Robert Barber is a seasoned leadership trainer, consultant, and executive coach with over 26 years of diverse experience spanning executive HR, serial entrepreneurship, engineering, sales, and marketing. He specializes in helping executives and HR teams engineer high performance in leadership development, organizational strategy, and human capital management.
As a best-selling author of CEO For Life, Robert is renowned for his innovative training programs and masterminds. Currently, he is the founder and lead coach of Paratus Consulting, where he focuses on high performance leadership training and HR strategy.
Before founding Paratus Consulting, Robert was an Operating Principal at a multimillion-dollar luxury residential and commercial investment firm and served as the Executive Leader of HR at a Fortune 150 company. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and an MBA. However, Robert attributes his success to his start as a Walt Disney World Jungle Cruise Captain.
People join great organizations, but leave bad leaders and dysfunctional teams. Train your people well enough to leave and treat them well enough to want to stay. Do you want more engaged Leaders and Team Members? Of course you do. We focus on two areas with our training and development programs. 1. Developing Emerging Leaders and 2. Employee Engagement for their teams. and 3. Leadership By Design.
We offer an Emerging Leadership Development Program specifically designed for new team leaders and managers. We deliver an onsite and/or virtual program designed to focus on Clarity of Purpose, Setting Team Direction, Consistent Execution, Connection, Compliance, and Go. Giving new leaders the skills necessary to grow into high performing leaders.
A process and platform for consistent connection for each team member that connects their role, career and growth to company vision and team goals. Perfect for Remote Work Teams needing a process to maintain deeper engagement. Lead Teams seeking a new way to connect deeper as a team. New leaders seeking to accelerate team connection.
Leading By Design delivers a consistent elevated Leadership Model. The number one reason employees leave a great company is a poor leader. Do your leaders operate from a consistent model and process? Leading By Design delivers a model of 6 core competencies for leaders to set them up for success. Investing in the leaders is the best return on investment a company can make.
"Many thanks to Robert Barber, Developing Exceptional Leaders for helping the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce’s team through a training session on hashtag#goalsetting and Navigating Difficult Conversations yesterday. A better us will help us build a better Chattanooga. Love this team."
Charles Wood, CEcDCharles Wood, CEcD
President & CEO at Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce
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"I highly recommend Robert for leadership development. He led an emerging leadership workshop for our senior executive team this past week. His expertise and ability to engage a team left us encouraged for the future. I highly recommend Robert for leadership development. He led an emerging leadership workshop for our senior executive team this past week. His expertise and ability to engage a team left us encouraged for the future."Â
Brad Scott
Chief Executive Officer at PREP Public SchoolsÂ
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"Robert’s leadership workshop is eye-opening no matter where you are in you leadership journey! I came here with a clear vision for my role and action steps to reach it. Throughout the process my teammates and I were able to bond and have honest conversations on growth and how to push ourselves to the next level as our organization expands. Highly recommend any team to hire Robert for leadership training!"
Juan Aguinaga
Chief of Staff at PREP Public Schools
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"Our Leadership Team did the Connect fro Teams training with Robert and it was incredible. Not only was it a great day of team building but it was a great day to learn more about the strengths and vision of each member of our team. We are excited about how this is going to help our organization move forward with focused and aligned leaders."
Jessica L. Whatley, CFREJessica L. Whatley, CFRE
CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga
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"Our logistics Team at Taimen Transport had the opportunity to work with Robert recently. Robert's teaching style was engaging and interactive, which kept our team actively participating throughout the workshop. He encouraged everyone to share their own experiences and thoughts, which helped everyone to learn from each other as well as gain new perspectives. Rather than just presenting theoretical ideas, Robert provided tools and techniques that could be applied immediately to existing leadership roles. He also provided opportunities to practice new skills through role-playing exercises and group discussions.Â
I am excited to see our team put these new skills to use in daily leadership tasks. Overall, I would highly recommend Robert to anyone looking to develop their leadership skills or their team's skills. Thank you, Robert, for this opportunity!"
Tonya C. Lewis, MS, MPS-HRTonya C. Lewis, MS, MPS-HR
Human Resources Director at Taimen Transport, LLC
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"I have attended many professional development training sessions in my lifetime. Many fell short, leaving me a skeptic of most offerings. I was prepared for the same to be true with Robert Barber’s support of the young managers on our team. They were newer to supervision, the legal side of HR, team communication and transparency, and the need to really understand the best practices with regard to personnel management. I was happy to discover that my concerns were misplaced.
