In today’s fast-paced business world, organizations face ever-evolving challenges that demand effective solutions and strategic foresight. Navigating these complexities often hinges on understanding and developing a company’s most valuable asset: its people. This is where The Abelson Group makes a significant impact, offering unparalleled expertise and innovative human resources solutions to elevate organizations to new heights.

Founded in 1986 by Dr. Michael Abelson, The Abelson Group stands at the forefront of human resources, offering elite training, consulting, and psychological assessments. Serving thousands of clients across over 20 industries, they deliver award-winning solutions through online and in-person platforms, including the Abelson Learning Resource Network (A-LRN) and certifications in DISC, Motivators, and Emotional Intelligence.

At Business Honor, we had the distinct privilege of interviewing Dr. Michael Abelson, CEO and President of The Abelson Group. Dr. Abelson shared valuable insights into how he and his team stand by their vision, “YOUR People Solutions Company,” and are utilizing high-quality, user-friendly assessment tools that empower organizations at every level to identify and enhance staff characteristics, driving success beyond expectations.

Interview Highlights

Q. What was the motivation behind starting The Abelson Group?

The desire to show people at all levels of organizations techniques that effectively implement complex management concepts, while also creating new, interesting, and fun ways to teach, ensuring that people learn and apply tried-and-true management and leadership concepts.

Q. Your company is renowned for its award-winning training programs and psychological assessments. Can you share some insights into the development process behind these tools and how you ensure they remain relevant across various industries?

One of my personal sayings says it all: “Doing little things well is THE way toward doing big things better.” We do this in three ways. First, we “sweat the details.” We make sure the little things, the details, are delivered as exceptionally as the big things. Second, we take baby steps by piloting new ways of doing things and implementing changes right away. We keep what we like and remove the rest. Third, we continually communicate with and ask our clients what is working for them and what isn’t. We listen intently to their comments and respond appropriately to their needs.

Q. The Abelson Learning Resource Network (A-LRN) is a pivotal part of your training offerings. How does this platform enhance the learning experience for your clients, and what unique features does it offer compared to traditional training methods?

A-LRN is structured primarily with 3 to 5-minute videos featuring highly applicable lessons or one-to-three-page applied articles addressing current topics and needs. It also includes numerous multi-video series with the same approach. Everything is designed to maintain people’s attention while motivating them to keep clicking on the next brief video or article. Once you finish one series of brief videos and articles, there are many different directions you can explore to learn more.

Q. As a leader in psychological assessments with over 650,000 assessments sold, what are the most common challenges organizations face when integrating these assessments into their HR practices, and how does your team assist them in overcoming these hurdles?

The hurdles are typical of those encountered with any new or unconventional approach. Some individuals may be cynical, while others may fear what the reports might reveal and how the organization may use them. We address resistance through several methods. Our assessments are among the most accurate in the industry. We gain buy-in from the individual in the report through a brief validation process where the person taking the assessment: 1) recognizes the report’s accuracy, 2) understands that the report describes rather than evaluates or judges them, and 3) is asked how to make the section of the report used for validation 100% accurate, allowing them to make any necessary corrections. Additionally, we employ various techniques to ensure staff involvement, buy-in, and commitment to effectively applying what is learned from our reports. We can refer them to our A-LRN materials or provide assistance from the person within their organization whom we have certified to use the reports.

Q. The Limitless License^™ offers clients unlimited access to your DISC and Motivators reports. How has this product been received by your clients, and what impact do you believe it has on the way organizations approach team building and talent management?

Our clients who have our Limitless License^™ love it. With unlimited reports at a fixed price, they can run reports for numerous uses without worrying about additional costs. They also avoid the need to buy bundles of reports where some may go unused. We use the reports to develop job benchmarks, running enough reports to create algorithms that our clients use for highly accurate job hires. In reality, hundreds of reports are used for various purposes at the cost of just a few dozen individually priced reports. We also offer Limited Licenses^™ for our emotional intelligence assessment, leadership assessment, and staff or leader stress assessment. Finally, we provide exceptional team reports and an award-winning team program, available online or in-person, that shows our clients how to maximize both individual and team performance.

Q. Your certifications in DISC, Motivators, and Emotional Intelligence are highly regarded. What makes these certifications unique, and how do they benefit professionals looking to advance their careers in human resources and coaching?

We hear all the time that we are masters at making complex concepts down-to-earth and easy to understand and use. All our training incorporates visual, auditory, and experiential learning and exercises. Different people learn in different ways, so we integrate various methods to teach the same concepts, ensuring the training is highly effective. Clients learn how to apply these concepts in THEIR world, not ours, and they feel a strong connection with us. The training is so well-received that, in addition to our certifications, we have provided it for hundreds of coaches in the Success Magazine coaching program, included it in the SHRM recertification program, and integrated it into several other certification programs. One of the most flattering experiences was when the co-author of one of the most respected DISC books in the world commented, unsolicited at the end of a taped webinar with us, that the only DISC training better than ours was the training she conducted. All the compliments we receive are very heartwarming and humbling. We have a fantastic team that deserves much of the credit for our reputation.

Q. Looking ahead, what are the future trends in human resources and organizational development that The Abelson Group is preparing for, and how do you plan to stay at the forefront of these trends?

It’s very difficult to stay at the forefront of all the HR trends. HR is finally starting to receive the respect it deserves in large organizations, which puts more pressure on HR professionals. We work to help organizational HR professionals become the heroes of our work with them. We serve as their support staff.

Realistically, we don’t aim to be at the forefront of all HR trends. Instead, we try to stay a step behind to observe what works and what doesn’t. We then apply our twist, hoping to make it work even better.

Q. What does the future hold for your company and its customers? Are exciting things on the way?

There are always exciting things "on the way" at The Abelson Group. That’s how we stay "young" as an organization founded back in 1986. We continually ask clients, "What keeps them up at night?" and "What are the things they wish they had, that they either don’t have now or need to improve?" Truth be told, we sometimes "turn on a dime" and change directions to meet our clients’ needs. The things that are exciting now may not be as exciting when your readers see my comments now or in the future. I’d rather leave this question with this answer: We’d love for readers to visit our website (www.TheAbelsonGroup.com) to see the latest developments. We would very much like to join them on their journey toward success and partner with them to meet their goals. Partnering and taking the journey of excellence with our clients truly exemplifies what we are about at The Abelson Group. Let’s explore, discover, and be exceptional in what we do together. That is what defines our goals as an organization.

The Stalwart Leader behind The Abelson Group’s Unwavering Success

Dr. Michael Abelson is the CEO and President of The Abelson Group. His unique contribution lies in his ability to blend formal training in clinical psychology and business management with nearly 50 years of practical client application. His deep understanding of how people are "wired," coupled with his keen insight into teams and organizations, is delivered with warmth, clarity, and often a mix of humor and seriousness. Despite his extensive formal education and experience, he connects with people on a personal level, ensuring they feel understood, respected, and valued. Michael is a continuous learner, a team leader, and a team player, earning high respect both in his field and among his clients and their organizations.