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Transform your leaders with custom workshops and focused coaching that builds self-leadership.
I Lead Me Academy
A proven process that sustains ownership—so leadership growth turns into a lasting competitive advantage.
Most new leaders are set up to fail.
As a business owner or executive, your plate is already full—and when managers lack the skills to lead, you feel it fast. From misaligned teams to missed deadlines, the fallout is constant and costly.
The reality.
Over 50% of leaders fail within 18 months of taking on a new role—often because they’re expected to lead others before learning to lead themselves.
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The solution.
I Lead Me Academy develops leaders who communicate clearly, take ownership, and resolve issues before they escalate.
The result.
You regain clarity and freedom to focus on strategy, growth and the future of the organization—while leadership works at every level.
I'm John Bentley. I help leaders lead themselves—so ownership scales.
You may be thinking, “I don’t need leaders who focus on themselves. I need leaders who lead others.”
That makes sense. But here’s what experience proves:
When leaders don’t lead themselves well—especially under pressure—problems escalate, trust erodes, and responsibility drifts upward.
When they do, ownership spreads. Decisions improve. And leaders at every level handle issues before they land on your desk.
After more than 40 years developing leaders in high-pressure environments, I created I Lead Me Academy to solve this exact problem.
It’s a hands-on development path that helps leaders manage themselves first—so they become the kind of leaders others trust, follow, and rely on.
How the I Lead Me Academy works.
1
Custom Design
We start by listening—so the Academy fits your organization, not the other way around.
Whether you’re developing new leaders, supporting experienced managers, or navigating change, we design a program that addresses the real challenges your leaders face and keeps ownership where it belongs.
2
Group Workshops
Leaders participate in interactive workshops that build practical self-leadership skills they can apply immediately. Using proven tools and shared language, they learn how to think clearly, communicate responsibly, and solve problems before they escalate.
3
Individual Coaching
Between workshops, leaders receive one-on-one coaching to apply what they’re learning to real situations. This turns insight into habit—so ownership, follow-through, and trust become consistent, not occasional.
Let's talk about the possibilities.
If you look hard enough, you can almost see the light bulbs going off.
Power 2 Transform workshops are not only a fun and enlightening break from the day-to-day. With 1:1 coaching incorporated into Transform Leadership Academy, we can be sure the lessons stick.
As an advisor, John has broad experience and insight. As a speaker, he is engaging and dynamic. As a thought leader, he has big ideas and is a paradigm shifter. And as a person, he is deeply caring and thoroughly honest. I give John my highest recommendation!
Stephen M.R. Covey, The New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal best-selling author of The Speed of Trust and Smart Trust
One of many success stories.
We had the opportunity to work with a regional medical center that was struggling with inefficiencies in their nursing home discharge process. The costs were climbing, and the team was feeling the strain. They knew something needed to change, but weren’t sure where to start.
When we stepped in, we saw that communication and decision-making were at the heart of the issue. By implementing a tailored leadership development plan, we helped them align their efforts and create a smoother process. The result? A $250,000 cost reduction in the discharge process.
HERE'S WHAT ELSE CHANGED
Hopeful but hesitant?
Let's address some questions you may have.
How much does it cost?
How long will it take?
How much time does it require of leaders?
What's included with each workshop?
What's the structure of 1:1 coaching?
How will we know it's working?
What happens after the program?
Please reach out with any other questions—we’re hopeful (and confident!) this conversation could be the turning point you’ve been looking for.
Self-Leadership Trainer | Certified in Leadership Coaching for Organizational Wellbeing | Certified Situational Leadership II Facilitator | DiSC & Agile EQ Practitioner | Author
I’ve been where your leaders are.
Leading people is challenging, especially when you're still figuring out how to lead yourself. Early in my career, I thought leadership was about proving I was the smartest person in the room. But the more I pushed, the more I saw things unravel. It wasn’t until a mentor gave me some hard-to-swallow feedback—telling me I was like a shaken soda can, ready to explode when things didn’t go my way—that I realized the problem started with me. Learning to lead myself changed everything. It allowed me to show up as a leader that others wanted to follow, not out of obligation, but because they trusted me.
That’s why I’m so passionate about self-leadership. It’s the foundation for everything. When you truly know yourself—your strengths, your blind spots, how you respond under pressure—you can guide others with clarity and empathy. You stop reacting and start leading with intention. And it’s in those moments, when you remain calm and centered despite the chaos, that you inspire others to do the same. I’ve spent over four decades refining this approach because I’ve seen the transformation it sparks—not just in leaders but in entire teams and companies.
Investing in self-leadership isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. It’s how you build a culture that thrives in the face of uncertainty, where people bring their best and want to work together. That’s the kind of leadership we help you create, and I’m honored to be part of that journey with you.