Todd Wangsgard
Enterprising, results-driven, and grounded are words that describe Todd Wangsgard. He brings 24 years of leadership and organizational development experience to his clients.
Clients value his ability to create clarity out of the business fog that prevents most companies from enabling greatness and developing the capabilities of their associates.
Todd has excellent professional experience. He was Senior Manager of Training, Talent Management, and Communications for ATK Lake City, a government-owned, company-operated manufacturing center in Independence, Missouri. He organized the training department, developed and implemented all levels of leadership curriculum, and oversaw the operation’s succession planning and teambuilding strategies.
As the Manager of Professional Development for ATK, a $4 billion aerospace and defense company, Todd led the creation of employee and leadership assessment and development initiatives for operations in 23 states.
Todd worked for Intermountain Healthcare, Inc. in Salt Lake City, Utah, the intermountain west’s largest physician, clinic and hospital network. He founded IHC University and managed the implementation of curriculum as well as the administrative team of IHCU.
An industry cross section of Todd’s clients represent higher education, health care, insurance, manufacturing, aerospace, and defense.
Todd holds a PhD from Walden University in Leadership and Organizational Change. He has also earned his MBA from the University of Phoenix and a B.A. from Weber State University (Ogden, Utah) in communications.
Todd is affiliated with a number of professional organizations and holds certifications to teach a number of programs. He is a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), a Master Facilitator for Achieve Global, and a Certified Professional Behavior Analyst (DISC).
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FranklinCovey Consultant Blogs | Todd Wangsgard | Jobs
New Rules for Running Better, Faster, Smarter
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I recently read an article in the 2010 Spring issue of USA Triathlon Life by the same title. One of the new rules not only caught my attention because it truly was new to me, but also because of its relevance in the workplace. Here’s an actual excerpt:
I'm currently in a rut, pounding out a straight 5k three to four times per week!
“Train in all directions and all planes. Yes, specificity of training still rules (in other words, if you want to run well, you have to practice running). But the paradoxical truth is that training in all planes (rotational, frontal, and transverse) helps you be more efficient in the sagittal plane (the front-and-back plane in which we bike and run). Basically, ‘3-dimensional’ training creates connections that rehearse the little inefficiencies out of your run.”
What does that even mean?
Many of us are “running” in our jobs, each and every day. And most of us have learned to run faster and stronger in that same “sagittal plane,” from front to back. We increase our efficiency with time management techniques. We study best practices of others in order to do more with less. Yet we may be overlooking less obvious opportunities to strengthen in other dimensions (rotational, frontal, transverse) by learning related yet non-traditional skills or by challenging our acumen with a test of the untested.
For example, whereas a runner can potentially strengthen his balance and stride by adding yoga to his workout regimen, a manager who traditionally focuses on clarifying purpose, inspiring trust, aligning systems, and unleashing talent (see FranklinCovey’s Great Leaders curriculum) could benefit from honing more tangential skills such as listening, negotiating, decision-making, and the like. These can help you “rehearse the little inefficiencies out of your run.”
Don’t get stuck in a rut. View the contribution you are making in your job as 3-dimensional. Over time, you’re much less likely to “trip-up,” when you’ve strengthened your understanding and abilities in a variety of areas, not just in those directly related to your primary job. Not to mention, you’ll become more valuable to the organization, as they consider who possesses the ability to see them through tough times.