Adam Motenko - Associate

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​I am a consultant, coach, facilitator and trainer specializing in relationship management, negotiation and leadership development.  In addition to my consulting work, I spent 10 years at Harvard University and Brandeis University managing programs and advising graduate students on their careers.  Having led trainings and consulted internationally with Fortune 500 companies, non-profit organizations and government agencies. I utilize expertise in interest-based negotiation, mediation, effective communication and dialogue facilitation to help my clients better understand and improve their relationships.  I love working with self-aware, goal oriented clients who share a passion for mission driven and social impact work.

Most satisfying work
Recently I delivered a project for a Boston area University that included drafting a diversity, equity and inclusion logic model and work plan which was developed into the school’s strategic plan on diversity. In addition, I co-designed and delivered multiple sessions for faculty, researchers and staff to foster critical examination of diversity of all kinds and build skills to support the community as allies.  This project helped the School better identify the challenges of creating a truly equitable and inclusive space and move towards implementing systemic changes.

Frequently used theories and tools
My background in communication and conflict resolution draws from my work with Roger Fisher and others at the Harvard Negotiation Project and with Essential Partners' Reflective Structured Dialogue as well as the work of Chris Argyris and Action Design among many others. This includes Interest-Based Negotiation & Mediation, Double Loop Learning, The Ladder of Inference, The Circle Chart for Problem Solving, and Goal Focused Process Design among other effective communication and relationship management theory and techniques. I also weave in mindfulness practice and philosophy with coaching clients who are interested.

Degrees & Certifications:
MBA, Brandeis University focusing on Non-Profit Management and Social Entrepreneurship
BA, Goucher College in Peace Studies, Philosophy and Religion
Harvard Mediation Program, Advanced Mediation Certification
Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI®), GS Consultants
“Adam is such a skilled and knowledgeable presenter. He has a wealth of knowledge and a wonderful and open way of presenting information and moving through a lot of content efficiently while also making people extremely comfortable. I’d come to any workshop he is giving. Bravo Adam!”

​Susan W., Advertising Manager
“I feel as though I am talking to a very, very good friend who has known me for years - which is mad because, of course, we have not known each other for years!  I like this approach and it makes me feel very safe, and like we are meeting as equals.”

Imogen C., Artistic Director
​Adam's picks :
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BOOKS
Beyond Reason: Using Emotions as You Negotiate by Roger Fisher and Daniel Shapiro
Getting To Yes was revolutionary for negotiation.  Difficult Conversations answered the question, what about when people are the problem?  From former colleagues Roger Fisher and Dan Shapiro, Beyond Reason adds a crucial addendum focusing on the emotional dynamics of negotiation.  Whether you want to better understand the emotions connected to disagreements in relationship or you want to use the emotional dimension to get what you want, this book is a helpful resource.
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TALKS
Atul Gawande: Want to get great at something? Get a coach.
"It's not how good you are now; it's how good you're going to be that really matters," - Atul Gawande.
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TOOLS
Ladder of Inference
From the brilliant Chris Argyrus and Peter Senge, The Ladder Of Inference explains how we come to believe in our reality and why we can experience the same event as someone else yet come away with a completely different understanding of what happened.  Understanding how we and others reach conclusions and communicating about that process can help disentangle disagreement and overcome barriers to working well together.