Consulting Services
Values
The foundation of any organisation is its values. Just like with buildings, an organisation needs a strong foundation of values to be sound and successful. If the foundation is not so strong, that can create problems, and even lead to disaster, for the organisation. I can assist your organisation to identify, review, and deepen, the nature and expression of its values, and build a framework for infusing the organisation's values into every part of its work. You can choose the level of my involvement that's right for your organisation. It could just be a one-off directors' education session with your board and/or professional development session with your senior team, where I work with the group to set out the nature of values and the challenges in putting them into practice. The session will leave you with a framework to think about the nature and impact of values in your organisation, to give you a stronger foundation for your work. Or I can work with you on a longer engagement, where I assist your organisation to clarify its values and build a project plan to communicate those values in ways that enrol stakeholders, and codify the values into all main aspects of the organisation.
Planning strategy
Every organisation needs a strategy if it is to move forward with purpose. There are at least two big challenges with this. The first is how to land a strategy that the organisation genuinely authors for itself and what it wants to achieve, rather than simply trying to respond to external forces. The second big challenge is landing a strategy that actually gets implemented as an integrated storyline and project suite. I bring a unique, bespoke approach to this work, based on the Model of Citizenhood and the Four Capitals framework. This work includes deepening an understanding of the impact the organisation wants to have in the world, and how to systematically build capacity and momentum towards this. The approach is stronger than conventional techniques like SWOT analysis, and the methodology helps the organisation think differently and more coherently about its future. It also aids more effective consultation and communication with the organisation's stakeholders. My methodology brings more stakeholder input to your strategy, and can help them enrol in its success. I offer the initial strategy session is a one-day event. I can deliver something in less than a day, depending on your organisation's starting point, but generally I don't recommend this, and there is no difference in fee. After the initial session, to the extent that you wish it, I can assist your organisation to develop more detailed plans arising from the strategy work. This can include: 1. developing and facilitate a consultation with your stakeholders 2. assisting the organisation develop a project management framework 3. assisting the organisation develop a change management framework 4. assisting the organisation develop an outcomes measurement framework
Monitoring and reviewing impact
It is one thing to land a compelling strategy and business plan, but it is quite another thing to see it through. Organisations can become distracted by events unconnected with their intentions, or become mired in unanticipated issues. Or they can simply lose focus and momentum. I can assist your organisation by helping build a coordination, reporting, and issues resolution, framework that can help keep your organisation on track. I am choosing the above words carefully. I don't build stuff that only I can run, because that does not help your organisation's capacity. Instead, I work with the relevant people in your organisation to build a framework that they run without needing me to be around. Because the amount of work will vary depending on the starting point for your organisation, I charge a daily rate, with an upfront agreement with you about the number of days you want to buy, so that you retain control of costs. I am also available to sit as an independent observer in your board or senior management meetings, to support the coherence and momentum of your strategic work, and to be an extra brain in the room for issues that are hampering progress. I charge an hourly rate for this, which in addition can include a subsequent short report on key takeaways from the meeting in relation to meeting dynamics and key actions. Also, I can assist by undertaking a review of the impact of your current strategy, set against the organisation's values and intentions. For this work I use my Values Coherence model, the Citizenhood model, and the Four Capitals framework, to bring you information not just about the impact of your strategy but also on the efficacy of the outcome measures you chose. Again, I charge a daily rate for this, with a scoped number of days agreed upfront.