Hello
Welcome
I am so pleased that you are visting my website and hope you find the information helpful. Embarking on a coaching journey is frequently a major step in moving towards a more rewarding and fulfilling career and life pathway.
Coaching is about you and finding your pathway
It's not just coaching for your career, but also exploring how to integrate your career with your life as a whole. Finding fulfillment in your own life and career go hand in hand.
Who am I ?
Why I Coach
I have enjoyed working with people throughout my career. I have found that coaching is a way of using much that learned over a long career in health care and from a life-long passion of learning about how we grow and cope with life changes. My formal training in coaching was through the year-long Coaching Certification program through the Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara and I am current an International Coaching Federation Member, Fellow of the Institute of Coaching, Certified as a Trauma Informed Professional Coach ITIPC) by Lodestar Coaching and Consulting and certifed in the Kolb/Kelp assessement by the Insitute for Experiential Learning.
While my career in primary care medicine and organizational leadership have clearly influenced how I coach, the most pervasive influences were the Hudson Institute precepts of “leading from behind” and focusing on the “whole person” and Richard Boyatzis' work on coaching, learning and leaiing change.
Leading from behind means deep listening, careful inquiry, being a sounding board, and helping each client along a pathway of self-discovery focused. While the primary focus of coaching is often on work related challenges or life changes involving work such as job change or retirement, taking into account the “whole person” recognizes that while our work environment, or changes related to work including retirement, may present special challenges, we are also part of our intimate relationships, extended families, communities, and societies, and that changes in one sphere, strongly influence the degree, and effectiveness of our coping in other spheres. Gifting ourselves with taking time to understand how these other areas may impact on our work –or how these other areas might be impacted changes in our work is essential. These concepts, coupled with the seminal work of Boyatzis on the critical role that relationships, recognizing our core values and passion, and how to translate our values into changing undesirable habits and acquiring more effective coping skill are all foundational to my coaching.
Career and life experiences
My career has been primarily within healthcare, starting with medical school, internship and residency in internal medicine, a fellowship in endocrinology, doing a Master’s in Public Health degree and spending two years as a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar in primary care medicine. My clinical interests have been in the care of older persons, and in efforts to improve quality and safety and enhance patient engagement and participation in their own care. I held various faculty and leadership positions at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. This work included a lot of mentoring and counseling of students, residents, fellows and faculty as director various programs, Chair of a department of primary care, and as Senior Associate Vice President of Health Affairs. A major early influence was my involvement with Human Dimensions in Medical Education which included time with Carl Rogers’ and his Center for the Study of the Person. Later, as Executive Vice President of NCQA, a non-profit organization involved in assessing healthcare quality, and a major entry point for young health professionals, I was engaged in mentoring these professionals. My interest in understanding and improving our ability to help people affected by chronic illness adapt to, and yet find the most effective means to slowing its progression, was a major factor in recognizing that in most situations, it is the attitudes and behaviors of the person directly affected by the problem that holds the key better outcomes. My current work role other than coaching, is being a part time senior medical consultant with Saxton and Stump (a law firm), and a Board Member and consultant in their sister company, SE Healthcare Quality Consulting, in exploring ways to improve health care practice by enhancing quality and safety and reducing medical errors.
Beyond the work place, I have had the great good fortune of being married to Jean Johnson PhD, the founding Dean of the School of Nursing at George Washington, (Adjunct Professor of Nursing and Clinical Professor of Medicine at GW). Together, we have successfully managed dual careers, raised four children and seen them marry and start their own families including five grandchildren. While not formal training for coaching, my family has taught me much about love, caring and working through challenging situations. Beyond being part of a wonderful family, I have also gained a great deal from my spiritual, and recreational interests. My love of music is deep and manifest in being an avid listener, and in playing the saxophone and recorder. I have also been engaged in back packing and mountain climbing and white water rafting earlier in life, and more recently in tennis, golfing, hiking, occasional painting and in playing with and chasing after our seven grandchildren (ages 12-29).
