Menu of Services 2025 Menu of Services for Cortex Leadership Consulting This Menu of Services outlines our comprehensive suite of services, designed to accelerate leadership effectiveness, enhance organizational performance, and support talent acquisition. Each service package is tailored to meet the unique needs of leaders, teams, and organizations, ensuring measurable results and sustainable growth. Meet Our Coaches Table of Contents: Executive, One-on-One Coaching Packages Executive Level Coaching 360 Degree Survey Manager/Supervisor Coaching Small Group Coaching Leadership Team Assessment/Training/Facilitation Packages Team Team Alignment Survey Culture Kits for Trust Building & Team Cohesion Half-Day Targeted Training Sessions Full-Day Targeted Training Sessions Cortex Signature Leadership Programs EPIC Leadership Leading a Winning Team Succeeding Through Others De-escalation/Conflict Resolution Package Talent Acquisition/Executive Search Package Talent Acquisition/Executive Search Comprehensive Package Benchmarking Package: stand-alone Onboarding Package: stand-alone HR Consulting Strategy Sessions for Leaders Add ons Assessments Debriefs Follow-Up Coaching Monti, Cortex “Coach in Your Pocket” 1. Executive One-on-One Coaching Packages & 360 Assessment Survey Annual Executive Coaching Transformative leadership development tailored to individual goals. Features: Conducted by Cortex Certified Executive Leadership Coach, lead researcher, with more than 20 years of experience getting results for leaders and their teams Annual assessments: DISC, MOT, EQ Leadership Competency assessments to be completed by client and discussed with their supervisor Tailored Leadership Development Plan based on assessment results and goals Tailored Coaching Guide for their supervisor to ensure alignment and engaging monthly one-on-ones that support the client in achieving peak performance Customized learning modules that match the client’s development plan with the competency they are focused on for that Phase of their development plan Personalized deep conversation podcasts that match their development phase learning module with the strengths and unique challenges that the client faces in their role and with the behavioral styles and motivators to ensure targeted, relevant, and immediate application of the learning Full access to their private Cortex Portal for all suggested learning, all assessments completed and information relevant to their coaching and development Monti, "Coach in Your Pocket" support deployed through interactive questions 3x a week via text for length of coaching package along with accompanying journals and insights 5 Laser, On the Spot, Coaching Sessions provided within 48 hours of their request 3 Check-ins with their direct supervisor or leader that requests these sessions 10 one-on-one coaching sessions 360 Degree Assessment Survey Advanced, anonymous feedback integrating assessments and Monti insights to deliver targeted recommendations for continuous leadership improvement. Features: Personalized Feedback Design: Collaboration to develop tailored questions/statements for 5-7 rater types Collaboration to determine selection of 12-18 raters that will participate in the survey Deployment to identified raters Comprehensive Data Collection: Ratings and detailed comments from raters Self-assessment by the leader Integration with DISC, Driving Forces, EQ, and/or other assessments and Monti journal insights Advanced Analysis and Synthesis Final Report of Findings: Anonymity ensured through cutting-edge technology In-depth analysis of feedback, synthesizing ratings, comments, and assessments Identification of targeted improvement areas and recommendations for action Strategic Debriefs: Individual debrief with the leader to review results and action plan Tailored, personalized, deep dive conversation podcast to further explain and discuss the findings and provide support and implementation of the findings Follow-up debrief with the leader and their supervisor for alignment This service ensures a data-driven, personalized approach to leadership development, facilitating continuous improvement and actionable growth strategies. Manager/Supervisor One-on-One Coaching Transformative leadership development tailored to individual manager/supervisor goals. Features: Conducted by Cortex Certified Leadership Coach with more than 6-10 years of experience getting results for managers/supervisors organizations Assessments: DISC, MOT, EQ, and Leadership Competencies, Specific Competencies ie- Time Mastery, Conflict Tolerance, Mindset Focus, Trust Building, etc. Tailored, personalized Management Development Plan based on assessment results and desired competencies necessary to reach peak performance Tailored, personalized deep dive conversation podcast produced just for them to explain and further discuss the key components of the development plan to ensure retention and motivate to action Tailored, personalized Coaching Guide for their supervisor to ensure alignment and optimal one-on-one monthly conversations that works in alignment with their clients goals to further support their peak performance goals Monti, "Coach in Your Pocket" support deployed through interactive questions 3x a week via text for length of coaching package along with accompanying journals and insights 6 one-on-one coaching sessions 2 Laser, On the Spot, Coaching Sessions provided within 48 hours of their request 2 Check-ins with supervisor or leader that requests it Small Group Coaching Focused development for cohorts of 3-6 leaders Virtual. In-person – add travel expenses Features: Three-month program Monthly group coaching sessions (90 minutes each) DISC and Leadership Competency Assessments for each participant as applicable to focused topic of development Group and Individual Leadership Development Plans Coaching Guide for those they report to in order to support the lessons they are applying at work Access to Monti – Cortex’s proprietary "Coach in Your Pocket" for the duration of the program, 3x a week along with a Monti journal of all their entries and any applicable insights gained from those 2. Leadership Team Alignment Survey/Assessment, Training, & Facilitation Packages Team Alignment Surveys This powerful, turn-key survey ensures that every voice on the team is heard and understood and feels a part of the growth and development of a peak performing team. Features: 4-15 member teams 100% of all team members is desirable to ensure accurate results and achievable based on Cortex’s experience with this type of team targeted method Measures key areas for team alignment and cohesion in