Mike is our ‘secret weapon.’
Aligning an organization’s values with its work is the most important predictor of organizational prowess. You can have high performing individuals and teams, but without organizational alignment, progress stalls. These are some of the ways I work with organizations:
Executive Team Alignment
I observe the leadership team to assess the extent to which their activities (individual and group) are aligned with the strategic plan. Are the team members working in a coordinated fashion? Is the executive team working with a six to eighteen month horizon, or solving daily operational issues? Has the leadership team designed itself to fit with the direction of the organization?
Environmental Analysis
Absent a team of highly functioning leaders, strategic planning is an exercise alone and has little significant, long-term organizational benefit. I find environmental analysis more useful. I conduct internal and external environmental scans and analyze competitors. Then, I assure that the organization has appropriate plans in place and can adapt to changes in the market.
Succession Planning
I help the board or executive team achieve continuity, especially as it relates to high profile roles that have significant impact in the community. Additionally, I work with the executive team to identify which roles in the organization need stronger leadership, and could benefit from planning for the next leader.
Crisis Management
I work to earn the trust of an organization, so they can look to me to facilitate effective decision-making and communication during their most difficult moments. Crisis management requires a high degree of sensitivity and finesse with the organization’s dynamics.
[Mike provided] very enlightening and very much needed interaction between managers. Unseen before in this organization. We all still have improvements to make, but are now more willing to take a chance at making the needed changes with each other’s support.