Another important life experience for me is that I have studied and at l practiced insight meditation for nearly 20 years, I have had the great good fortune to have been in workshops with Jack Kornfield, Jonathan Faust and Tara Brach and other skilled practitioners. Finally, having grown up in State College Pa (with prior short stints in Texas (I was born there), Buffalo NY, Syracuse NY, and Lexington Mass) and following Penn State from the time I was 7 years old, I am a dyed in the wool Nittany Lion fan in terms of both academic programs and sports including wresting, volleyball and soccer (and ah yes –football).
Finally, while I have enjoyed a broad set of coaching experiences, my special focus is working with early and mid-career emerging leader. While use of coaching is fairly widespread among senior executives, decisions we make early in our careers may have a far more important impact on both ourselves, as well as for our families, friends as well as employers. I very much enjoy helping those new to a management or leadership position identify the skills and approaches they need to succeed, as well as the to find the balance in life they wish to find.
If you feel coaching with me could be helpful to your career and/or life planning, please contact me at 240-204-2529 or gpawlson@gmail.com
Additional Information
Past Clients
I have coached a wide range of health professions and other clients including those in corporations such as Premier Healthcare, government agencies including the Center for Disease Control, universities including George Washington and Northwestern, Mt Sinai, UCSF, VCU and other groups such as NCQA, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellows< National Academy of Medicine Fellows as well as many individuals ranging from those seeking their first positions to those contemplating retirement.
FAQS
How are sessions done?
While face to face is possible in some instances, most of my coaching takes place via Zoom, FaceTime, WhatsApp or Skype.
Will I need to sign a contract?
Yes- the contract clarifies both the clients and coaches roles and responsibilities especially in regard to confidentiality
How long are sessions?
A typical session lasts about an hour-but is dependent on what needs to get done and issues of urgency.
How frequent are sessions?
Again, this depends on the client and what they prefer but can range from twice weekly to monthly.
How long are engagements?
The length of engagement depends mostly on how quickly the client feels they reach their goals- and can last from a few weeks to a six months or more. If clients request, I also do follow up at intervals of six months or a year.
What are the fees?
My standard fee is $300 per session (which includes preparation, and communications if needed between sessions) but I am very open to negotiation depending on the client, their position and their company (if a company is involved).
How is payment usually made?
By Check or PayPal account
RESOURCES TO EXPLORE
In addition to the resoruces noted below, I encourge supplementing sessions with AI such as Claude or Perplexity -and sites such as MindTools and Harvard Businss Review
Books, Videos, Apps, Websites, and Courses Related to Life Skills/Wellness, Coaching and Leadership- Greg Pawlson
This is ONLY a very basic starting point for learning more. You are encouraged to search for yourself on Amazon, Google or Utube or AI for information and resources related to the organizations and people listed below. Note that at present, many book authors have websites and videos related to the content of the book-so be creative in your searches.
BASIC STARTER SET
You can start with these areas hat are linked to a course, like Leadership and Life Skills or go to the more extensive lists later in this document- OR JUST DO YOUR OWN GQOGLE EXPLORATION.
We have tried to pick websites, videos and books that are basic, short videos( around 7 minutes or less in most cases). If the video links do not work for you- please just google the presenter. But please- if these interest you, do your own searches to go further .