the areas of Culture, Clarity, Structure and Execution Tailored results that utilize the survey, DISC/DF for all team members and goals of the team. Insights on level of trust of the leader, alignment of leader’s perspective in each area vs their team Specific celebrations where team is doing well and tailored suggestions for areas for improvement with prescriptive, actionable next steps for the leader and team to take One-on-One debrief with the leader Tailored deep dive conversation podcast to explain high-level results to the leader and their team or Creation of PP of select, high-level, results of survey and next steps presented to team in 30-minute virtual session Team Culture Kits Everything a leader needs to conduct tailored, relevant, meaningful, and impactful, 1-hour team experiences that build trust and cohesion for their team. Features: Team Alignment Survey is conducted Tailored Leader’s Guide that suggests content for their team’s monthly meetings One hour training and available virtual labs to improve the leaders skills in facilitating transformation conversations with their teams Cortex Culture Kits provide the leader and their team with everything they need to have a one-hour team experience that ensures the team connects, builds empathy to create a continuing culture of cooperation and collaboration Each kit includes: Announcement email content for upcoming team session, article regarding topic chosen, deep dive conversation podcast or short video with author of topic to further explain topic and preview the upcoming session, an opening team connection exercise like conversation cards or thumb balls or other provide tools that ensure trust is being built, facilitator instructions for leading the conversation, all materials needed for the session, follow up email or survey to know how each team member is utilizing what they learned in the session. Access to their own Cortex Portal which contains their team’s alignment survey results and any other assessments the team has complete along with their Cortex Culture Kit library that include: 12 different modules to choose from each session. Half-Day Targeted Training Sessions Each Cortex training is customized for each team utilizing the team’s DISC/DF or other assessments along with the Team Alignment Survey if either are available. Features: 3 - 4 hours of Training conducted by Cortex Certified Trainer/Facilitator Customized content tailored to organizational needs conducted in a flipped classroom method to optimize engagement, retention, and application of what participants are learning Pre-session planning meeting Materials provided for pre-work and homework Access to Cortex Learning Platform for Digital Training Modules applicable to targeted training Follow up assessment/surveys to ensure application of what participants learned and practiced Full-Day Targeted Training Session Comprehensive and immersive leadership development. Features: 5-7 hours of Training conducted by Cortex Certified Trainer/Facilitator Customized content tailored to organizational needs conducted in a flipped classroom method to optimize engagement, retention, and application of what participants are learning Pre-session planning meeting Materials provided for pre-work and homework Access to Cortex Learning Platform for Digital Training Modules applicable to targeted training Follow up assessment/surveys to ensure application of what participants learned and practice Signature Leadership Programs Structured programs for high-potential leaders. EPIC Leadership Training: $1,250-$1,500 per participant depending on size of cohort (see details in EPIC section of our website ) Leading a Winning Team: $3,000 per participant per participant depending on size of cohort (see details in the Leading a Winning Team section of our website ) Succeeding Through Others Targeted, customizable skill-building series for supervisors and managers to enhance essential leadership capabilities. Comprehensive Training Modules: Programs include Managing Multiple Priorities, Interviewing, Onboarding, Giving and Receiving Feedback, Coaching for Peak Performance, and more. Flipped Classroom Style: Pre-learning modules via the Cortex Leadership Learning Platform. 3-4 hour live or virtual/live sessions focused on practice and comprehension. Application and Follow-Up: Post-training surveys to ensure skills are applied effectively. Practical exercises for real-world implementation. Equip your supervisors and managers with the skills they need to lead confidently, enhance team performance, and drive organizational success. 3. De-escalation/Conflict Resolution Packages Conflict Resolution Facilitation Resolve workplace disputes with expert guidance and actionable outcomes. Features: Individual assessments for all parties (DISC, Driving Forces, and EQ) Cortex Conflict Tolerance Assessment Three structured resolution sessions with a Cortex Certified Facilitator Materials provided for pre-work and homework along with access to their personal Cortex Portal Post-resolution debrief and action plan for sustained harmony Follow up assessments/surveys to ensure that progress is being made that was committed to during the final resolution session 4. Talent Acquisition/Executive Search Comprehensive Packages Comprehensive Talent Acquisition Services End-to-end recruitment and onboarding for high-level roles. Features: Custom Benchmarking for each role that includes engaging job posting (see full detail under Custom Benchmarking ection) Tailored and Specific Executive Search Extensive candidate screening that includes initial outreach and follow-up for interest, assessments, targeted conversations with who they will report to, coaching conversations with candidate to ensure they are prepared for the interview and verification of assessment results Assessments that may include DISC, Driving Forces, EQ, Leadership Competency Assessments, and Caliper for final 3 candidates Final candidate comparison reports so leader can determine the strengths, abilities to contribute, and how the candidate will work with who they will report to Onboarding support for 3 months, including coaching for the new hire and their manager (see full detail under Onboarding section) Comprehensive final report and placement guarantee (3 months) Benchmarking Custom Benchmarking for Each Essential Role and Executive Search Comprehensive benchmarking of individual roles or Executive Search to effectively attract right candidate Features: Session to interview leader about role they need filled Clearly define roles, responsibilities, accountabilities and measurables Define what qualifications