Build Your Leaders from the Inside Out

Self-paced skill-building for character strength and leader-team communication

Why character and communication skills matter

Emotional Intelligence

Character and communication are directly related to self-management, social awareness, and engaging team members.

GSL SkillBuilder helps leaders build emotional intelligence
SkillBuilder helps build core values

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

GSL SkillBuilder helps build strong work ethics

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

Listen to understand

Coach people to think for themselves

GSL 360 reports are easy to read

Guide learning from experience

GSL 360 tech support is responsive

Get buy-in for expectations

Encouragement

Offer encouragement

Express appreciation

Give feedback constructively

GSL 360 reports are easy to read

Accept feedback graciously

GSL 360 tech support is responsive

Engage in dialogue

GSL 360 tech support is responsive

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.”

Janine Hamner Holman

Founding Partner and CEO, J&J Consulting Group

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.”

Garry Ridge

Chairman Emeritus WD-40 Company, The Culture Coach

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.”

Damon Lembi

CEO of Learnit & Author of The Learn-It-All Leader

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.”

Omar Halabieh

Head of Technology, Amazon Payment Services

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.