Training & Facilitation Certificate, Instructional Design Certificate, Adult Learning Certificate, and ATD Master Trainer® Program. He is also a recognized thought leader in neurodiversity and inclusive learning.   

As a trusted Sardek Love International facilitator, Rusty brings extensive facilitation expertise and a deep understanding of Sardek Love's experiential approach to engagement and leadership development.

One Leadership Experience. Two Application Pathways. 

Leading with Impact

Sardék Love

 Creates a shared leadership experience centered on connection, adaptability, accountability, and performance.

Then Leaders Put the Learning Into Practice

Communication that Drives Results

Sardék Love

 Strengthening communication, shared understanding, coordination, and action.

Coach and Develop People for Performance

Rusty Shields

 Strengthening coaching, employee development, thinking, ownership, and performance.

Together, the experiences create continuity between leadership insight and practical behaviors Goodwill leaders can apply immediately.