and preferences a candidate would have Define what behavioral characteristics would be most valuable and least valuable in the perfect candidate Create a benchmark profile of what DISC and Motivators scores the ideal candidate might have. Creation of job post based on target hire’s behavioral characteristics, motivations, and culture of organization designed to attract the role’s best fit. Comparison Report of final candidates to benchmark profile, with strengths and gaps that may exist compared to the role. 90-Day Transition Coaching Custom Transition Coaching for Leadership Positions, New Managers or Supervisors or Promotions Comprehensive analysis and support services for team member and their manager Features: Analysis of new hire and manager using DISC/Driving Forces Session with Manager to determine expectations of Team Member and confirm competencies as determined by analysis of their job description Comprehensive, Tailored and Personalized Transition Guide for client Comprehensive, Tailored and Personalized Transition Guide for supervisor Coaching Session with Team Member to debrief their DISC/Driving Forces report and match it to the role and competencies they are expected to execute in their new role Coaching Session with Manager and Team Member to create desired outcomes for the first 90 days Coaching Session with Team Member to ensure that goals are clear and are being met 90-days of special Monti, Coach in Your Pocket, interactive questions designed to provide insights into the new hires sense of belonging on the team, what challenges they may be facing, what support they may need, etc. Coaching Session with Manager to determine what types of communication and behaviors will most engage and motivate the Team Member towards peak performance. Final coaching session with Team Member to ensure clarity of further goals past the 90 days and provide any coaching needed for conversations needed with other team members or their manager Final Onboarding Reports to Manager and Team Member with outline of process that was followed, engagement of new hire, along with any applicable insights that will ensure their continued success. 5. HR Consulting Expert HR Consulting/Strategy Expert guidance for organizational effectiveness and compliance. Services include: Policy design and implementation Culture assessments and action planning Succession planning and role alignment Facilitation of Leadership level and other supporting Strategy Sessions Customized services based on HR needs of organization as outlined in the Cortex HR assessment and conversations with leaders 6. Strategy Sessions for Leaders Custom Strategy Facilitation Empower your leadership team with actionable insights and direction. Features: Pre-session discovery and stakeholder interviews Customized strategy development sessions conducted by a Cortex Certified Facilitation specialist Materials provided for pre-work and session and access to any relevant materials or content on the Cortex Digital Learning Platform Comprehensive session report with actionable recommendations Add-Ons: Assessments/Debriefs: Individual DISC/Driving Forces/Cortex Team Strengths Assessment Package EQ Assessment as part of DISC/DF/Cortex Team Strengths assessment package Cortex Certified Coach Debrief of DISC/DF/Cortex Strengths/EQ assessment Caliper Assessment used for Role Match and Professional Debrief Cortex Targeted Competency Assessments: Added Value for any package Follow-Up Coaching Coaching Executive Level Coaching Follow-Up Session (55 minutes) Coaching, Manager/Supervisor Follow-Up Session (55 minutes) Monti, Cortex’s “Coach in Your Pocket” Monti, "Coach in Your Pocket" Access (Monthly) Why Choose Cortex Leadership Consulting? Proven Track Record of Success For over a decade, we’ve partnered with top executives, HR professionals, and leadership teams to drive measurable, sustainable results. Our clients experience increased productivity, improved team dynamics, and enhanced leadership effectiveness due to our targeted, customized approach. Cutting-Edge Technology Integration We leverage innovative tools like Monti, the “Coach in Your Pocket”, providing 24/7 personalized support and insights. Our advanced platforms ensure feedback, assessments, and development processes are seamless, confidential, and actionable, giving leaders the continuous support they need to excel. Tailored Solutions for Every Need No two organizations are alike. That’s why we customize each program, training session, and coaching engagement to your unique goals and challenges. From leadership development to conflict resolution and talent acquisition, our services adapt as your organization evolves. Data-Driven Insights Our approach integrates DISC, Driving Forces, EQ, and 360-degree feedback with Monti journals and targeted surveys, providing leaders and teams with comprehensive, actionable data. This ensures development efforts are focused, relevant, and effective. Engaging, Practical Learning Experiences We use a flipped classroom methodology and interactive, real-world exercises to maximize engagement, retention, and application. Pre-learning modules, live sessions, and follow-up assessments ensure participants not only learn but also apply new skills in their daily roles. Expert Facilitators and Coaches Our team of certified coaches and facilitators brings decades of experience in leadership development, executive coaching, and facilitation. Each engagement is delivered with professionalism, empathy, and a commitment to excellence. Partnership Mindset We see ourselves as an extension of your team. Our long-term partnerships are built on trust, transparency, and a shared commitment to your success. We offer flexibility in pricing, customization of services, and ongoing support to meet your evolving needs. Comprehensive, End-to-End Services From executive coaching and leadership training to conflict resolution, talent acquisition, and strategy facilitation, Cortex offers a holistic suite of services designed to elevate leadership at every level. Our add-on services and assessments ensure you have all the tools necessary for continuous improvement. Results You Can Trust We are dedicated to delivering tangible outcomes. Our process-driven approach, backed by technology and behavioral science, ensures that leaders and teams experience meaningful growth and measurable performance improvements. Transform your leadership and organizational capabilities with Cortex Leadership Consulting. Let’s create a customized plan to unlock the full potential of your leaders and teams. Contact us today to get started at info@cortexleadership.com .

