John Keyser

Founder, principal, and executive coach

John Keyser is founder and principal of Common Sense Leadership, a Washington, D.C.-based coaching firm that helps corporate executives further develop skills they need to become great leaders, including how to encourage workplace productivity and collaboration, and the benefits of investing time and resources in developing people. Previously Keyser was a senior executive with Johnson & Higgins, executive director of Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, and head of development for the Georgetown University Medical Center. Keyser is a Georgetown University liberal arts graduate and a graduate of the accredited Georgetown Leadership Coaching Program.

Mon, 11/02/2015 - 16:05
As Leaders in Business, What Is Our Calling? Be a giver, not a taker
Mon, 11/02/2015 - 16:05
“Allow the way to your great work to be guided by your service to others.”
—Mollie Marti W hat is our purpose in life? That is a question that could be discussed for hours and is worthy of our attention. I pose it because I believe how we…
Using Our Leadership Gifts Be the ‘salt of the earth’ and the ‘light of the world’
Wed, 07/22/2015 - 12:20
Last week, I heard a sermon at church that resonated within me. In the Gospel, Jesus said to his disciples, “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.” The message was not that we can be the salt and the light; rather, we are…
Kindness in Leadership Reach out when good things happen, not just when something goes wrong
Mon, 05/04/2015 - 16:04
Strong leadership and kindness are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they fit together effectively. The most successful leaders treat their team members with kindness. They realize that kindness is motivating. As Bob Kerrey has said, “Unexpected…
Why Corporations Must Earn Our Trust Companies stopped investing in people and lost more than they gained
Wed, 04/29/2015 - 15:30
When I previously wrote about earning trust with co-workers, a friend, a true leader in the public policy field, called to suggest that a closely related and equally important subject is restoring corporate trust. I immediately went to sit on my…
Conversations and Stay Interviews Are the Work of a Leader They take time but generate goodwill and respect for senior managers
Tue, 07/01/2014 - 10:58
I recently conducted a few exit interviews for clients, asking people about their reasons for leaving. What did they value about the organization? What advice would they offer that could benefit the organization? What would they like to see changed…
Listening Is Our Most Important Skill On average, we retain just 25 percent of what we hear
Tue, 06/24/2014 - 08:58
A friend of mine, a key leader with a major insurance company, regularly comes around her desk when one of her team members comes to speak with her. She feels that sitting side by side rather than across a desk leads to a better discussion. Why?…