Doug Johnston, Speaker, Facilitator, Advisor, Author

Doug Johnston, Speaker, Facilitator, Author, Advisor. Impact4Results, LLC

Doug Johnston ’85 is a highly sought speaker, facilitator, and advisor. Two years ago, he added author to his repertoire when he published his first book, Exponential Leadership, Formulating YOUR Impact. His second book, Thriving in Conflict, How to Create a Robust Culture of Feedback, was published last year. Both books are written as stories that engage the reader and provide tools and concepts to help any professional.

Doug graduated from Nazareth College with a degree in Management Science. An internship launched him into his first professional job after graduation. He started at Xerox Corporation in the headquarters’ sales and marketing operations. After 6 years with the company, he moved on to executive level positions in small and mid-sized companies until he “accidentally” began his own business in 2002. This “accident” happened while he was leading a company, and he knew he had taken it as far as he could. Doug realized that he wasn’t using all of his potential and that it was his time to move on.

Many people approached him about working for their companies, but he just knew he wouldn’t be a “good” fit because he wasn’t truly passionate about those assignments. The genesis of his company, Impact4Results, LLC, came when he started helping companies as a contract executive on interim bases. Over time, he built a portfolio of offerings including leadership programs, facilitating executive forums, speaking at events, and addressing other special needs. Today Doug’s work has expanded to national and even some international engagements.

With two books published and a third in the making, this tenured executive helps other businesses and their leaders, advising on how to leverage more effective conversations in one-on-one and team settings, gain clarity on strategic directions, align teams, and create lasting impact. Seventy percent of his professional life is devoted to helping professionals develop leadership skills, 10% serving as a keynote speaker, and 20% providing advisory work and completing special projects.

In Thriving in Conflict, How to Create a Robust Culture of Feedback, Doug addresses the issue of conflict in the business world. He defines conflict as “a gap between what we expect and what we experience that leads to deeper understanding and better results.” In his book, Doug identifies that conflict exists on a spectrum, and he shares his IdEA© conversational framework to help engage in better, more focused and results oriented conversations. The book also provides a simple framework for providing feedback in any situation. The conflict spectrum calls for an examination of the frequency and impact of conflict that occurs in the workplace and identifies opportunities for feedback across that spectrum. In his discussion of the principles of engagement, Doug calls his readers to engage with one another to reduce conflict in business.

Before Doug’s journey though the business world began, he found value in his experiences as a Management Science student at Nazareth College. Doug recalls the mentors he relied upon in his earliest professional days and who still remain influential in his life. Father Bill Riegel, the chaplain for the College at that time, married Doug and his wife, and Doug continues to be in touch with him when he passes through Detroit. Paul Buntich, Vice President of Student Affairs, and Vice President of Finance, Steve LaSalle, both challenged him and helped him grow when he was a student. They continue to be in touch to this day. After his first book was published, he jokingly emailed Sister Monica Weis, English professor, to request retroactive credit for his Theory of Grammar and Composition course. About his time at Nazareth and his mentors, Doug says, “You look back and don’t see where the influence was until much later.”

While at Naz, Doug was pushed farther than he ever thought possible by the business school faculty and these mentors. His college experience was rich; while he maintained his academic record, he also embraced many leadership roles including an RA position, Freshman Class President, oversight of the Campus Activities Board, and management of the Information Center, setting the tone for his eventual leadership roles in the business world. The people Doug encountered at Naz during his days as a student greatly influenced his success. He maintains a relationship with his alma mater through meetings with Dr. Kenneth Rhee, Dean of the School of Business and Leadership, and through sharing stories with his niece who is a current nursing student and his nephew, a 2014 art alum.

When asked for advice for today’s students, Doug shared what he told his own kids when they started college, “Learn to learn,” adding that it’s important to know that “things are changing so quickly, the pace of learning in our jobs is increasing.” He finished by saying, related to his second book, and something he personally continues to work on, “Find ways to engineer better, more focused conversations.” His own personal challenge is to “ask more than he speaks.”