PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Business/Personal Coaching

We are not consultants!! We have nothing against them - we just take a different approach. Rather than trying to fit you into a pre-determined template we create an approach to meet your individual needs utilizing your current resources. We are NOT the experts from the outside with all the ideas; we are your partners to facilitate your ideas and those of your company. Who better knows their company than the individuals that live it on a daily basis? Sometimes it is hard to see the forest for the trees. That’s were we come in.

Innovation and change are actions that face all businesses. There are more businesses and organizations that can be creative and bring forth new ideas than there are businesses and organizations that can implement the changes required. Facilitating change is a concept we have mastered.

Strategic planning can take a back seat to “putting our fires.” The road to hell is paved with good intentions and in a reactive environment strategic thinking is “put off until tomorrow” and the business continues as usual—trying to solve today’s issues with yesterday’s thinking.

 A favorite question that we ask is, “Would you want to be treated by a cardiologist today with 1990 technology? Then why run your business in a similar manner. Learning how to take advantage of your existing resources will aid in maximizing your opportunities. The room for errors is growing smaller each day especially in a highly competitive market.

Learn how to be a leader without having to be the largest in your industry.

Executive and Management Development

Few owners and principals have the time to manage all aspects of their business. The smaller businesses often have more difficulty in developing their executives, managers and supervisors than their larger counterparts. Too many times the owner and/or principal assume that if they understand a problem and they can handle it then their staff should be able to accomplish the same. This is rarely the case and the question posed is, “Why does my staff have such difficulty with things I can do in my sleep? I am paying good salaries for them to perform.” In reality, many companies continue to pay their managers and even give them annual raises for mediocre performances. The behavior that is being rewarded is the perpetuation of mediocrity.

In our fifty-plus years of experience in partnering with all size companies in numerous industries there are very few companies or organizations that have maximized their human resources. Rather than improving existing staff they will typically hire more and the problems continue and the headaches worsen. Leaders and leadership skills can be developed.

Learn how to maximize the most important resource any company or organization has—its people.

Family Businesses

Most businesses are challenging—family owned and/or operated ones are even more challenging and a great deal more complicated. Sitting around the dining room table is NOT the same as sitting around the board room table. Succession issues are difficult with all generations and can lead to disaster after many years of “working without planning.” “The fruits of our labors just rotted, years were wasted by just putting things off.” "Can all family members be treated equally?" "How do we resolve the issues between family and non-family associates?" "How do we resolve conflicts?" "How do we build a family team?"

These are only a few of the many questions all businesses struggle with, but these are often more significant in family businesses. Having grown up in a family business we have a different perspective and can successfully address these concerns.

Business statistics show that the success rate and even survival of second and third generation businesses trends downward dramatically. Don’t be one of these negative statistics.

Closely Held Businesses

Closely held businesses have the vast majority of the same issues as family businesses. They are often a “family business without relatives.” With the majority of GNP being produced by family owned and closely held businesses attention to developing them not only benefits the individuals and their companies but actually enhances the economy. We all win! 

Enhancing Communication

The number one deficiency is today’s businesses and organizations is the inability to communicate effectively. Eighty percent of what is said is misunderstood; fifty percent of the written word is also misconstrued. Not only does this take place within your business and/ or organization but poor communications exists between your company and suppliers and especially between your customers/clients and you. Who is winning here?

Learning how to communicate more effectively is not an option. It is a must! Facilitating the DiSC 2800 Series Personal Profile with you, your family, associates, suppliers/vendors and other stakeholders will enhance communications, improve productivity and can be measured by increased performances and profits. That’s a pretty valid reason to take this program seriously!

Strategic Planning and Budgeting

Would you take a cross country trip by car without a road map or cover your car’s instrument panel? Neither would we. Yet many companies will say we do not need a plan (map) nor do we use a budget (dashboard). Often entrepreneurs, owners, principals feel overwhelmed with thinking about planning and budgeting. Without these two guiding principles anything that is accomplished is okay, since there is nothing really to measure against.

Without strategic planning and budgeting there is little to no focus for the business, there is an excessive amount of duplication and redundancy and there are profit leaks all over the organization. Fires crop up daily and the culture becomes adapt at putting out the fires but gains little experience in creating a proactive and nurturing environment.

Understanding the fundamentals of your financial statements gives you an edge in managing your business. Not the debits and credits but concepts. “Why won’t the bank increase my loan?" "How do I anticipate my cash needs?" "What does it take to reduce debt?" "What do I have to do not to personally guarantee my company’s loans?" "How do I know if I am doing well?” These are some of the questions that have been directed our way and resolved to create success and less stress for the individual and the organization.

Strategic planning and budgeting for your specific needs is a fast track for having fun and being rewarded for accomplishing your goals.

Sales and Marketing

Knowing the distinction between sales and marketing is a necessity in today’s competitive arenas. Creating a marketing plan and instilling customer service from the very top to the entry level positions must be a top priority for any business, organization or professional practice.

Relationship marketing is the twenty first century’s watchword for increasing sales and gross margins. Gone are the days of expensive advertising, exaggerated claims or “the one time sale.”

Pushing product and sales pitches have no lasting impact in creating and growing a customer/client base. “Raving Fans” is receiving prominent space in the business literature and exceeding customers’ expectations in a consistent manner protects and increases market share

Human Resources

The most important resource that any organization has is its people. Most assets are amortized or depreciated on the books. What impacts all other assets is the individuals that work with you, and for you. It is truly amazing how little time is spent in the development of these associates. “Let them sink or swim” or “they’ll figure it out” or “it’s their job—that’s what I am paying them for” are all comments that have been heard; sometimes too frequently. The truth of the matter is many employers pay for and receive mediocre performances. Some will even give raises and this continues to further reward mediocrity. This concept is costly but not nearly as costly as turnover.

Notice, there is no mention of salary as an issue. In numerous surveys salary is always in the top five “needs” but seldom is it number one. Rewarding your employees does not have to only come out of the check book.

Having the right individual in the right position with the proper tools equates to a successful member of staff. Find out if you have the right people in the jobs they can perform best.

Outplacement

Outplacement is a service that is provided because over the last ten years it has received a great deal of attention. Included in outplacement are career changes, counseling executives, and support in filling the position of the exiting manager or executive.