Business & Board Advisory

To showcase the breadth and variety of our capabilities, we maintain a library of case studies from consulting and advisory projects we have already undertaken, including feedback from our unique Complementary Boards and local community programs. The last sees us providing free, regular advice and support to local businesses.

Together they demonstrate how we can operate across diverse industries and multiple and linked aspects of our clients’ organisations simultaneously, helping them to improve their operating and business models, or in developing their staff, aligning employee behaviour more effectively to their business objectives.

Whatever your challenge, why not contact us to discuss your needs further, or review a business case study providing useful insights and perspectives.

A Culture of Continuous Improvement can be defined as an internal mindset and set of practises within an organisation which fosters ongoing enhancements and improvements to its processes, products, services and behaviours, both organisational and individual. Its expression can take multiple forms.

We highlight below a schematic of one we find generates excellent results, has broad application, and is customisable to your unique needs, whether you are a service or manufacturing business. It comprises:

• Mindset: It starts with the premise ‘improvement’ is always possible. Everyone within the organisation from the CEO onwards embraces the idea there is no endpoint to improvement
• Learning Orientation: Both success and failure offer useful insights about how to improve. Instead of blaming individuals for mistakes, the emphasis is on understanding what went wrong and how to do it better next time
• Feedback Mechanisms: Continuous improvement thrives on feedback loops. Regular input from customers, employees and other stakeholders helps identify areas for improvement
• Iterative Processes: While large-scale changes can be useful, the emphasis is on regular, small incremental changes which can support rapid adaptation and improvement
• Data-driven Decision Making: Strategic decisions are based on data and evidence, not just intuition, or guess-work. Metrics are used to track progress and identify areas needing attention
• Empowerment: Employees are empowered to identify problems and propose solutions. There is a culture of trust and safety where individuals are encouraged to experiment and innovate
• Leadership Support: Leaders play a crucial role in fostering a culture of continuous improvement. They set the tone, provide resources, and participate actively in improvement initiatives
• Celebration of Progress: Successes, no matter how small, are celebrated. Recognising and rewarding improvement efforts reinforces the culture and encourages continued engagement

A culture of continuous improvement is dynamic, adaptive and focused on the long term success of the organisation.

It’s not just a set of tools or techniques, but a way of thinking and operating which permeates every aspect of the organisation.

Contact us to find out more about these approaches and how they might support your own organisation’s ambitions.

For those interested, we also recommend addressing other related topics, below:

• Kaizen: The Japanese approach of Kaizen, which translates to ‘continuous improvement’, or ‘change for the better’, overlaps with many of the ideas shared above, and has been credited with changing the fortunes of companies like Toyota. We find it both a system which is easy for newcomers to comprehend, and very easy to apply. What is particularly valuable is the encouragement of active behaviour, from usually passive individuals in organisations
• Six Sigma: In the 1980’s the concept of Six Sigma was developed by Motorola. It focused on production and process improvement by reducing defects and variability. It relies on statistical analysis to identify and eliminate defects and inefficiencies. The term Six Sigma refers to the number of Standard Deviations used to calibrate success of a process. When the process generates fewer defects, it ultimately becomes relatively cheaper and more profitable for an organisation.
• Cost of Quality: Is a concept which refers to the total cost of incurred by an organisation to ensure the quality of its products and services. It encompasses both the costs of achieving good quality (prevention and appraisal) and the costs incurred as a result of poor quality (internal and external failure costs). It stresses the value of improving processes from the outset, which is usually cheaper, than trying to prevent problems later, when the costs are more expensive. Think of the expense to car manufacturers of recalling cars to fix defects, or the costs of poor advice, whether legal or financial. It can be used alongside Six Sigma.

We hope you have found this discussion useful, and welcome the opportunity of contributing to your organisation’s ongoing success.

