Marcia Isbell

Meet Marcia

Marcia Isbell: Organization Development Practitioner

At heart, I am an Organization Development Practitioner who uses Coaching as a strategic business tool.  I excel in partnering with organizations to navigate complex issues of change at the individual and enterprise level.

For over twenty-five years, I have supported people and organizations as they navigate change:

  • Setting vision, mission, goals
  • Identifying action steps that lead to real change
  • Providing feedback on their forward progress
  • Helping them recalibrate to stay on target

I have supported businesses, spiritual communities, and not-for-profit organizations. My twenty years of consulting in the public sector built my expertise in organization development, individual and team coaching, workforce development, change management, leadership development, management practices and organization effectiveness.

I genuinely like people! Belief in the capability of people to succeed is one of my personal strengths! My unique combination of interpersonal skill, intuition and inquisitiveness lead me to examine the “why” behind decisions and actions, leading clients to examine many possibilities, resulting in a strong rapport and lasting partnerships.

My formal education includes a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science, and a master’s degree in sociology. I am certified by the Life Purpose Institute as a Life and Career Coach and by MG Rush Performance Learning as a FAST Professional Facilitator.

Articles and Presentations by Marcia:

AWWA Journal, April 2009, “Is the Economic Crisis Wreaking Havoc on Your Workforce? How You Handle These Key Human Resources Issues Can Impact Your Bottom Line for the Better”

AWWA Opflow, October 2008, “Knowledge Retention: Develop Effective Succession Planning Strategies”

AWWA Journal, August 2008, “Recruit and Retain Great Employees:  Proven Approaches You Can Implement Now to Address the Workforce Gap”

AWWA Journal, September 2006, “Charlotte Mecklenburg Successfully Integrates Field Operations by Managing Individual and Organizational Strengths”

For copies of past presentations at the American Water Works Association and Water Environment Federation conferences, please use the contact form on this website and identify the presentation you are interested in. Recent presentations are listed below.

WEFTEC 09, Orlando, “Sustainable Utilities Now!  Getting Ready for the Hurricane”

WEFTEC 08, Chicago, “Strategic Workforce Planning for Leaders at All Levels: Getting, Keeping and Developing Your New Workforce”

ACE 08, Atlanta, “Linking New Worker Strategies to Workforce Planning”

ACE 08, Atlanta, “Get in Alignment: Sustainable Workforce Strategies Support Key Business Strategies”

UMC 08, Tampa, “The Future Workforce: What One Utility is Doing to Ensure Sustainability”

NACWA Winter Meetings 08, Phoenix, “Creativity and Participation Build Flexibility and Productivity in Your Workforce”

Books of Interest:

First, Break All the Rules by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman

Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton

Good to Great by Jim Collins

The Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes and Barry Posner

Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler

Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott

The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

The Winner Within by Pat Riley

John Kotter on What Leaders Really Do

The Power of Appreciative Inquiry by Diana Whitney and Amanda Trosten-Bloom

Money Drunk, Money Sober by Julia Cameron and Mark Bryan

Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman