from workshops to coaching, from rolling up our sleeves...to advising as non-executive directors
services
We can tailor the way that we work with you to match what you need. It often starts with sitting down together to work out where you are now and where you want to get to. Then we can develop a plan to help you get there. It usually involves a mix of approaches, from workshops to coaching, from rolling up our sleeves as interim executives to advising as non-executive directors. On this page we outline some of the ways that we can help. Please do get in touch to find out more.
assessing your business needs
In a couple of workshops we can explore how the business works now, and how it needs to mature to achieve your business goals. We have developed tools to help us quickly assess how the business is performing across the full range of functions - from R&D to sales and marketing, from HR to quality management...and everything in between.
We can also work with the founders and shareholders to clarify what they would like the business to achieve. Uncovering differences of opinions is key. Pulling that all together creates a shared view of the business which we can use to identify the core challenges. We can then help you develop a plan to work on those and to take the business forwards. |
workshops & training
We run workshops to introduce a range of topics - from New Product Development to Quality Management. Our approach is to run interactive sessions that gives a good practical introduction to an area, and results in actionable next steps. It is often the first step before we embark on a programme of coaching or interim executive work.
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coaching
We offer support for executives and team members to help them develop and perform at their best. In an early stage business, the team are often acting in new roles, taking on new responsibilities and learning on the job. It can be a great way of stepping up, but it can also be a time of huge pressure and stress. Having someone to talk to who has done the role before can make a big difference. They can help you think about the best way to do the role and can often provide shortcuts to good ways to get things done. And sometimes it's helpful just to be able to talk with someone who has experienced the same stress! It can help build confidence and speed up personal development.
We tailor the way we work to the individual, with a mix of regular meetings, and phone calls or video chats when more urgent advice is needed. |
interim executive
There are times when a team needs some extra hands-on help, but initially the work level may not be enough to justify hiring a full-time person. For example, a team may need a day a week of someone to help with business development. Or a couple of days a month of someone to help manage a project.
What do you do - do you wait for the workload to increase sufficiently so that you can justify hiring someone full-time? Delaying risks the business under-peforming, and everything can quickly get more stressful. Or do you take the leap and hire someone full-time now. If it's a new role to your business, how do you specify what you need? Can you afford the cost? That can all be added stress which can derail a young business We can help - we can step in and help fill the gaps in the short term. Having someone experienced come in and help a few days a month can really move the business on. And once the role has expanded enough to justify hiring someone, we'll help you define the role and support you during the hiring process. |
boards
In an early stage business, you may not have been part of a board before - it may be unclear why you need one. Isn't it just extra bureaucracy that gets in the way of getting stuff done?
We believe that having a strong board of directors is critical, even for early stage companies. The board is where you focus on the strategy - identifying what you are trying to achieve and working out how you can succeed. It can be hard to operate at the level - it's so easy to get sucked into day-to-day operational challenges, solving immediate problems, managing email, talking to customers etc. Having an occasional space to step back and look at the bigger picture is critical - this is what a board provides. We can help here - in an early stage business we can run the first few board meetings and show how to get the most out of them. In more developed businesses, having experienced external voices on the board is critical - we can bring outside perspectives to add to the decision making process. We are experienced non-executive directors and Chairs - we can work with your board on one-off issues, or eventually become regular members of the board, helping to direct the business. |