About Me

Empowering Leaders and Teams to Thrive in 2026

I’m Michael Courson, founder of Red Clover Training and a Gallup-Certified CliftonStrengths Coach.

I help leaders and organizations move through change, burnout, and uncertainty by focusing on what’s right with people—and building systems that support their strengths.

My mission is simple:
to help you create workplaces where people feel energized, supported, and equipped to lead meaningful, sustainable change.

My Story

For more than 15 years in higher education leadership and team development, I’ve seen the same patterns repeat:

  • talented people burning out,

  • leaders carrying too much alone, and

  • systems that make work harder than it needs to be.

I started Red Clover Training to change that.

Today, I partner with organizations that want to:

  • develop leaders who know their strengths,

  • prevent burnout instead of reacting to it, and

  • build systems that support both performance and well-being.

The New Year is a natural turning point. My work is about helping you turn “we should fix this” into “we’re actually doing this”—with practical, strengths-based tools.

How I Help

I offer:

  • One-on-One Leadership Coaching – for executives, managers, and emerging leaders who want clarity, confidence, and sustainable performance.

  • Team Development & Systems Thinking Workshops – to strengthen collaboration, align roles with strengths, and improve the way work actually flows.

  • Burnout Prevention & Resilience Programs – to support staff well-being and reduce stress, turnover, and disengagement.

  • Workshops & Speaking – including New Year kickoff sessions on strengths-based leadership, burnout prevention, and inclusive, high-performing culture.

My Values

Strengths-Based Growth
I start with what’s right with people, then build skills and systems around their natural talents.

Inclusion & Psychological Safety
I create spaces where people can be honest about their challenges and feel safe to experiment, learn, and grow.

Purpose & Energy
Work should feel meaningful and energizing, not like a constant drain. I help leaders and teams reconnect to their “why.”

Practical Tools That Drive Action
Every session includes concrete tools, language, and next steps you can use the same day—no theory-only workshops.

Let’s Connect

Whether you’re looking to support one leader or an entire team, I’d love to explore how we can set you up for a healthier, more effective 2026.

Next step:
Schedule a free 30-minute discovery call to talk about your goals, your team, and what’s getting in the way right now.

Free Discovery Call

  • As someone early in my career and just stepping into supervisory responsibilities, I found the Four Basic Needs framework incredibly valuable. It gave me a clear, thoughtful foundation to reflect on the kind of supervisor I aspire to be and helped me feel more confident as I grow into this new role.

    Matt N.

  • Thinking more intentionally about these themes—and especially how they might become barriers to success—was incredibly insightful. It challenged me to reflect in a deeper, more strategic way

    Bryan D.

  • This experience allowed me to dive deeper into how to effectively utilize my strengths within a leadership role. It gave me greater clarity and confidence in how I show up for others.

    Amy C.