Compassionate Mindfulness
Website - https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/does_mindfulness_make_you_compassionate
Video
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/video/item/how_mindfulness_cultivates_compassion Sharon Shapiro PhD
Book- The Little book of Being: Guidance for Uncovering your National Awareness- Diana Winston
Emotional intelligence
Website: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/emotional-intelligence
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7m9eNoB3NU- Daniel Goleman PhD
Book Emotional Intelligence: Why it Can Matter More Than Your IQ- Daniel Goleman
Positive Psychology
Website: https://ppc.sas.upenn.edu/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBYd1oAD-hg Elizabeth Dunn PhD-Univ of British Columbia
Book: Authentic Happiness- Martin Seligman PhD
Positive Intelligence
Website: https://www.positiveintelligence.com/
Video: https://www.positiveintelligence.com/about/ Shirzad Chamine
Book: Positive Intelligence -Shirzad Chamine
Grit
Website https://jamesclear.com/grit
Video https://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_grit_the_power_of_passion_and_perseverance?language=en Angela Duckworth PhD
Book Grit- Angela Duckworth
Resilience
Website https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/resilience
Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdV1OKkisoI Karen Reivich PhD
Book: The Resilience Factor: 7 Keys to Finding Your Inner Strength and Overcoming Life's Hurdles Karen Reivich and Andrew Shatte
Growth mindset-love of learning
Website https://www.mindsetworks.com/science/
Video; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiiEeMN7vbQ Carol Dweck PhD
Book: Mindsight – Daniel Shapiro MD
Effective-Constructive Relational Communications
Website https://www.proofhub.com/articles/effective-communication
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgaeHeIL39Y Marshall Rosenberg PhD (distilled to 10 minutes)
Book Crucial Conversations – The Science of Effective Communication: Improve Your Social Skills and Small Talk, Develop Charisma and Learn How to Talk to Anyone- Ian Tuhovsky PhD
Deep Listening
Website https://www.mindful.org/deep-listening/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDJBKEOe7Pg Thich Nhat Hanh -this is also just to introduce an alternative and traditional Buddhist approach to mindfulness and listening
Book: Deep Listening: A Healing Practice to Calm Your Body, Clear Your Mind, and Open Your Heart Jillian Pransky
Coaching
Website https://instituteofcoaching.org/resources/introduction-leadership-coaching
Videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYUyCvWdjq0 (Ajut Nawalkha-What is coaching?) https://www.instituteofcoaching.org/resources/coachxconversations-richard-boyatzis-and-carol-kauffmanIf you want to explore a bit more deeply, this is a delightful conversation between two really amazing coaches focusing on Richard Boyatzis’s deep wisdom about coaching.
Demos: https://youtu.be/dtCjaWHr-9Y (Xoaching demonstration Rich Levin (this is an hour- if you don’t have the time- watch minutes 35-45 on the video) or https://youtu.be/dtCjaWHr-9Y C 35 minute coaching session-with Sura (uses only one name)
Book: Coaching for Leadership- Marshall Goldsmith
Cognitive Neuroscience/Emotions/Thoughts
Website: https://www.emotiv.com/glossary/cognitive-neuroscience/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS-9lrDDzuU Lisa Feldman Barrett
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ogbl#inbox/QgrcJHsbdwkXHBTHJxfZnKtXKhZCGdtZDTG?projector=1
Daniel Seigel (Interpersonal Neurobiology)
Book Livewired David Eagleman
Habit Change- Learning
Website: https://behavioralscientist.org/to-change-a-habit-get-extreme-progressively/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1eYrhGeffc Charles Duhigg
Book- Atomic Habits- James Clear
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access
Website: http://www.nationaldiversitycouncil.org/ both information and links to other sources
Video: https://www.diversityagenda.org/2020/04/30/five-top-diversity-and-inclusion-ted-talks/ Janet Stovall
Books:
How to be an Inclusive Leader-Jennifer Brown
Erasing Institutional Bias: How to Create Systematic Change for Organizational Inclusion Tiffany Jana, Ashly Diaz Mejias
I. Life Skills- Wellness
Cognitive Neuroscience (other than pure textbooks but all need some science background)
Books
David Eagleman-book Livewired and website
Judson Brewer (see below under mindfulness)
Marie Banich- book - Cognitive Neuroscience
Richard Passingham --Cognitive Neuroscience-A Very Short Introduction -
Jamil Zaxhi- The War for Kindness
Apps -websites
Brain Posts - a weekly update on a neuroscience topic posted by a team of cognitive neurosciences https://www.brainpost.co/
Emotional Intelligence
Books
Daniel Goleman-book Emotional Intelligence and multiple other books- website
How Emotions Are Made-Lisa Feldman Barrett
Videos