Robert set up a training that made a significant difference for our team. Each participant had plenty to say about how valuable the training was for them. They connected more deeply with each other, felt more confident about managing people and the complexity of being the manager, and walked away with tools they could implement immediately.
In fact, I was so pleased by the outcome that we have a new cohort of participants ready to go through the training. It was more than worth the investment of the team’s time and the organization’s funds.Â
Robert is upbeat, gentle, and helps folks to find solutions. He provides information and support to build stronger and more confident leaders. I highly recommend his work."
Deb Socia, CEO
The Enterprise CenterThe Enterprise Center
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“Leadership today is harder than it’s ever been – trust, synergy and empathy have taken on a new level of critical importance as we lead the food bank out of a global pandemic. This workshop helped our leadership team come together in a unique and effective way and has greatly helped us to create a strong foundation for our team to build upon.”Â
Melissa Blevins, CEO
Chattanooga Area Food Bank
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"Our experience with CEO For Life + Connect For Teams was excellent. Robert Barber’s ability to have a great cadence of pre-work prior to the full day seminar was a difference maker for us. Our staff was able to hit the ground running the day of the seminar and had a great roadmap for what the day would look like.
Robert was a great facilitator and pushed us to make it an engaging experience where we got into some great conversations and discussions. The personal mission statement was a tremendous tool to walk away with and something our team often references to with each other.
In todays workplace, having a deeper connection with each other is a huge advantage and for Chattanooga Football Club our time spent with Connect For Teams was fulfilling from both a personal and group perspective. I highly recommend this opportunity for groups that are looking to provide opportunities for development and growth."
Jeremy Alumbaugh, CEO
Chattanooga Football Club
"As a former Navy SEAL Sniper/Medic, I spent over a decade training, deploying and performing at the highest levels imaginable. When we needed to level up a particular skill set we found the best in that area and learned from them. I've done trauma rotations in Emergency Rooms of some of the most cutting edge medical facilities across the nation. One of the biggest names in Crossfit is the head strength and conditioning coach at our Team gym. I've spent countless hours on my stomach behind the scope of my .300 WinMag applying lessons taught by some of the greatest long range match shooters.
When I chose to become a small business owner I quickly discovered that I had difficulty taking the tools and skills that I had sharpened over a decade and applying them to business. So I sought out someone who had already accomplished what I wanted to do. Robert was able to show me how to take the High Performance Habits that I had already cultivated and channel them into my business. I am extremely blessed to have such a giving mentor who deeply cares about my success. I am honored to now call Robert one of my closest friends. For anyone looking to level up their business, start a new business, or just be the best version of yourself, Robert has the most important quality in any leader. The Heart of a Servant."
Michael Cross
SEAL Team Three
Defence Intelligence Agency
Business Owner
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"I was referred to Robert from a friend of mine that he was coaching. Robert is so genuine and sincere. We hit it off immediately and not only has he been a coach, but now I consider him a true friend. Everything I needed to move my business and life forward, he helped me with. I was able to deal with and see some realities that I couldn’t see on my own. I now have the full vision and skills to move forward, not just in my career, but in all areas of my life that I need true focus in. Everyone in my opinion needs a coach/mentor in their life that can truly speak into their life. Robert is just that. Doesn’t matter if you are just starting out or you are a seasoned CEO, he can truly meet you where you are.
John Stutz
AT&T Senior Sales Executive
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"Rob has been way more than a business coach. He truly invests in his clients personally and professionally. There are so many variable for you to not only succeed as the CEO of your company but CEO of your life as well. He goes through those to enable you to bringing your very best to the table for you team and family every day. He will push you but ultimately leaves it up to you use and embrace his teachings. You are the only one that can do it. You either want it or you don’t. I honestly would not be where I am today as a person, boss, and leader without the guidance and teaching of Rob. He helped me turn the ship around completely and now on a continual growth trajectory."
Trey Nelms
State Farm Franchise Owner
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"I highly recommend Rob Barber as a coach. He helped me grow exponentially. Not only did he give me a new set of skills and tools to use, but he helped me grow using less of my personal time."
Jimmy Moncrief
Senior Vice President at Pinnacle Financial Partners