T H E H I G H E S TC O M M O N D E N O M I N A T O R

In  this  new  global  marketplace  we  stand  at  the  edge  of  a  precipice.    We  will  either  fall  or  fly.  To  take  flight  requires  unprecedented  levels  of   crea;vity,   innova;on   and   commitment   that   come   only   from   a  courageous,  fully  engaged  workforce.The  Highest  Common  Denominator  provides  a  founda;onal  skill  set  that   enables   organiza;ons   to   transcend   interpersonal   conflicts,  apathy,  diminished   trust  and   team  divisions  that  lead   to   cultures  of  entropy.The   Highest   Common   Denominator   is   a   dynamic   and   unifying  experience   that   creates   cultures   of   empathy   and   synergy.   It  harnesses   the  power  and  richness  of   the  human  diversity  present  in  global  organiza;ons.As  explorers  and  adventurers,  we  have  endeavored  to  lead  bold  and  inspired  lives.    As  educators,  we  bring  that  same  energy,  passion  and  excitement  to   our  work  with   organiza;ons.  As  facilitators,  we  drive  results  from  our  insistence  on  that  same  commitment  to  daring  and  courage  from  the  individuals  with  whom  we  work.

“All  agreed  that  yours  was  a  non-­‐

tradi4onal  approach  that  really  worked.  They  appreciated  the  

opportunity  for  introspec4on,  the  thought  provoking  insight  and  the  cri4cal  element  of  fun.  Even  weeks  later  I  have  seen  and  

heard  how  you  reached  their  hearts,  minds  and  souls.”

Stacy  Hanley,  Senior  Project  Manager  Motorola  Worldwide  

Human  Resources  Conference

Vis ionCourage

Wisdom

Vitality

“Jeff  and  Chess  built  core  value  connec4ons  across  my  

leadership  team  and  inspired  our  en4re  organiza4on  to  pursue  our  goals  with  more  commitment,  passion  and  sense  of  adventure.    Our  en4re  group  walked  away  from  this  offsite  more  

energized  than  ever  before.”

Dus4n  Grosse,  General  ManagerSales  Marke4ng  &  Services  Group  

Readiness,  Microso1

 “This  experience  will  change  the  way  your  organiza4on  collaborates;  it  gives  everyone  in  the  organiza4on  a  different  and  renewed  perspec4ve  on  what's  

important  and  how  we  can  achieve  the  goals  together.  Highly  recommended.”

Senior  Director  -­‐  ebay

Ins?lling  a  Spirit  of  Adventure  in  your  organiza?on  is  at  the  very  heart  of  the  Highest  Common  Denominator.

The Highest

Common Denominator

Highest  Common  Denominator  (HCD)   is   the  principle   of   aligning   individuals   around  their   most   elevated   ideals.   While   teams  guided  by  the  lowest  common  denominator  tend   to   be   fac6onal,   risk   adverse   and  unimagina6ve.   HCD   unifies   and   inspires  teams   by   access ing   their   grandest  aspira6ons,   inherent   courage   and   best  selves.

A  HCD  culture  is   a  high  energy/low  entropy  environment   where   crea6vity,   innova6on  and  communica6on  flourish  and  flow  easily.  Acrimony   and   apathy   vanish   and   are  replaced   by   authen6c   camaraderie   and  engagement.

For  the  last  two  decades  while  crea6ng  and  presen6ng   day-­‐long   and  

m u l 6 -­‐ d a y   e v e n t s  worldwide   for   today’s  largest,   most   successful  organiza6ons,   we   have  had   the   opportunity   to  o b s e r v e   t h e   k e y  

d iffe ren6a to r   be tween  organiza6ons   con6nuing   to   gain   market  s h a r e   and   t ho se   i n   d e c l i n e .   The  differen@ator   is   startl ingly   simple:  ascendant   organiza@ons   have   High  Common  Denominator  cultures  while  those  in  decline  have  low.

It  is  our  belief   that  by  making  the  traits  and  quali@es   inherent   in   HCD   cultures   explicit  and  gaining  the  skills  to  reinforce  them,  any  organiza@on   can   posi@on   itself   for  dynamism  and  growth.  

At   the   core   HCD   prac@ce   is   “The   Story.”  Individuals  have  them.  So  do  organiza@ons.  Success   comes   from   having   a   good   one,  understandings   it   and   telling   it   well.   In   a  6me   of   massive   and   abrupt   globaliza6on  nothing   has  the   transcendent  power   of   the  authen6c   human   story,   truthfully   told,   to  unify  partnerships,  teams  or  organiza6ons  –  regardless   of   poli6cs,   geography,   faith   or  culture.