Daniel Goleman – a brief (25 minute) introduction to concepts of Emotional intelligence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjBftKme3Ng
Jamil Zaki a one hour centered around his research on kindness https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y23qQjXmHs
Courses
Positive Psychology-Resilience-Grit
Authentic Happiness/Positive Psychology at University of Pennsylvania- the mother lode of positive psychology – founder Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman with James Pawelski, Angela Duckworth (Grit), Claire Robertson-Kraft, Karen Reivich (Resilience)
https://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/
Positive Psychology (.com) – a commercial company but with some good resources
https://positivepsychology.com/
Other leaders and researches in positive psychology include (all PhD’s or MD’s) and most have websites with resources for practice
Daniel Siegel
Susan David
Marc Brackett
Cory Keyes
Ilona Boniwell
Sonja Lybunomirsky
Burnout- wellness
National Academy of Medicine- on Clinician Burnout and Wellbeing – a lot of great resources on clinician burnout and wellness including papers and videos https://nam.edu/initiatives/clinician-resilience-and-well-being/
Stanford WellMD – includes multi-media resources on physician wellness -as well as providing consultation and other programs. https://wellmd.stanford.edu/
Rachael Naomi Remen MD- a physician writer- more anectodal but useful- Books- Kitchen Table Wisdom, My Grandfather’s Blessings – Blogs on Resilience and other areas http://www.rachelremen.com/
Mindfulness-Presence-Meditation (from more grounded in spiritual practices Buddhist and philosophy (Stoicism) to those inspired to brain science) -all have websites, or apps that are worth exploring in terms of learning and practicing mindfulness
Tich Nhat Hahn
Jack Kornfield
Tara Brach
Jon Kabat Zinn -the founder of many aspects of mindfulness based stress reduction, mindfulness based behavioral therapy and multiple other studies in the psychology of mindfulness
Daniel Siegel -UCLA based neuroscientist
Marc Williams-
Apps and websites for mindfulness practice
Sam Harris (Waking Up Website and app (fee $119/year but if you can’t afford it and let him know it is free) includes daily practice of mindfulness, interviews, deep dives into both neuroscience and traditional Buddhist and Stoic practices.
Headspace- a popular meditation app with daily practice and other materials (fee $69.95/year) that some find helpful in breaking old or creating new habits- including mindfulness practice
Tara Brach- her website (tarabrach.com) -free website/app but requests a contribution if you can afford it).
Palouse Mindfulness – this is a free on line course focused on mindfulness based stress reduction practices developed by the group at UMass led by Jon Kabat Zinn. While it centers around stress reduction it also teaching basic mindfulness.
Judson Brewer (MD-Neuroscientist)– DrJudd website and app – fee depends on use. Application of mindfulness/meditation practice for addiction and habits. His website is full of very useful information on how our brains work, and how meditation, brain function feedback and some apps that you can purchase that can help break many types of addiction (from overeating to cell phone use)
Other apps you can explore on your own include Ten Percent Happier (Dan Harris-$99/year), Calm (Tamara Levitt $69.99/year), Adaptiv ($99/year)
Wellbeing, Gratitude-Compassion
Lori Santos PhD- she went from being a primate psychology researcher to having the largest course (the Science of Happiness) ever taught at Yale (2500) and on Coursera (2 million and rising). Her research now centers around what actually enhances human well being. This is one of her many Utube videos- can also do course on Coursera https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orRMJFZSUms
James R Doty MD – a Stanford Neurosurgeon who along with the Dali Lama started the Center for Compassion and Altruism at Stanford University Medical Center –full range of resources on this area from healthcare perspective http://ccare.stanford.edu/about/people/ccare-staff/
Self Compassion
Kirstin Neff PhD- she has become the most well-known researcher on self compassion Book- Fierce Self Compassion (and others) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GQl4FiISiQ&t=7s&ck_subscriber_id=211644119&utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=April+News%3A+Fierce+Self-Compassion+%E2%80%A2%C2%A0CMSC+Now+Hiring+%E2%80%A2%C2%A0Practice+Resources+-+5596147 40 minutes (many others on UTube of varying length)
Adult Learning
Stanislas Dehaene – How We Learn (based on a neuroscience approach to helping others actually learn- focused on how brain processes information by selective activation and inhibition in three phases-Attention (what our senses detect)-Orientation (selection)-what out of all the input we focus on initially and Executive Oversight-cognitive direction of ongoing input. If we want to promote learning, we have to work to bring out EACH phase.