Cortex Leadership Consulting transforms businesses, people, and processes. 1 AI Strategic Leader Program Designed for executives to lead AI transformation with clarity and confidence. Participants learn collaborative AI with tools like ChatGPT and CoPilot in context of real-world business goals while sharpening leadership skills and communication strategies. Leaders learn to scale their thinking, align with compliance needs, and drive meaningful change - without getting left behind. More Info 2 EPIC 2.0 Equipping your high-potential managers, supervisors, and employees with confidence - combining timeless leadership practices with next-generation tools for measurable results. Move from reacting to leading. More Info 3 Strategic Leadership Empowering leaders to strategically navigate today's challenges while seizing tomorrow's opportunities with confidence and clarity. Our newest services for AI Strategic Leadership are practical and immediately implementable. More Info 4 Coaching Unlock your potential with our customized coaching program, tailored specifically to your needs. We utilize scientifically validated assessments and evidence-based tools to personalize your experience, ensuring immediate and impactful change. Elevate your thinking, strategize with precision, and boost your confidence, influence, and overall impact. Join us on this transformative journey today! 5 More Info Facilitated Training Each session is uniquely tailored to meet the specific needs of your team and organization and facilitated by experts in interactivity. We understand that no two teams are the same, which is why we utilize assessment tools, research, and surveys to deliver customized experiences. Our goal is to ensure that every session effectively drives your team toward the desired outcomes. Experience the difference of a personalized approach that truly resonates with your challenges. More Info AI Leader Brief Executive Coaching Training

One of Your Best Employees Just Left March 24, 2019 Lynda McNutt Foster About a year ago I got a call from someone who was struggling to keep one of their best employees from leaving their organization. “Lynda,” he said, “we really want to keep Sarah – she has some killer skills and a great attitude. She works really hard. She just got a job offer that will pay her more than we are able to match right now. She’s been flexible and adaptive, learned on her feet, and was really dedicated to the organization, and not just to a given role she was in so it’s going to be really hard to replace her. What should we do to try and keep her?” The short answer is you most likely can’t. Matching the money probably won’t do it because employees quit months before they actually quit and sometimes when you are the perfect employer the result is your best employees leave anyway. The problem isn’t always about whether some of your best employees are leaving as much as it is why aren’t you constantly cultivating more of them? Why You Are Losing Your Best Employees – The Reality of Constant Recruiting According to Gallup research, 51% of all employees are actively looking for another job. The average worker, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, currently holds 10 different jobs before age forty, and this number is projected to grow. Forrester Research predicts that today’s youngest workers will hold 12-15 jobs in their lifetime. That means that before someone is 40 they are likely to change jobs every couple of years. Business people tend to quote this statistic in a negative way and blame workers for “constantly changing jobs” which is why they fear investing in developing their skillsets. They argue, “why would I invest money in someone’s development when they are probably going to leave in the next couple of years”. Indeed, that is clearly one way to look at it. Another way to look at it is this way: If you don’t invest in your team member’s growth and development you are surely going to lose them because 45% of young professionals (don’t call them millennials – they hate that and will hate you for using that stereotyped word… especially if they are smart and hard working) say that it is “very important” to them that they take a job that accelerates their professional or career development. ABC’s are now the ABR’s of Recruiting There was an acronym made famous in a crude speech given by a foul talking, brutal sales manager in Glengarry, Glen Ross, from a 1992 film that was ABC… “Always Be Closing”. If you were on his sales team and weren’t following that rule, the results would be dire. For today’s leaders when it comes to getting and retaining the highest potential employees, that slogan may be “Always be Recruiting.” If you’re not, the results could be dire indeed to the future growth of your organization. With a national unemployment average hovering at or below 4%, your best employees will leave and you need to be constantly thinking about how you will replace them, the same way you think about always attracting new customers or clients. As the baby boomers leave the workforce and there are less Gen Xers to replace them, you are going to be creating a work environment that young professionals feel like they can grow within. As long as they’re growing, your high potentials are more likely to stick with the organization. When there are no positions for them to move up and into or their pay is capped, they feel they have no choice except to leave. To fight the current reality of today’s workforce will result in your organization not effectively planning for the future. Your job, as an organization, then becomes coaching your best employees to discover their professional potential and work with them to develop their skills and abilities to get them there, whether they stay with you or not. The Good News About Losing Your Best Employee There’s some really good news to come from all of this so stay with me for another couple of minutes. As a leader in authority, you still have the power. You are not being held hostage by social media or Glassdoor ® ratings. If you accept the current reality of today’s workforce and proactively plan for constant shifts in your own, you can create a place where the best people want to work and refer their high potential friends to work for, too. Your best employees can help you find their replacements. It is happening in companies right now. Here’s an excerpt from a current employee at a company called Fast Enterprises that my daughter Melody went to work for because of the reviews posted on their Glassdoor® account like this one: I have been working at Fast Enterprises full-time (More than 5 years) Pros Fast, even at the 1000+ size it is, still cares deeply about each and every employee. Their benefits, even the way they help people move, the way they bring individuals AND their spouses/families into the culture, it super impressive and I love that about Fast. The work we do is serious in terms of being important work – our clients are generally very positive to work with and welcoming, so it is a pleasant place to work. Cons Any con I can think of is also a pro depending on how you look at it. Occasional relocation is also an opportunity to experience a new place and city. Occasional overtime is also an opportunity to make $. Advice to Management Employees love the partner interaction – everyone enjoys having a partner on their project or visiting their project. Keep that up!! Stop thinking the workforce is going to change and start changing the way you go about retaining and recruiting them. Many of the best HR professionals today know what needs to be done and many times are not given the support and resources to execute the most contemporary methods. Leaders like you have the authority and ability to create the future workforce at your organization that will propel you to 2025 and beyond. Antiquated want ads will not attract star players that desire to be on your team. Realizing that star players are being recruited by great companies and can choose to work anywhere they want to right now, will. Update the recruitment ads to attract star players so they will want to choose your company to work for. Use social media and YouTube to tell your story and connect with people regardless of where they currently work or are living. The new tactics are actually much cheaper than the old ones. The real question is, are you ready to use them? Create a place people love to come to work to each day. Allow us to help you. info@cortexleadership.com

