Robert L. Turknett, Ph.D.

Co-founder and Co-chairman

Robert L. (Bob) Turknett co-founded Turknett Leadership Group (TLG) in 1987. He served as CEO of the firm for twenty-four years and now serves as co-chairman and senior consultant. Bob is a licensed psychologist, a trusted advisor to CEOs and boards, and a pioneer in CEO Coaching.

He is often heard saying that he really loves coaching the top person because “it enables him to get his arms around the entire organization,” creating a high probability for real change. Bob has served as an executive coach to more than 1,000 executives in more than 100 companies.

Prior to founding TLG, Bob was in private practice for seven years, was a co-founder of the Georgia Psychological Health Network, and was Chief Psychologist for both Kentucky and Georgia’s regional hospital systems.

Career Highlights

  • For a Large Telecommunications Firm: Executive team development with the president of 35,000 person unit and all direct reports; individual executive coaching with the president, leadership team, and facilitation for team development
  • For a National Fast-food Restaurant: Executive team development; executive coaching with the president and 50 top senior team members over 12 years – revenue from $200 million to $1 billion
  • For a Large Telecommunications Firm: Executive coaching with presidents of multiple business units, and served as an executive coach to hundreds of executives
  • For a Paper and Building Products Firm: Successful turnaround coaching with derailing executive
  • For a Global Pharmaceutical Sales Org: Executive coaching with the president and sales executive; coaching and development team

Areas of Specialization

  • CEO consulting/coaching
  • Developing senior executives and their teams
  • Onboarding coaching for the first year with new chief executives or senior leaders
  • Turnaround coaching with valued leaders about to derail
  • Management assessment to help companies validate their top choices for key positions
  • Consults with a family-owned business
    leaders to align leadership and strategy to drive profitability
  • Combines coaching and cultural
    development to facilitate company synergy

Unique Attributes

  • B.A. in Business from Jacksonville University, M.S. and Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Georgia, where he was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi honorary society
  • Bob, along with business and life partner Lyn, published a book about their work together entitled, Decent People, Decent Company: How to Lead with Character at Work and in Life. The book is based on the Turknett Leadership Character Model™, a model that describes the kind of character all of us need to lead wherever we are
  • In 2006, Bob received the Leadership Entrepreneurial Award presented by Jacksonville University and was subsequently honored as a Distinguished Alumnus. In Spring 2009, he gave the university’s Commencement Address and also received an honorary Ph.D. at that ceremony
  • Bob has served on numerous committees and the board of Atlanta Rotary. He has been a member of the American Psychological Association, the Georgia Psychological Association, the Academy of Management, the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, the American Management Association, the Society for Human Resource Management, and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce

Awards

Up Next Lyn Turknett