Video
Stanislas Dehaene a longer (1 hour) video from “brain science podcast) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x41U9kRU_XA
Communication
Non Violent (aka relational) Communication
A general resource for effective dialogue is the concept of Non Violent Communication- (see other resources) developed by Marshall Rosenberg – this is one of the shorter videos on line with his work- his book is Non Violent Communication The Language of Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT8KGgDo6TY
There are many, many more-most of which center around speaking up and speaking out in the most effective way possible.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access
Books
The Key to Inclusive Leadership (hbr.org),
A helpful collection of papers from Harvard Business Review
How to be an Inclusive Leader and Inclusion: Diversity: The New Workplace and the Will To Change
Jennifer Brown- both of these books are very useful in understanding and developing DEIA in the workplace
Wolfpack
Abby Wambach A short (92) page quick read that is inspiring and very clear in terms of practices
Nice girls don’t speak up or stand out
Lois Frankel Dr. Frankel has some other books that focus on communication for women (Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office” , especially useful in organizational setting. Dr Frankel is an internationally notable Executive Coach. She enumerates 100 mistaken beliefs that tend to hold women back from advancement.
What Works for Women at Work
Joan Williams and Rachel Dempsey. This book is based on interviews/research of several women at various work places and also focuses on communication.
Race, Work and Leadership: New Perspectives on the Black Experience
Laura Morgan, Anthony Mayo, David Thomas (from a consensus review “This is an important and valuable book. It is amazing in the breadth of its coverage of important topics related to race, work and leadership. It includes materials for readers looking for a variety of types of knowledge regarding these topics, both those looking for empirical results and those looking for deep insights. It makes evident how complex the issues associated with these topics are, but also suggests ways into dealing with them”
The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table
Minda Harts – (consensus review “This book is full of practical career advice for anyone struggling to navigate the unwritten rules of corporate America. What makes The Memo unique is that it centers the experience of black women in the workplace. Harts provides community for women of color and holds the rest of us accountable for overlooking, ostracizing, and excluding the most educated demographic in our talent pool. I am grateful for this work, which accomplished so much in its 240 pages.”
Who Do We Choose To Be- Facing Reality, Claiming Leadership, Restoring Sanity
Meg Wheatley-A very evocative and compelling case that adversity really is a challenge for those of us who can summon the courage and vulnerability, to lead in whatever way we can-if we do not, there are those interested in power and control who will step into the void.
The author’s intro to her book: “Several years ago, in the face of irreversible global problems and the devolution of leadership, I began to challenge every leader I met with these questions: Who do you choose to be for this time? Are you willing to use whatever power and influence you have to create islands of sanity that evoke and rely on our best human qualities to create, relate, and persevere? Will you consciously and bravely choose to reclaim leadership as a noble profession that creates possibility and humaneness in the midst of increasing fear and turmoil?
This book summons us to be leaders for this time of profound disruption, to reclaim leadership as a noble profession that creates possibility and humaneness in the midst of increasing fear and turmoil by creating Islands of Sanity.
The other side of the coin- Dealing with Racism towards healthcare workers
Dealing with Racist Patients, NEJM 2016; 374:708-711. https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMp1514939?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed
Addressing Patient Bias Toward Health Care Workers: Recommendations for Medical Centers, Annals of Internal Medicine, 2020; 173(6): 468-473.