New Study: 58% of leader’s and their teams actively avoid listening to new ideas May 6, 2020 Lynda McNutt Foster and Richard Hammer Issue: Teams back in the office. What if they don’t feel safe coming back in, someone says in the meeting. Ok, why don’t we ask employees what they think. No, we don’t have time for that. Sure we do. Yeah, right, like we have time to talk to every employee right now? No, we don’t have to time talk to every person. Maybe we could use our text system or google forms or something to take a for sort of pulse survey on what they’re thinking right now. What? No. That would take too much time. We’ve never done that. Let’s just stick to the plan we have. And there it is. BAM! Death of an idea in less than 30 seconds. Maybe it was a bad one. Maybe it wouldn’t have worked, and who knows if there was a better one that could quickly be built on from that one. No. Yes, but. There’s no time for that. You need to understand how things work around here. Sometimes the death of a new idea comes from people in the meeting simply ignoring the suggestion or other times by someone in authority just not responding to the email that it was sent in. These were the key types words and exchanges in small, micro-conversations we studied that occur when people try to share a thought or different perspective in meetings at work, and that occur between managers and their team members during a crisis like the one we’re in right now. These words and phrases seem to quickly shut down exactly what 94% of senior leaders say they want more of – fresh, new ideas to solve the biggest issues that their organizations are facing, especially during a crisis and transition of the type all organizations are going through right now. These are 4 main conclusions from the newest research just released by Cortex: A Leader’s Guide to Getting More, Fresh, High Quality Ideas from Their Teams Right Now A wake up call to any leader that needs to innovate to thrive , released in partnership with the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council about how to get teams to work more collaboratively together to more effectively problem solve: Micro interactions and conversations are the key factors in creating a high trust working environment that leads to team members being willing to co-create and share their new ideas and for others to experiment with them. A high emphasis on organizational values, mission, or goals don’t create engagement or an agile work environment unless the senior leadership team, along with their managers on the frontlines, are held accountable to practicing them. The ability of senior leaders and their managers to remain curious by actively seeking different perspectives from all levels of the organization is a key factor in the volume and quality of idea generation that leads to profitable innovation. Specific types of team training, coaching, reinforcement, and individual support that is designed to build trust and accountability in adhering to the new behaviors, can make almost any team capable of generating more and higher quality ideas. Cortex has spent the greater part of the last 5 years tracking the impact of almost unnoticeable interactions between team members during meetings. We collected more than 100,000 pieces of data from assessments of leaders and their teams and mapping conversations in meetings they were having while also tracking the evolution of leader’s thought process in solving problems at work over long periods of time. The studies found that it doesn’t take long for new team members to learn that sharing fresh ideas and perspectives came with a label of being a waste of time, resources, and could result in being seen as not a good cultural fit. We found the results counter to what leaders say they want in Leadership and Innovation by McKinsey and Company which stated that: 70% of senior executives said that innovation was going to be the main driver in their companies, yet 65% of them were “somewhat”, “a little”, or “not at all” confident about the decisions they make in that area, According to the McKinsey & Company report Leadership and Innovation . The report went on to say: The structures and processes that many leaders reflexively use to encourage innovation are important, we find, but not sufficient. On the contrary, senior executives almost unanimously—94 percent—say that people and corporate culture are the most important drivers of innovation. From McKinsey’s report regarding what leaders need to do in order to create agile transformation for their organizations, they stated that leaders should learn to help teams work in new ways and to do that they needed learn how to build enterprise agility into the design and culture of the whole organization. It needed to start with the leader adopting new mindsets and behaviors. What Cortex found was that changing those behaviors had a significant impact on the ability for the leader and their teams to quickly adapt to marketplace and other significant fluctuations. One of the data points pointed to the root of what may be blocking established organizations from being able to shift to a culture comfortable with experimentation that is at the heart of agility. The number was 58. Idea avoidance. 