Guttman Development
Strategies - MEDIA
GDS is Redefining Leadership:
Driving Alignment, High-Performance Teams and Horizontal Organizations

At GDS, leadership means fostering a culture of team alignment, targeted interdependence, collaboration, and accountability to create high-performance teams. We believe true leaders empower horizontal organizations where cross-functional teamwork replaces silos, and decision-making is swift, transparent, and results-driven.
Through strategic team alignment, leaders inspire trust, build shared goals, and cultivate an environment where every team member contributes to the organization's success.
Leadership isn’t just about managing—it’s about driving transformation, unlocking potential, and achieving sustained excellence.
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​Guttman Development Strategies (GDS), established in 1989, is a woman-owned management consulting firm specializing in building high-performing, horizontal teams and organizations. Our core services include leadership team alignment, executive coaching, and leadership development, all designed to drive breakthrough performance and foster a culture of accountability.
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​GDS has been featured in various publications, reflecting our thought leadership in the field. Our founder, Howard M. Guttman, is the author of several books, including "Great Business Teams: Cracking the Code for Standout Performance" and "When Goliaths Clash: Managing Executive Conflict to Build a More Dynamic Organization." His insights have been featured in professional journals and mainstream media outlets, contributing to the broader discourse on effective team dynamics and leadership.
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Howard M. Guttman has appeared on MSNBC, New Jersey News 12, WMAQ Chicago, and Comcast Network's "One on One." He has contributed to professional journals such as Executive Excellence, Harvard Business School Working Knowledge, Harvard Management Update, Human Resource Executive, The Journal of Business Strategy, Leader to Leader, Management Review, and Pharmaceutical Executive.
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Articles by Mr. Guttman have also appeared in broad-interest newspapers and magazines such as American Airlines' American Way, Amtrak's Arrive, Business News New Jersey, Investors Business Daily, NJ Biz, The Newark Star Ledger, and U.S.A. Today. Mr. Guttman frequently addresses academic and corporate audiences on such topics as "Executive Development", "Consulting at the Board Level", "Accelerating Organizational Development", "Strategic Training Initiatives", "High-Performance Team Development" and "Conflict Management as a Core Leadership Competency."
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For media inquiries or more information about our services, please contact us at
gds@guttmandev.com or call 973.770.7177.
Our office is located at 400 Valley Road, Suite 103, Mt Arlington, NJ 07856.
What are Horizontal Organizations?
Horizontal organizations are structured to promote cross-functional collaboration rather than operating within traditional, hierarchical silos in a horizontal organization:
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Teams work across functions: Individuals from different departments collaborate, breaking down barriers and fostering interdependence.
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Leadership is shared: Decision-making and accountability are distributed across the team rather than concentrated in a vertical hierarchy.
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Focus on outcomes: Teams align around clear goals and shared priorities to deliver results effectively and efficiently.
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Peer accountability is emphasized: Team members hold one another accountable, encouraging transparency and mutual trust.
This approach enables faster decision-making, enhanced innovation, and a more agile response to organizational challenges, positioning companies for sustainable success in a dynamic business environment.

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