The Up-Ward Shift, a leadership and organizational consulting firm founded by Dr. RJ Willis, is inviting organizations to explore its executive advisor support, an ongoing and confidential relationship that helps senior leaders think through burnout, employee retention, and workplace culture decisions as they arise.

An executive advisor is a trusted outside perspective for a CEO, executive director, pastor, or other senior leader. Unlike a one-time consulting project, an executive advisor works alongside a leader over months, helping them weigh hiring decisions, manage conflict, plan strategy, and recognize blind spots while those issues are still unfolding. Because the relationship is confidential, leaders can speak candidly about problems they may not be able to raise with their own teams.

The cost of getting these decisions wrong is significant. Research from Gallup and SHRM indicates that replacing a single employee can cost between half and double that person's annual salary once recruiting, onboarding, and lost productivity are counted. For many organizations, turnover and chronic stress trace back to leadership habits and workplace conditions that a leader cannot always see alone.

Executive advisor support at The Up-Ward Shift is built around that reality. Advisory conversations can address leadership roles, workplace relationships, organizational challenges, and the way a leader wants to grow. The firm does not offer one standard answer to every organization, because each has its own culture, people, and priorities, and understanding those differences is the first step toward a useful conversation.
Great leadership starts with empathy, understanding, and the ability to foster a positive and supportive environment for everyone involved," said Dr. RJ Willis, founder of The Up-Ward Shift. That belief shapes the advisory relationship, which focuses on helping leaders see how their decisions and communication land with the people they lead.

Dr. Willis brings more than 13 years of experience in mental health and leadership to these conversations, with an emphasis on proactive support rather than crisis response. Advisory work can sit alongside the firm's other services, including organizational consulting, executive coaching, and leadership training, when an organization's needs call for more than one kind of support. The approach suits organizations of different sizes, from small teams where one leader carries most of the pressure to larger groups with several layers of management.

Organizations and leaders interested in executive advisor support can describe their situation through the contact page, request a consultation, or reach the team directly. A few clear details about the organization and the leadership concern are enough to begin the conversation.

About The Up-Ward Shift

The Up-Ward Shift (TUWS) is a leadership and organizational consulting firm that helps organizations reduce burnout, improve retention, and strengthen leadership. Its services include executive advisory partnerships, organizational consulting, executive coaching, keynote speaking, corporate training, and church leadership training for businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, healthcare organizations, and churches. Learn more at theupwardshift.com.