
Build Your Leaders from the Inside Out
Self-paced skill-building for character strength and leader-team communicationWhy character and communication skills matter
Emotional Intelligence
Character and communication are directly related to self-management, social awareness, and engaging team members.


Core Values of the Organization
Developing the skills empowers everyone to bring to life values like integrity, trust, excellence, and accountability.
Focus on PRACTICE, not just KNOWLEDGE
The unique design of GSL SkillBuilder empowers participants to master the skills, not just learn about them. Use it as a stand-alone, self-directed program or as part of an established leadership curriculum.




Micro-learning
Brief videos and suggested practices can be applied immediately.
Practice-based approach to learning
Learners work on one skill at a time, repeating the skill until it becomes automatic.
Participants work with a coach for support, encouragement, and accountability
- Coaching partnerships where two people coach each other, also known as peer coaching, or
- One coach for several participants, or
- Coaching from a participant’s manager, mentor, or trainer
Optimized for mobile
Access it from any device.
Character Skills
36 character skills in 3 key areas that help people do the right things and the hard things.

Building a Strong SELF
Self-awareness, humility, resilience, rationality, composure, and more

Building Strong RELATIONSHIPS
Integrity, empathy, fairness, trust, cooperation, service, and more

Building a Stronger WORK ETHIC
Excellence, commitment, responsibility, initiative, and more
Communication Skills
10 communication skills that inspire team members to want to engage and
work with their leader.

Listen to understand

Coach people to think for themselves

Guide learning from experience

Get buy-in for expectations

Offer encouragement

Express appreciation

Give feedback constructively

Accept feedback graciously

Engage in dialogue

Resolve conflict creatively
Enhance your programs with GSL SkillBuilder or use it as a stand-alone solution—no certification required.
“GSL SkillBuilder is a fantastic tool for organizations looking for an effective way to level up the skills of their teams. It is ‘just in time’ learning that’s in easy, bite-sized portions designed to meet Adult Learners style of learning! What I especially like about the SkillBuilder system is two things: it’s an intuitive system that’s easy to use; and it doesn’t allow the learner to progress to the next step until they’ve internalized the learning of the skill on which they’re focusing so that learners are actually LEARNING, not just completing a task! Extremely well done.”
Participant resources include
these practical skills guides.

Grow Strong Character
A Guide for Developing 36 Character Skills to Achieve Excellence in Every Area of Your Life
Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.

Connect with Your Team
Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills
Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D., and Meredith M. Bell

Peer Coaching Made Simple
How to Do the 6 Things That Matter Most When Helping Someone Improve a Skill
Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D., and Meredith M. Bell
“As a leader with decades of experience at the helm of WD-40 Company, I wholeheartedly endorse Dennis E. Coates’ Grow Strong Character. This book is a masterful guide to developing the 36 essential character skills needed for personal and professional success. Filled with insightful anecdotes, actionable advice, and powerful quotes, it offers a practical roadmap for leaders at all levels. Dennis’s emphasis on self-awareness, self-discipline, and resilience aligns with my own experiences, making this book an invaluable resource for anyone committed to excellence.”
“Grow Strong Character is a must-read for leaders at any stage. It’s packed with practical tools for understanding your strengths and weaknesses, growing through adversity, and boosting your emotional intelligence. This book isn’t just for leaders—it offers something valuable for everyone, helping you build a stronger character and become more resilient and self-aware in all areas of life.”
“Grow Strong Character tackles the most foundational aspect of leadership – character. What I particularly appreciated about it, though, is the highly practical lens that it covers the topic through – whether the short chapters that can be read independently and referenced at a later time, to the why to internalize the necessity of a particular element, or the specific actions one can use as a starting point to improve. A worthwhile read for anyone on their leadership journey – whether starting or seasoned.”
Start building stronger leaders today.
If you’re looking for a program that focuses exclusively on communication skills, check out GSL PowerPartners. It’s powered by the same online skill-building platform as GSL SkillBuilder.