58% of leaders and team members actively avoided the generating of ideas and those people with a strength in ideation were often avoided as well. This avoidance of the brainstorming of new ways and perspectives of looking at problems lead to a stagnation of forward progress necessary for maintaining a competitive advantage. Sometimes the people on teams in the study that did had new ideas were ostracized by their fellow team members. This avoidance to the generation of new ideas and of the ideators themselves isn’t recognized by some leaders. When this type of culture persists on a team or becomes the corporate culture, innovation becomes almost non-existent except at smaller tactical levels. In some cases, when an executive leader or even a manager with authority is strong in idea generation, there seems to become a learned helplessness type of response by team members. It appears that the team expects their leader to generate the ideas and they believe there job is to plan what they are told to execute. Assess Your Ideation Tolerance As a leader, ask yourself these questions to determine the ideation tolerance level in your organization: How many new ideas to solve your toughest challenges have each of your leaders considered from their team members in the last month, 3 months, 6 months? Do the consultants you use work directly with senior leaders and their teams to generate new ideas? If polled, what percentage of meetings would people in your organization think are a waste of their time? Measure your failure tolerance by finding out how many experiments do you actively support in a year and how many have failed? Do you budget for and provide the resources of time and support for experimentation? You can find useful information that can increase your team’s and organization’s ability to creatively problem solve and be more agile in the full report that you can download for free here. In the FULL report, A Leader’s Guide to Getting More, Fresh, High Quality Ideas from Their Teams Right Now you will be given the following tools you can put into use right now: An Idea Generation one sheet you can use to start generating ideas with your teams right now. An example of rules of inclusion that can be used by any team. Instructions for a Team On! Exercise that teams can use to creatively problem solve. An Idea Generation one sheet you can use to start generating ideas with your teams right now. You’ll discover solutions like: What leaders can do to get their teams in an idea generation state of mind What type of leadership behaviors build trust and which types jeopardize it What leaders can do immediately to create more effective meetings The types of pivots a leader can make in their behavior that have the biggest impact in the creative problem solving results from their teams And so much more! To receive a FREE DOWNLOAD of the entire report of findings for The Case for Ideation in a Work World That is Obsessed with Planning A wake up call to leaders that need to innovate to thrive in today’s marketplace Click the below:

What We Provide The types of challenges we have helped leaders tackle include: Leadership Teams Creating leadership teams that communicate effectively with coworkers, clients and customers. Time Management Training leaders to map, measure, and design their time for maximum results. Succession Planning Executing a strong succession plan that evenly distributes the strengths and experience of senior and emerging leadership for continued success. Culture Kits Recognizing and stopping the lack of accountability within teams, departments, and divisions and creating a culture of ownership and proactivity. Employee Retention Creating a culture of coaching within your organization to develop and retain you best and brightest employees. Keynote Speeches Here are just a few organizations Lynda Foster, CEO of Cortex Leadership Consulting and her team members, have recently given keynote or customized workshops for Agility Training Developing more agile project teams that can innovate, plan, and execute important initiatives. Hiring Identifying and hiring the best talent to fill the right seats on your organizational bus to ensure desired outcomes are achieved. Conflict Mastery Managing and mitigating organizational crises as they arise to reduce their short and long term impact. What We Use 01. Assessments Learn more 02. Virtual Self-Learning 03. Workshops, Training, and Coaching Learn more 04. Leadership Programs Learn more

8 Statements That Will Change Everything About Recruiting and Retention at Your Company June 6, 2019 Lynda McNutt Foster “We came to realize what is perhaps the biggest problem of all with the idea of culture: it doesn’t help us understand what to do more of, less of, or differently. For that, we must take you to where the experience lives: to your team, and network of teams, and their leaders. That’s what matters most,” Marcus Buckingham and Ashley Goodall in 9 Lies About Work: A Freethinking Leader’s Guide to the Real World. Two decades worth of research about why and how people perform well at work has culminated in this book. I am convinced about the research and the impact it can have on companies that are struggling to recruit and retain the best workers because Marcus Buckingham is not only an expert in this space, the research mirrors what we have been studying for the last 7 years from our goMonti data sets. The main conclusion that the research in 9 Lies About Work demonstrates is good news. It states that “what people care most about at work is within your team leader’s control.” As they state, a team leader can’t always set corporate policies, but what they can do is: Set clear expectations for their team members Position each person to play to his or her strengths every day Praise the team for excellent work Help people grow their careers Build trust with the people on the team that they serve The focus should be on helping grow the abilities of team leaders to: Give their team member’s a sense of universality – all of us together Recognize each team member’s uniqueness In other words, magnify what we all share and to lift up what is special about each of us. How can you measure how your teams are doing within your organization and determine future sustained or increased performance and retention? There are 8 statements that should be asking and gauging responses for regularly (once a month or at least once a quarter) to measure what matters the most to measure the aspects that drive performance, voluntary turnover, lost work days, accidents on the job, and customer satisfaction. The 8 statements are grouped into two themes. The first is the team member’s communal or “we” share experience at work or rather the “Best of We,” and they are: I am really enthusiastic about the mission of my company. In my team, I am surrounded by people who share my values. My teammates have my back. I have great confidence in my company’s future. The second set of statements are themed as the individual’s experience at work or rather, “Best of Me”. They cover a team member’s internal questions like, “What is unique about me? What is valuable about me? Do I feel challenged to grow? And they are: 5. At work, I clearly understand what is expected of me. 6. I have the chance to use my strengths every day at work. 7. I know I will be recognized for excellent work. 8. In my work, I am always challenged to grow. From Chapter One of 9 Lies at Work, the first lie at work is that people come to work for companies. The research is sound on this, and that statement is not true for most people. What is true is that people care which team they’re on and which company they join. Need help executing these concepts? Find out how your team members would score on the 8 statements. Wondering how your team members would score on these 8 statements? goMonti is currently conducting local research and can issue this employee engagement and team performance survey at no charge for current clients. If you are an existing client, contact us for more information at info@cortexleadership.com . If you are not a current Cortex client, one or more of your teams may qualify to have us issue the survey at no charge. To receive information about our new Employee Engagement Surveys and how they can transform your teams, contact info@cortexleadership.com . Watch this short video from Coffee with a Coach, A Cup of Confidence, about the 8 statements and how team leaders can use them to gain powerful insights.

