Situational Approach
You are the Leader, but …
… even leaders can lose their way.
Even leaders sometimes must follow.
Presidents, CEO’s and champions all have advisers, coaches and consultants they go to for feedback, research and direction.
You want someone who you can trust to understand the goals you want to accomplish, the destination you have in mind and to keep an eye on how to get there.
Every situation requires a matching approach.
Sometimes you just need COUNSELING for feedback and initial sorting out to prepare for strategies.
At other times, you need a CONSULTANT to take the wheel, manage the logistics and drive the project home.
And ultimately, you could use a COACH to keep an eye out for strengths and weaknesses … how to best harness them and prepare you for your next level up and journeys ahead.
My role …
… is to identify and help you execute short-term and limited situational projects and sessions to achieve specific outcomes. I will roll up my sleeves to troubleshoot, detangle and blueprint to help strategize, source tools, complete research to face challenges and seize opportunities.
Situations
A small technology company was seeking certification as a minority-owned business to qualify for eligibility for government procurement opportunities and needed a review of their application to ensure it would pass in time for a bid they were preparing. After correcting entries on their application and clarifying several areas that might make the certifying agency question or reject eligibility, they ultimately secured their certification designation, submitted their bid and nailed a $450,000 contract.
During the COVID19 crisis, many small businesses required assistance in applying for and receiving federal and state emergency loans and grants, as well as for the federal Public Unemployment Applications for the independent consultants and small companies that usually submitted 1099s for their work.
One-by-one, I identified programs for which they were eligible, determined the amounts for which they should apply, walked through the applications with them step-by-step, and helped them all succeed in securing assistance during perhaps their greatest time of need to date.
Consulting is about getting it done.
Sometimes you just need a temporary, experienced trusted, helping hand to “get-it-done,” help you forge a specific project (or series of related tasks) on a short- or long-term basis.
You may not have enough time to do specific research, prepare letters/proposals/press releases, complete government documents. Or have the know-how to deal with communications, direct strategic planning sessions or model a sales or marketing plan. Sometimes you need to step back and observe while someone else facilitates or steers the project or challenge.
Consulting Situations
A plumbing supply company wanted to cast its marketing net further in the region to open up opportunities for satellite distribution centers ultimately. By focusing on a specific product line, I secured a specific database of the target market/region, conducted specific outreach/interview calls to develop and refine the outreach process, and secured clients/accounts in the process, increasing their sales by 25%.
Follow-on included teaching the team how to conduct these service calls and respond to questions and objections. To date, the company uses this simple outreach method to service, retain loyalty from buyers, and increase sales against the growing online markets.
On another occasion, an event company sought an opportunity to secure all subcontracted management for significant events at major municipal parks. Their proposal was missing critical content information, they were underpricing and the format was distracting. After a redirect, rewrite and new presentation, they secured the bid successfully.
Finally, a group of partners couldn’t agree on the process, output, and deliverables for their consulting company. They were at odds over who was doing what and how much (or not enough). Oy vey! As a result of facilitating a full-day mediation, breaking down all the work, sorting out all the misunderstandings and pinpointing new expectations, the team was happily able to define who was in and who wanted to self-withdraw. They realigned their responsibilities and were back on track, moving forward, getting more work done, saving more and making more.
Every champion has a coach.
It’s lonely at the top of your company or your team, especially if you are just starting up or on your own. You are responsible for your customers, your team, suppliers, not to mention family, too.
It is a privilege to be your Coach. My role is to understand you and your needs and what you want to achieve and guide you within your opportunities and limitations to help you get there.
This is typically a longer-term commitment but can be first driven by a situation specific project or plan you want to accomplish. Your motivation, commitment, discipline, and performance drive my role as your coach.
Some need that mentor to keep them on the right track. Others want accountability for conquering a particular challenging area for them; say presentation skills, becoming a power networker, a negotiator… And others too need business and life balance especially when just starting up.
Coaching Situations …
An owner of an exotic travel company was incredibly talented and super skilled, yet severely undervalued her positioning in the marketplace as well as the pricing. As a result of coaching, steering, introducing new additional resources, pulling at the roots of the beliefs holding her back and encouraging her leveraging her strengths, she ultimately increased her fees 500%, and now is living her dream on a remote island in New England.
A CEO of a food manufacturer was looking to expand. While acknowledged and connected in the food side of the industry, he felt isolated while hiding in plain sight in the local community. Coaching helped him use and transfer his strengths of how to identify and resource local influencers and governmental representatives. As a result, he was able to work to focus his expansion collaboratively. The CEO was able to become a stronger leader with a greater circle of new influence, generate more collective energy focused on supporting and funding this project, and establish a greater presence and recognition in the local community as well as increase his company’s bottom line.
Sometimes even CEOs need help.
Whether you need feedback counseling, project or startup consulting, or professional development coaching … I am here to help. Let’s work together.
Being successfully and profitable, personally or professionally, whatever is your priority, is also mine.
Contact me today by calling (609) 429-0499!
“Lorraine has walked me off the ledge so many times from falling down to getting back up and climbing forward but even higher … again. She helps ground me, sorts out my problems “dujour,” (of the day) then helps me get me back on track, always telling me “every step forward is a step through.” I live by that now and stay in forward motion.”