Services | Communication Matters

We support leaders and teams

EXECUTIVE COACHING

TEAM & GROUP COACHING

ASSESSMENTS & 360’S

WOMEN LEADERSHIP

Executive Coaching

Our coaching helps you become a better leader. We know leadership and we will customize a program to meet your needs and help you achieve your goals. We listen deeply to where you are right now and where you want to be and partner with you to create the plans and take the steps to get there.

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I was a coaching client of Carol’s for a few years as I climbed the leadership ladder. She weaved her intelligence, patience, warmth, support, insight, kindness, strength, and professionalism into each coaching session. I owe part of my success to Carol.

Elena Gerstmann, PhD

Executive Director, INFORMS

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Carol helped me reframe challenges in a way that solutions could be identified and implemented. She’s personable, caring, and passionate about helping her clients achieve their goals. She has made me a better communicator, a better leader, and a better employee.

Linda Moore

Senior Director, ESPN

While each coaching engagement and coaching client is unique, we offer different coaching programs to meet individual and organizational needs. Coaching typically lasts between 3-9 months and may include: supervisor input and 360-degree feedback, assessment tools (i.e., DISC, MBTI, Emotional Intelligence, Strengths Finder, Communication Style Preferences), and other customized resources.

Executive Presence and Communications Coaching: Our signature coaching program is particularly beneficial for successful leaders committed to aligning their competency and expertise with fine-tuning and elevating their executive presence, leadership voice, and relationship skills in order to step fully into their personal and professional success.
Executive Coaching for Senior and C-Suite Leaders: Our one-on-one coaching program is customized to meet the coaching client’s and organization’s specific development opportunities and challenges. Recent coaching examples include a leader who has taken on a new role or is preparing for “next level” leadership, a senior level executive who needs a confidential sounding board and thought partner, and a leader who is feeling derailed and wants to address specific unproductive leadership behaviors or challenges. We help leaders leverage their strengths and opportunities for greater success and identify their blind spots – all in a totally confidential manner.
Individual (self-funded) Coaching: This program is for individuals committed to (and personally funding) exploring and expanding their professional and personal growth and examining what’s next for them. We provide the framework to help them cut through the clutter to map out and manage their best path for greater success and happiness. We know individuals have unlimited possibilities and responsibilities, and we help them define (and sometimes refine) their focus to accelerate their success and stand out from the rest.

Our process equips you with the tools and “mind shifts” to become a better leader. While our coaching is customized to meet your needs, our process typically includes:

Coach Match: We begin by identifying the right coach for you. You determine which coach best fits your needs, experience, and individual style.
Assessment Process: Next we get agreement on coaching issues, goals, and desired outcomes. Depending on what’s needed, we may use assessment tools, such as MBTI, 360, or other tools to help you learn more about yourself and where you are right now.
Planning: Then together we create your coaching development plan that includes the agreed-upon goals, specific action steps, and a timeline.
Coaching: Now we move into the coaching phase. We meet regularly, virtually or in-person, for confidential coaching conversations. Between coaching sessions, you might be asked to complete assignments, including recommended readings.
Evaluation: We will regularly review our progress to ensure we are on track to reach your goals. We close by measuring the effectiveness of our work together and make recommendations for ongoing success.

Our focus is always on supporting leaders in a confidential manner, while adding value to the organizations they serve. Contact us at [email protected] or call 703.407.3575 to discuss your coaching goals and learn more about our approach, pricing, assessment tools, expected outcomes, and availability.

Team & Group Coaching

We work with teams and groups of individuals (not working together as intact teams) to identify, address and leverage shared peer learning opportunities and experiences. Together, participants address challenges and opportunities for greater success and happiness.

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Carol provided an engaging and informative onsite training with our department leadership team. She clearly understands the unique opportunities of working in the association management space. I was also impressed with the preparation work Carol did to fully understand our team members and what motivates them, and how she made sure each team member felt heard and connected to the process.

Jamie Moesch

Managing Director, Educational Activities, IEEE

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I can honestly say, the time we spent with you was the most valuable professional development I have ever done. The team, which is typically a hard group to please, expressed the same.

