Who Is Steven Gaffney and What Is His Expertise?

Updated

Steven Gaffney is a business advisor and author who has worked as a trusted advisor to top executives for 30 years, according to his company's website. His expertise centers on helping leadership teams communicate clearly, collaborate, and build accountability — with the stated goal of resolving issues fast, improving decision speed, and creating what the company calls "Consistently High Achieving Teams (CHAT)®."

If you're evaluating him as a potential speaker, advisor, or author, the sections below cover what the site says about his background, the problems he addresses, and where his work shows up.

Background and Experience

  • 30 years as a trusted advisor to top executives across "countless industries," including government organizations.
  • The company states it has served "thousands of teams for 30 years" and has been "trusted by leading organizations across industries."
  • His work is positioned around executive leadership teams specifically — helping them communicate clearly, save time, and move the organization forward.

Areas of Expertise

The site frames his expertise around a few connected themes:

  • Proactive honesty — the idea that organizations can "save time and money" by addressing hard truths early rather than letting silence and avoidance accumulate cost.
  • All-in accountability — getting people to hold themselves accountable "with no hand-holding, because they want to."
  • Communication and collaboration — teaching teams to communicate, collaborate, and problem-solve together.
  • Team alignment and achievement — addressing silos, stalled innovation, difficulty navigating change, and breakdowns in collaboration.

A recurring phrase on the site is "Silence is expensive" — the company's shorthand for the hidden cost of misalignment, rework, and missed opportunities.

Books and Research

Steven Gaffney is the author of:

  • Unconditional Power — listed in the site's navigation under "Book Store."
  • Flip Your Power Switch — described on the homepage as "Steven's latest book."

The company also publishes a National Study on High Achieving Teams, described as "national research insights into the behaviors, mindset, and practices that drive high-impact results for teams and leaders." The site says its strategies are "research and evidence-based."

How His Work Is Delivered

The company offers several engagement formats, which differ mainly in depth and format rather than topic:

Format What it is
Trusted Advising Ongoing advisory work with executives and leadership teams
Keynotes / Speeches Speaking engagements
Seminars Group training sessions
Team Achievement Roadmap A structured path for team improvement
Team Achievement Accelerator™ Expert-led video lessons, practical tools, and AI support to help teams get clear, work together, and drive results

Who This Is For

Based on the site's positioning, Gaffney's work is aimed at:

  • Executives and executive leadership teams
  • Organizations experiencing silos, stalled innovation, or collaboration breakdowns
  • Teams navigating change or struggling with alignment
  • Leaders who want to build accountability without constant oversight

If you're looking for a speaker or advisor on team communication, accountability, and executive alignment, his 30-year track record and cross-industry client base (including government) are the main credentials the site puts forward. If you want to assess the substance behind the claims, the National Study on High Achieving Teams and his books are the most concrete starting points.