Jay Sternberg (Founder & Strategic Advisor, 3 Things Consulting), a veteran with a 35-year career in consulting, founded 3 Things Consulting to simplify leadership. Over his decades as a partner at global consulting firms, he saw that leadership was often made overly complicated by frameworks and corporate jargon. Sternberg realized that true leadership is rooted in simple, authentic human connection; a lesson he learned firsthand when a simple “Woo hoo!” to celebrate a team member’s breakthrough shifted the energy in a high-pressure meeting.
At its core, 3 Things Consulting helps leaders focus on the “three things” that truly matter: clarity, trust, and accountability. Through coaching and support, Sternberg’s mission is to help leaders move past complex theories and build cultures where people feel seen, trusted, and empowered to lead.
Sternberg helps leaders align their intentions with their impact by encouraging them to focus on the human side of leadership. This intentional, values-based approach fosters a culture where people feel safe to contribute and grow. Ultimately, Sternberg’s goal is to help leaders create an environment where high performance naturally follows from strong relationships.
Why Moments Matter More than Models?
Jay Sternberg’s book, 3 Things: Real Moments. Honest Coaching. Practical Leadership, was born from the challenge of sharing his decades of leadership experience in a way that others could immediately apply. He realized that leadership is best taught through authentic, real-life moments, not complicated theories.
The book and Sternberg’s consulting practice are built on the idea that leadership is found in everyday interactions; how you show up, listen, and handle difficult situations. Each chapter of the book ends with a “Leadership Cue” and a reflection question, making the insights practical and easy for leaders to use. Sternberg’s goal is to help leaders understand what effective leadership feels like, not just what it looks like.
Tools for the Next Conversation
What makes 3 Things Consulting unique is its focus on making leadership simple, human, and immediately useful. Unlike firms that use complex models, Founder Jay Sternberg believes that true leadership happens in everyday moments.
The firm’s approach is based on the real-world challenges leaders face, like giving feedback or managing conflict. Rather than relying on abstract theories, the focus is on helping leaders improve one conversation at a time. This practical philosophy is also the foundation for Sternberg’s book, 3 Things: Real Moments. Honest Coaching. Practical Leadership, which uses short stories and practical questions to help readers apply new skills right away. The ultimate goal is to cut through the noise and provide leaders with actionable tools they can use to lead better, moment by moment.
Innovation Without Erasure
With the rise of new technology, like AI, Jay Sternberg believes leaders in 2025 face a critical challenge: balancing technological speed with human connection. While technology offers efficiency, it also risks eroding the empathy and inclusion that are essential for effective leadership.
Through 3 Things Consulting, Sternberg helps leaders embrace new tools while staying focused on their people. He emphasizes that technology must be paired with empathy and inclusion, especially as teams become more global and diverse. Sternberg argues that true leadership means seeing and supporting the full complexity of a team’s members, across different backgrounds and identities. According to him, the most successful organizations in 2025 will be those that use innovation to build a foundation of empathy and inclusion.
What Sets 3 Things Consulting Apart
- Values-Based: Centered on empathy, trust, and accountability.
- Practical: Gives leaders tools for their very next conversation.
- Action-Oriented: Based on real-life moments, not abstract ideas.
- In-the-Moment Coaching: Helping leaders show up better, one conversation at a time.
How Coaching Moments Drive Team Transformation?
For Jay Sternberg, the Founder of 3 Things Consulting, true success is measured by personal growth, not just business metrics. He believes the most impactful coaching helps leaders understand themselves better, empowering them to find their voice and build trust.
Sternberg recalls a recent client who was struggling with a team that had lost trust. Instead of a complex solution, they focused on the basics: listening, clarifying expectations, and following through. This simple, consistent approach transformed the team’s dynamic, easing tension and restoring credibility. For Sternberg, these “quiet wins”, the subtle shifts in behavior and trust are the most meaningful signs of lasting impact.
3 Things Consulting: The Next Chapter
- Primary Focus: The launch of Jay Sternberg’s new book, 3 Things: Real Moments. Honest Coaching. Practical Leadership. The book serves as a key resource and conversation starter for leaders and coaches.
- Strategic Partnerships: 3 Things Consulting is open to collaborations that amplify the book’s message and align with its core mission. These could include partnerships with leadership development programs, executive education initiatives, or other platforms that promote practical, human-centered leadership.
