By: Lee Tomlin
Dr. Rhonda Parmer’s mission is bold, but deeply human: to ignite what she calls a Leadership Alignment Revolution. As the founder of Leadership Executive Group, Parmer has developed a philosophy that places a strong emphasis on aligning purpose, people, time, and processes. These are the factors she believes are essential for creating a thriving workplace. According to Parmer, the future of work depends on leaders who approach their roles with intention and integrity. Her unique EASE Framework, standing for Engage, Align, Simplify, and Empower, provides a practical pathway for leaders to achieve alignment and drive meaningful change within their organizations.
One of the primary issues that Parmer addresses is the so-called manager-perception gap, which Gallup’s World’s Largest Ongoing Study of the Employee Experience highlights as a significant challenge. Gallup’s research shows that managers account for 70 percent of the variance in employee engagement, yet many leaders fail to understand how their teams truly feel. Parmer believes that this disconnect is a key problem, but also an opportunity for growth. She explains, “People don’t disengage from their work. They disengage when they feel unseen.”
Through her coaching and consulting services, Parmer helps executives bridge this gap. She helps leaders develop the “noticing muscle”, the ability to observe, understand, and support their teams in a way that fosters trust, accountability, and productivity. The process begins with leaders recognizing the importance of truly seeing and valuing their employees, both as individuals and as contributors to the team’s overall purpose.
Parmer draws from a wealth of experience, backed by her 31-year career in education leadership and certification through the John Maxwell Group. Her approach blends research-based strategy with a deep faith-rooted conviction. She often references 1 Peter 4:10 from the Bible: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others.” For Parmer, leadership is not about power or authority. It’s about stewardship and service. She views leaders as stewards of their team’s potential, guiding them with empathy, integrity, and purpose.
The Gallup Q12 framework, which identifies key factors for employee engagement, is another tool Parmer incorporates into her coaching. This framework emphasizes aspects such as clarity of expectations, regular recognition, and opportunities for professional development. Parmer takes these insights and translates them into daily leadership habits, helping executives become the kind of leaders who actively listen, align their teams with purpose, and elevate individual and collective performance. Parmer believes that alignment is the modern differentiator for organizations looking to succeed in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing work environment. “When people understand how their gifts connect to purpose,” she says, “engagement isn’t a target. It’s a natural outcome.”
At rhondaparmer.com and on her LinkedIn page, Parmer shares case studies of leaders who have rebuilt team trust and improved retention within a matter of months. Her clients range from C-suite executives and mid-level managers to school superintendents, nonprofit directors, and pastors, each discovering that alignment drives performance without sacrificing well-being.
“The EASE Framework gives leaders the tools to notice, align, and elevate their teams so every person operates with purpose, clarity, and confidence,” Parmer says. “That’s how we grow the next generation of leaders through intention, not assumption.”
Parmer also urges leaders to look inward. “If the leader determines seventy percent of engagement, then the culture is a mirror,” she observes. “When frustration, apathy, or chaos show up on the field, it’s a reflection of the playbook and the coach’s mindset.” She often compares leadership to football: the energy, discipline, and trust a coach models inevitably shape the team’s identity. When the coach keeps composure, adjusts strategy, and plays to each person’s strength, the entire team rallies.
That is the type of leadership Parmer champions: self-aware, aligned, and anchored in purpose.
“When leaders close the perception gap,” she concludes, “they don’t just improve engagement scores. They ignite calling. That’s the kind of transformation the workplace and the world desperately need.”
Contact Dr. Rhonda Parmer
Discover more about Dr. Parmer’s programs and leadership frameworks at rhondaparmer.com.
You can also connect with her on LinkedIn for insights, updates, and professional engagement.