How It Works

HCD  training  is  unique.  It  has  deep  roots  in  the  uni@ve  discipline  of  ‘transpersonal   anthropology’   –   the   study   of   shared   human  experiences   that   transcend   culture.   Based   on   thirty   years   of  research   on   the   universal   ‘Wheel   of   Life’,   a   map   of   the   shared  human   story   found   in   tradi6onal   cultures  planet-­‐wide,   we   chart   your   path   and  guide   your   journey   of   success   in   these  demanding  and  exci6ng  6mes.

Ideally,   the  HCD  journey  takes  place  over  a  period   of   (4-­‐5)   days  distributed   over  a  period  of  four  to  six  months.

Alternately:   If   repeated   off-­‐sites   are   not  an   op6on,   an   extended   E-­‐Learning  training   program  is  available  following   an  ini6al  day-­‐long  introductory  event.

We  take  pride  in  working  directly  with  you  to  tailor  our  programs  to  best  suits  your  unique  training  objec6ves  and  culture.  

LOWEST

COMMON DENOMINATOR

HIGHEST

COMMON DENOMINATOR

What  Can  I  Get? What  Can  I  Give

“You”  As  The  Problem “Us”  As  The  Solu@on

Suspicion  /  Mistrust Assuming  Good  Inten@ons

Fear  Of  Failure Willingness  To  Risk

Finger  Poin@ng  /  Blame Compassion  /  Accountability

Short  Term  Results Sustainable  Success

What’s  Best  For  Me? What’s  Best  For  The  Team?

I  Want  To  Prove  My  Point I  Want  To  Find  A  Win/win  Solu@on

Its  Only  About  Results Rela@onships  MaZer!

Vis ionCourage

Wisdom

Vitality

"Thank  you  again  for  the  magnificent  program  that  you  ran  for  our  group  out  here  in  France.  The  effect  on  our  group  was  resoundingly  posi4ve.  It  has  been  a  remarkable  success  in  allowing  our  team  to  become  more  cohesive.”“By  the  end  of  the  day  I  ended  up  with  a  smile  I  could  not  control.  It  was  more  than  great!"  

Mark  SusterAccenture

European  Technology  Park

Jeff  Salz,  Ph.D.With  a  Ph.D.  in  cultural  anthropology  and  a  masters  degree  in  experien6al  educa6on,  Dr.   Jeff   Salz  spent  10   years  as  a  university   professor.   For   the  last   15   years,   he  has  been  guiding   organiza6ons  through  the  turbulent  seas  of  change  and  facilita6ng  enhanced   teamwork   in  organiza6ons  like  Microso[,  eBay  and  the  Walt  Disney  Company.  Jeff's  bestselling  book,  The  Way   of   Adventure:   Transforming   Your   Life   and   Work   with   Spirit   and  Vision,   is   a   ‘manual’   that   assists   organiza6ons   to   keep   the   flame   of  adventure  alive  every  day.

J E F F S A L Z

Jeff  Salz  and  Chess  

Edwards  provided  us  with  an  experience  we  will  never  forget.    Their  

insights,  learning  tools  and  inspiration  

will  help  take  our  organization  to  new  

heights,  at  a  time  when  continued  creativity  

and  innovation  are  critical  to  our  success.

Mary  Rose  Becker

Director  of  Communications  and  

Analytics,  Microsoft

C H E S S E D W A R D S

H i g h e s t C o m m o n D e n o m i n a t o rL e a d e r s h i p G u i d e s :

Chess  Edwards    has  organized  learning  experiences  for  groups  from  5  to  

500   from  board  rooms  to  the  tops  of  wind   swept   granite  spires.   Chess  translates  the  mind  set   of  the  adventurer   and  explorer   into  cri6cal  areas  of   thinking  for   success  in  today's  ever   changing  corporate  environments.  Just   as  he   explores   far   beyond   conven6onal   boundaries   in   his   travels,  Chess  enjoys  digging  deep  to  discover  your  own  team's  unique  journey  of  development.     Chess  combines  the  skills  of   a  photographer,   storyteller,  educator  &  adventurer  into  interac6ve  keynote  and  training  presenta6ons  that  entertain,  inspire  and  educate.  

E   -­‐  Learning