The fastest way to results is through leadership—and what part of one’s life is not about leadership?

Christopher Iansiti

Christopher knows first-hand what it's like to work within a dysfunctional culture. From personal experience after college, he’s painfully aware of how uninspiring it feels to strive for outcomes without the proper tools, guidance, or context. Luckily for him, a mentor suggested Florida State University's #1 rated corporate training, change management, and organizational behavior program. Instantly, Christopher perceived the fit. Little did he know then that helping change happen comfortably would become his life's work. Now, he has positively affected the lives tens of thousands of employees in the three decades that have followed since. Through his company, Iansiti Performance Group, Christopher has worked with name brands like AT&T, Cox Communications, Kaiser Permanente, The Coca-Cola Company, Fiserv, and Turner Broadcasting Systems. Many of these have become regular clients.

Having supported corporate clients for nearly three decades, Christopher knows the ins and outs of working with boards. Soon, he seeks to support additional organizations as a board member—blending his deep understanding of change, organization design, and adult learning with others to achieve “good change for the right reasons.”

“Little did he know then that helping change happen comfortably would become his life’s work.”

Passions

Paying it forward and serving as a role model to new talent in the learning professions are important to Christopher. He has given back generously in time and money to Florida State University, the institution that kindled his career. He was recently appointed a trustee for the FSU Foundation and is immediate past chair of the FSU College of Business Board of Governors. The FSU College of Education bestowed its highest honor on Christopher, awarding him distinguished alumnus in 2011. Additionally, he is a frequent speaker, occasional television guest expert (CNN), and can often be seen on campus in one-on-one mentoring sessions with students.

Beliefs

For change to be real and valuable, it must manifest itself on several levels at once. You can’t just mandate change to processes or behaviors; you should start with the culture. Companies grow when their employees and leaders grow, as people get better at their jobs, and as team members positively impact each other’s lives in the workplace. Christopher cares deeply about the quality of others’ lives and knows that you must walk the talk if you want others to follow. Creating an environment where people support each other and where disappointments are rare is essential. And possible. As Christopher often says, “Business results come from people results.”

Thinking

In a rapidly changing world, how do we prepare employees to lead and follow at the same time? How do we equip leaders and their implementation teams with skills today to handle the problems of tomorrow? How can organizations move faster—without increasing stress. These are just some of the questions Christopher thinks about. IPG’s signature “Win the Heart – Win the Mind – Just Plain Win” model, which has his handprint on it, has helped tie efforts at the leadership, management, and front-line levels together simultaneously at big employers nationally and internationally.

Advice

  • “What you learn is who you become. Choose wisely.” C.I.
  • “The fastest way to results is through leadership—and what part of one’s life is not about leadership?” C.I.
  • “As a management tool, effective learning is about the experience, putting it into practice, and making it a habit.” C.I.
  • “At the end of the day, people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
  • “Vision is important. Vision with action changes the world.” C.I.
  • “Whatever you do, your work is your autograph. It’s yours and signifies your quality.” Bernard F. Sliger