If you are actively seeking candidates to fill a vacancy in your organisation’s current Board, or planning for future changes we can help, either by:

• Filling the role with one of our own experts, who has the necessary experience, or
• Finding an alternative candidate through our extensive networks of businesses and professionals

Why use us ?

We understand the fundamental importance to you of securing individuals of the right calibre, proficient across multiple areas of your business, with appropriate skillsets able to:

• Establish the vison, mission and values of your company
• Set strategy and structure for the businesses in which you are engaged
• Delegate to your organisation’s management team
• Exercise accountability and responsibility to your shareholders, People, and other stakeholders
• Bring expertise to one or more areas specific to the conduct of your overall business
• Work collaboratively with existing Board members
• Challenge constructively accepted ideas and practises
• Effect strategic change when necessary, at pivotal moments for your organisation
• Bring a network of other supportive partners, including businesses and experts

Why not contact us to discuss your needs further ?

We welcome the opportunity of contributing to your organisation’s ongoing success.

Why not become a member of one our highly regarded Complementary Boards ?

Existing members acknowledge the significant professional and personal benefits they derive from participation.

Comprising like-minded business owners, CEOs/MDs and managers seeking high-quality, time-efficient and cost-effective support and advice, our Complementary Boards convene regularly to:

• Expand individual and group knowledge, through shared perspectives and insights from entrepreneurs with complementary and diverse backgrounds
• Feature guest speakers contributing valuable and thought-provoking observations
• Inject new thinking into their approaches, mitigating the potential for Groupthink and avoiding idea stagnation
• Tackle head-on the challenges of its individual members
• Receive unbiased advice and accountability from non-vested experts, ensuring impartiality beyond existing governance structures
• Assist in strategic decision-making and risk management at pivotal moments for their businesses
• Help them achieve their business objectives more effectively
• Foster the development of long-term, mutually supportive networks amongst industry peers

All members adhere to Board rules and values centred on appropriate propriety, integrity and mutual respect.

Membership of a Complementary Board involves a successful application, introduction, or invitation.

Why not contact us and apply to join today ?

We look forward to sharing the benefits of membership with you.

Unlock the potential of your business with expert business mentoring and coaching.

Accelerate your business growth and personal development through effective support, impartial insights, sage advice, and valuable connections from qualified and accredited experts.

Our mentoring and coaching options deliver for you through:

• Using specialists who bring decades of diverse and relevant business experience, from board or equivalent level, or from managing our own businesses
• Content and discussion customised to your specific needs and challenges, and aligned to the culture of your People and organisation
• Integration into your organisation’s appraisal processes
• Timings to suit individual schedules, including working outside of normal business hours
• Partnering in person, or digitally, so location is rarely a challenge

Our mentoring and coaching options encompass all facets of your business, responsibilities, or role including but not limited to:

• Goal Resolution & Strategic Planning
• Navigating Change
• Performance Enhancement
• Effective Sales and Marketing
• Motivation & Accountability
• Leadership Development
• Managing Your Staff Effectively
• Communication & Conflict Resolution
• Developing & Honing Your Skills
• Well-Being & Resilience

For a comprehensive list please contact us, or for a brief introduction see our Learning and Development Library, in the Executive Coaching & Learning section, above.

We welcome the opportunity of contributing to your organisation’s ongoing success.

Develop further the competencies of your People with programs and workshops from our Learning & Development Library, see the Executive Coaching & Learning section, above.

Accelerate their personal development through effective learning, valuable insights and sage advice.

Grow their skills and knowledge relevant to your industry, business and organisation, and improve their personal and interpersonal effectiveness.

See measurable improvements in their performance and positive shifts in their behaviours, supporting your organisation’s objectives.

We can deliver these individually, or to groups in their hundreds, limited only by venue size, or digital capacity.

Please contact us for a complete list, or to discuss your needs further.

Open your door to collaboration and growth.

Tap into our extensive network of industry experts, peers, prospective business partners and other valuable connections to extend your own reach.

We have like-minded organisations and individuals keen to meet with you as well.