We've been growing so you can, too. Sign up for online self-learning courses in our cortex-courses site. Each contains videos from our coaches, activities, and exercises in bite-sized, achievable chunks. Learn Lynda McNutt Foster is a certified practitioner of TED* The Empowerment Dynamic and can make shifts happen with your team, no matter what type of drama your team is experiencing. Shift 360 surveys are assessment tools that provide leaders and employees with feedback about their performance.  The surveys’ subject is rated in areas such as leadership, communication, productivity, and technical skills. Check it out The Cortex Team Strengths full day session is designed to tackle a leadership team's biggest challenge and give them a model they can use in the future. The session includes a Cortex Team Strengths assessment that will help leaders/managers better understand which of the 4 phases of a project cycle they prefer to work within. Grow EPIC is a turn-key, coaching and mentoring program to build emotional intelligence in the area of self-awareness and leadership skills of highly engaged professionals. Explore If you take your leadership training with a side of ridiculous, we've got just what you ordered. Get untied with Lynda McNutt Foster and Brett Sharp in this groundbreaking podcast. Listen Now Conducted with small groups in a highly interactive format, this program is designed for seasoned leaders and those accepting the role and responsibility of leadership. Lead Tools We Use Programs We Run Problems We Solve

Executive Coaching Executive Coaching can be one of the most powerfully effective tools for reaching your desired outcomes. These power packed sessions can quickly transform any size challenge. There is only one goal of an executive coach during a session, to help move you forward in the direction you want to go towards the goal and desired outcome you want to achieve. Using proven, researched, and best practices methods that help an executive see a situation from a different perspective and provide the right questions, at the right time, to help unlock their highest-level thinking, Our executive coaching packages include: 1 1-hour Coaching Sessions 1-hour monthly coaching sessions 1:1 with your executive coach either in person at our offices in Roanoke, VA or via Zoom video calls. 2 Monti - The Pocket Coach Monti “coach in your pocket” interactive texting monitored by your coach to support the behavior modifications you wanted to make between sessions. 3 Educational Videos Access to over 200 short length educational videos that further support any executive behavior changes you want to make during your coaching program. 4 Articles and Exercises Access to over 500 articles that provide guidance and exercises to improve your understanding or execution of principles and practices for yourself and your team members. Tools We Use Programs We Run Problems We Solve

Training with Cortex Creating Leadership Teams Creating leadership teams that communicate effectively with coworkers, clients and customers. Mapping and Measuring Results Training leaders to map, measure, and design their time for maximum results. Establishing Proactive Ownership Recognizing and stopping the lack of accountability within teams, departments, and divisions and creating a culture of ownership and proactivity. Identifying Talent Identifying and hiring the best talent to fill the right seats on your organizational bus to ensure desired outcomes are achieved. Developing Agile Teams Developing more agile project teams that can innovate, plan, and execute important initiatives. Closing Skill and Resource Gaps Identifying and closing the gaps in skills and resources to enable your organization to grow at its maximum potential. Tools We Use Programs We Run Problems We Solve

Subscribe Subscribe: AI Leader Brief Developed by Cortex CEO and executive strategist, Lynda McNutt Foster, in response to what she calls “an urgent need for clarity” amid the AI boom. “Leaders are bombarded with noise and buzzwords,” said Foster. “This brief delivers what they actually need—what’s real, what’s working, and what to watch next.” December 2, 2025 November 5, 2025 September 15, 2025 Read the Brief Listen to the Clip Read the Brief Listen to the Clip Listen to the Clip Read the Brief Read the Action Sheet carpe diem article Read the Brief August 25th, 2025 August 11th, 2025 August 4th, 2025 July 27th, 2025 Listen to the Interview Read the Brief Listen to the Brief Read the Brief Read the Brief Listen to the Brief Listen to the Brief July 21st, 2025 July 14th, 2025 July 8th, 2025 June 30th, 2025 Listen to the Brief Read the Brief Read the Brief Read the Brief Read the Brief What Our Clients Say Laura Barody, AVP of Subsidiary Accounting "I’ve been fortunate to have early access to the AI Leader Brief, and it’s quickly become a go-to resource. Each edition offers a concise, strategic view of what’s happening in AI—without the noise. It’s helped me stay current and think more critically about how AI impacts the way we work. Highly recommend for anyone in a leadership or decision-making role."