Elizabeth “Beth” Davis

Director, US, Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO)

Team Coaching: This program is for teams committed to improving individual and overall team effectiveness, with an emphasis on HOW teams communicate and work together. We use team assessment tools and proven team management frameworks to help teams identify and agree on communication norms, behaviors, and shared accountability that lead to greater individual and team success.
Group Coachings: This program helps organizations provide the benefits of individual executive coaching to a group of leaders within the same organization, such as high-potential leaders, women leaders, or new managers, at a significant lower cost per participant. This scalable approach combines the power of coaching with peer-to-peer learning.

Assessments & 360’s

Communication Matters Executive Coaches are trained and certified in a wide range of assessment tools and 360 feedback instruments that can be valuable for professional development when they are carefully chosen to align with the coaching client’s needs. They can provide structured, honest insights into strengths, growth areas, and the way others experience our presence and leadership style.

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Carol Vernon has a unique ability to connect in a meaningful and constructive way — both in a classroom setting, as well as individually. She provides our students with the communication skills they need to speak and present themselves professionally.

Patricia Russo

President, Campaign School at Yale University

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Carol’s work with our organization has helped all our employees from the most junior to senior leadership polish up their communication skills. Her coaching goes beyond just the basics and into how to really connect with an audience. We would definitely recommend her to anyone.

Meg Murray

CEO, Association for Community Affiliated Plans

We work directly with our clients to ensure clarity on goals and then recommend and ultimately select assessment and 360 tools to meet the goals. Examples of both goals and assessment tools for moving from assumptions to evidence include:

Self-awareness: We all have blind spots. Assessments (like DISC, MBTI, StrengthsFinder) help you see how your behavior, skills, and communication land with others—sometimes very differently from how you intend.
Broader perspective: A 360 feedback process gathers input from a range of internal, and sometimes external, stakeholders including managers, peers, and direct reports. This range of perspectives creates a more accurate, well-rounded view of your effectiveness. There are many 360 tools to choose from – we customize and recommend 360 instruments that meet both goals and budget considerations.
Clearer development path: Assessment results highlight specific competencies and skills that can be built upon. Instead of vague goals like “be a better leader,” you might uncover a focus such as “improve delegation” or “increase active listening.”
Benchmarking and growth tracking: You can use assessment results as a baseline and revisit them later to measure progress. This shows tangible growth over time.
Career advancement: Organizations increasingly expect leaders to demonstrate emotional intelligence, adaptability, and people skills. Feedback and assessments prove you’re actively developing these areas, which positions you well for promotions or new opportunities.

Women Leadership

We are passionate about supporting and developing women leaders so that they can thrive in their current roles and be well positioned for future success.

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Carol has created a very effective women’s leadership development co-hort program in which we have had several participants. The feedback has been overwhelming positive, making a direct correlation between that experience and their success. I would highly recommend Carol to anyone looking to see himself or herself more clearly, understand their impacts on others, build more effective relationships and achieve their career goals.

Alethia Baggett

Chief Human Resources Officer, American Bankers Association

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The confidence I’ve gained in my ability to impact my organization has increased significantly! I’ve always known that I need to step-up my communications, my network, my plan for my success, but being part of your structured program really helped me focus on myself and all I want to make happen in my career!

Trade Association Senior Director and recent participant in our Leading Women in Associations Professional Development Program

We offer several leadership and coaching programs unique to the challenges and opportunities facing women:

Leading Women in Associations and Nonprofits: our premier small group coaching and training professional development program for rising women leaders (mid-career) working in associations and nonprofits
Align Confidence and Competence: this interactive program for mid-to-senior level audiences takes a practical approach to advancing women leaders. We move the conversation from theoretical "barriers to success" to concrete ways women can excel: relationships, executive presence, strong skills, and self-care.
Hi-Potential Executive Coaching for Women Leaders: contact us for details about customizing an individual or small group program for your organization’s hi-potential women leaders.

We can customize our programs and presentations for in-house groups, open registration small groups, and conferences around the world as one-time events or ongoing leadership development efforts.