· Videos
o A brief but powerful introduction to the essence of diversity, equity and inclusion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6eqOBOqESM
o A remarkable video on how to shape our communications and avoid open and micro aggressions by Louise Evans (18 minutes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BZuWrdC-9Q
o The late Marshall Rosenberg is considered to be one of the founders of deeply effective- or what he terms nonviolent communication-this is one of a series of presentations he did on the basics of this approach to communication with others (it starts with giving) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-129JLTjkQ&list=PLF45FD9FA2E77FD50&index=1the full 3 hour workshop is well worth doing (it works better if you actually participate along with the video.
II Leadership skills
Courses on line (plus hundreds directly from Universities
Coursera – if you haven’t explored it- you really should do so- there are hundreds of online courses from major Universities around the world. Can take many of them for free-unless you wish a certificate (Certificates cost about $75 for most courses-and require you to do quizzes and submit assignments) A few have ties into for credit courses that charge tuition. A few examples of the MANY leadership-life skills related courses
Positive Psychology - University of Pennsylvania -leads to certificate if desired
The Science of Wellbeing-Yale
Clinical Teaching Case Western Reserve
Conversations that Inspire- Coaching for Leadership– Case Western Reserve
Leading for Healthcare Quality and Safety -George Washington (in full disclosure-this one was developed by my wife Jean Johnson and I -no financial gain related to use)
Udemy – somewhat similar to Coursera- but done by individual instructors rather than through a University of College itself- generally a bit more expensive from 5$0-200 but often sales for less
Several courses by Tara Brach on Mindfulness and Meditation
Many courses on all phases of leadership and management
Summaries and Useful Tools for Leadership and Management
Mindtools -commercial site with hundreds of short (usually 15 minute) readings and videos on all phases of management and leadership.
Soundview -a commercial site that provides summaries of books related to leadership and management and related business related issues.
https://www.summary.com/magazine/the-25-best-leadership-books-of-all-time/
Harvard Business Review- still a remarkable source for well written and reasonably evidence based leadership and management information
Derck Sivers -a podcaster who is an amazing avid reader mostly around leadership (but strays sometimes) who provides quick, easy to read summaries of all the books he has read
Sumoreads (by Amazon)
More detailed summaries of business and other non fiction works than those by Soundview-but also longer and more expensive (although some titles are free for Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers) but line of books is worth checking out
Leadership and life skills approaches videos, books and websites
Dare to Lead
Brene Brown PhD started out as a researcher at Rice University first on shame, and then on leadership, In 2010 she did a Ted Talk that has been viewed by over 50 million people. She has since written several books, including Dare to Lead which is one of the key foundations of the Leadership-Life Skills Course. Her website has a lot of useful readings and tools for leadership study
Ted Talk (20 minutes)
https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability?language=enPrimal
Website (a life time of study)
Primal Leadership
The originator and major research in EQ/EI and Primal Leadership is Daniel Goleman -many utubes, books and related materials- his website includes a great course on EI
http://www.danielgoleman.info/
Resonant Leadership
Richard Boyatzis PhD-also the originator of Resonant Leadership, Best site for his research is either Utube or IOC (Institute for Coaching)
Servant Leadership
Robert Greenleaf PhD -was a Professor at MIT and the originator of the concept of servant leadership-which is focused on empowerment of others and self-discovery. Below is the website of the Institute he founded.
https://www.greenleaf.org/what-is-servant-leadership/
Transformational Living-
Pat Williams PhD is a coach and psychologist who has done a great deal of inquiry into how to move beyond the surface level of leadership and coaching. His ability to relate emotional insight and his own emotional intelligence is remarkable
Leading with Dignity
Donna Hicks PhD, is, like Brene Brown, a researcher who has come into prominence through her writing,
Mindset -Changing the Way You Think to Fulfill
Carol Dweck PhD furthers prior work in emotional intelligence and related fields and applies it to everyday work settings.
Job Searching -Hiring Job interviews and
https://www.ted.com/playlists/352/talks_to_watch_before_a_job_in
Starting off on a new job
https://www.ted.com/playlists/554/talks_for_when_you_re_starting_a_new_job_aug_2017