DISC, Motivators, Team Strengths DISC, Driving Forces, Cortex Team Strengths, Stress Quotient, Emotional Intelligence Each of these assessments delivers vital information to help you quickly assess the strengths and weaknesses of your team members and leaders. Using a proven Cortex method, these assessments based on real science will move you to a more efficient and effective way to pin point exactly what and who you need to focus on to create optimal performance from your team. TTI Success Insights (TTI SI) believes all people are unique and have talents and skills of which they are often unaware. TTI SI and its network of Value Added Associates, like Cortex Leadership Consulting, exist to reveal and harness these talents, using the Science of Self. Over three decades, TTI SI has researched and applied social and brain science, creating assessment solutions consultants in 90 countries and 40 languages used to hire, develop and retain the best talent in the world. TTI SI assessments are at work in the Fortune 1000 companies and have worked with over 100,000 companies over the years. TTI SI tools are EEOC and OFCCP compliant and are continuously tested and refined to ensure the highest standards of ethics and reliability, which is why Cortex has chosen to use TTI. With a tenacious, innovative culture, TTI SI and Cortex Leadership Consulting transform potential to productivity, performance and profits. TTI Success Insights® believes there are five dimensions of a superior performer that can be measured by our research-based assessments: Behaviors Motivators Acumen Competencies Emotional Intelligence Who you are, what you do and how you do it. The research-based, validated TTI Success Insights assessment we use at Cortex Leadership Consulting measures behaviors in five behavioral dimensions using the DISC theory. DISC measures Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Compliance and was first developed by William Moulton Marston. Our Behaviors/DISC assessment is key in helping people understand HOW they behave and their ability to interact effectively with others in work and life, as well as how they respond to the following challenges: Problems and challenges Influencing others Pace of environment Rules and procedures To see a sample of our in-depth 23-page DISC Assessment Report, click here . Becoming self aware is the first step on your leadership journal. WHAT MAKES OUR DISC ASSESSMENTS MORE RELIABLE? The provider we use, TTI Insights, were the first DISC providers to guide companies from the prospective employee stage to selection, from on- board training to job-related development. More importantly, TTI SI is the only provider of DISC assessments in the marketplace that generates 384 unique reports, based on both the high and low scores revealed in each individual’s two DISC graphs (natural style graph and adapted style graph). In other words, TTI not only studies the behaviors that come naturally to the respondent — both how they act (Behaviors) and why they act a certain way (Motivators) — but we also analyze and present the less dominant behaviors. Developing these less dominant behaviors presents opportunities for self-improvement and greater understanding. Where other companies only provide a snapshot of an individual, we provide a full picture to gain a greater understanding of self and others. In addition, TTI SI is constantly running internal studies, including the study of adverse impact and is conduct- ing test-retest analysis to validate and to improve our products. These steps allow our suite of assessments to remain at the forefront of innovation and stand the test of time. MOTIVATORS Whereas Behaviors illustrate the HOW of our actions and decision-making, Motivators explain the WHY behind your actions and passions. Motivators, based on Eduard Spranger’s theory of human motivation, are the windows through which an individual views the world. These intrinsic motivations explain the key driving forces about someone’s on-the-job performance and why they act a certain way. Theoretical — the discovery of truth Utilitarian — money and what is useful; ROI Aesthetic — form and harmony Social — an inherent caring for people; helping others Individualistic — personal power, influence and renown Traditional — a system for living To see a sample of our in-depth 23-page Motivators Assessment Report, click here . Contact Cortex Leadership Consulting to learn more. Contact Us!

Assessments and Tools Conversational Intelligence Conversational Intelligence at work is necessary for building trust. Not using it could lead to disengagement. You’ll learn the signs of trust and how to tap into people’s highest level thinking potential. Join Becky Freemal, anchor of WFXR news, with Judith Glaser, author of Conversational Intelligence and Lynda McNutt Foster, CEO of Cortex Leadership Consulting. DISC Assessment The research-based, validated TTI Success Insights assessment we use at Cortex Leadership Consulting measures behaviors in five behavioral dimensions using the DISC theory. DISC measures Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Compliance and was first developed by William Moulton Marston. Cortex Team Strengths The Cortex Team Strengths assessment helps to better understand which of the four phases of a project cycle you prefer to work within. Ideally, teamwork proceeds sequentially from initiation to ideation, elaboration, and completion. Cortex 360 Assessment 360 surveys are assessment tools that provide leaders and employees with feedback about their performance. The surveys’ subject is rated in areas such as leadership, communication, productivity, and technical skills. The subject also rates themselves in these areas. DDT / TED TED* (*The Empowerment Dynamic) is a positive alternative to the Drama Triangle, which was first described by Stephen Karpman, MD. The Dreaded Drama Triangle (DDT)™ is comprised of three roles: Victim (the primary role), Persecutor (which the Victim blames for their suffering); and the Rescuer (who steps in to try and take away the Victim’s suffering). People shift in and out of all three roles in this Dreaded Drama Triangle (DDT). Stress Quotient This assessment is designed to pinpoint the source of workplace stress for individuals and teams Time Mastery You’ll never deal with time the same way again after learning the Cortex Method of time design. Meeting Toolkit this tool can be purchased to be used as “training tools” for leaders to conduct the most effective and efficient meetings possible for their teams. Currency of Trust This powerful communication tool has multiple applications. We work with the 6 elements of trust, which include Sincerity, Involvement, Competence, Standards, Reliability, and Time.