- Definition of Growth: Sternberg defines growth by substance and connection, not just scale. The goal is to expand the firm’s influence by helping more leaders simplify complexity, build trust, and create momentum in their organizations. Any collaboration built on these principles would be a natural fit.
Confidentiality and Care
At 3 Things Consulting, trust isn’t just a policy, it’s the core of how we work. With decades of experience, Jay Sternberg understands that confidentiality is non-negotiable. Every coaching relationship starts with clear agreements to ensure privacy and set mutual expectations.
But for Sternberg, true trust goes deeper than a contract. It’s earned through consistent actions: providing honest feedback, listening without judgment, and always following through. This predictability creates a safe environment where leaders can openly share their challenges, knowing their experiences will be handled with the highest level of care.
Impact (By the Numbers)
- 35+ Years: Leadership & consulting experience.
- Hundreds of Leaders: Coached across global organizations.
- 20+ Countries: Teams positively impacted.
Inside the Launch of 3 Things
3 Things Consulting is a new venture with a clear and compelling launch point: the upcoming release of Jay Sternberg’s debut book, 3 Things: Real Moments. Honest Coaching. Practical Leadership, releasing October 15, 2025. It represents the first major platform where Sternberg’s leadership philosophy and coaching approach are shared publicly in a comprehensive, accessible format.
In parallel with the book 3 Things: Real Moments. Honest Coaching. Practical Leadership, Sternberg has built a growing presence on LinkedIn, where he regularly shares leadership insights, stories, and reflections with a diverse audience of clients, colleagues, and professionals across industries. That ongoing dialogue has helped build early visibility and momentum around the core ideas that define both the book and the consulting practice.
The upcoming feature in The Enterprise World marks an important milestone, it will be one of the first published profiles to showcase both the book and the firm. Sternberg sees this coverage as a springboard for further conversations, reviews, and thought leadership in the months to come.
At this early stage, it’s not just about announcing a new business; it’s about inviting others into a broader conversation around practical, human-centered leadership.
Consistency Breeds Trust
For over 35 years, Jay Sternberg has relied on the Franklin/Covey methodology as a steady anchor throughout his career. Each morning, he dedicates time to prioritize his day, clarify what matters most, and align his tasks with broader goals. This simple, consistent habit has provided him with clarity and focus, no matter how complex or demanding his work became.
But beyond the mechanics of planning, Sternberg credits this daily discipline with shaping his entire approach to leadership. It has taught him that effective leadership isn’t about reacting to every urgent demand, but rather about intentionally choosing what truly matters and bringing full presence to those priorities. Over time, this habit fostered consistency; a foundation upon which trust with his teams was built.
Today, as Sternberg leads and grows 3 Things Consulting, this morning ritual remains a vital practice. Though small in scale, it continues to profoundly influence his ability to lead with clarity and coach others to do the same.
A Legacy of Leadership Multiplication
Jay Sternberg hopes his legacy will be that of a coach who multiplied leadership in others. He believes that while titles and positions may fade, the leaders one influences continue to lead long after they are gone. Moreover, he places strong emphasis on creating space for diverse voices and perspectives.
He aspires to be remembered for helping individuals recognize their own potential, encouraging them to lead with clarity, trust, and accountability, and fostering cultures where people can truly thrive. Additionally, Sternberg hopes to be known as someone who created space for diverse voices and perspectives to shape outcomes, because he understands that leadership is stronger when it reflects the full richness of the people it serves.
The Principles that Guide Jay Sternberg’s Journey
Jay Sternberg’s Leadership Toolbox includes timeless methods and guiding principles that shape his approach:
- Tool: Sternberg relies on the FranklinCovey planning system; a traditional yet highly effective method for maintaining clarity on priorities and aligning daily actions with long-term goals.
- Quote: He often reflects on Simon Sinek’s words: “Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” This philosophy underpins his people-first leadership style.
- Advice: Sternberg advises leaders to lead with authenticity and to actively surround themselves with diverse perspectives. He believes true progress happens when leaders are genuine and when a variety of voices are welcomed into the conversation.
- Book: One of his favorite reads is Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach, a reminder that leadership wisdom often emerges through simple stories and that perspective is as crucial as practice.
Dear Future Leaders,
Leadership is not about perfection. It’s about presence. People will not remember every decision you make, but they will always remember how you made them feel.
As you begin this journey, lean into honesty, stay curious, and have the courage to lead with authenticity. Never underestimate the power of listening first.
Success is built on the small, everyday choices you make to show up consistently and authentically for your team.
Sincerely,
Jay Sternberg
