Newsletter

In a long-term client engagement a few years ago, I realized that I was spending as much time thinking about what wasn’t being said as what was. On paper, everything looked straightforward: the organization needed to clarify processes, align on hiring needs, and build more consistency across teams.  But in practice, progress kept stalling. Decisions were […]

For the past few months, I’ve been planning and leading a full reorg for one of my clients. And it reaffirmed for me that change management — everything we preach and practice — really does work! I was very intentional about the change management strategy. I planned everything, even down to the order & timing

Your network matters.  In an example from my own life, I was recently able to respond to a large RFP because I had maintained a relationship with a former client.  That former client has complementary skills to mine and is now working as a consultant. So we partnered up to put together a strong response

In a recent client engagement, we supported a leader who wanted to move into a VP role in her organization. However, it soon became clear that she was not ready for a senior leadership role. Our role involved helping her understand where she needed to build her skills and supporting her in doing that.  Perhaps

Things don’t always go according to plan. That’s life, right?  A grant application is rejected, a key team member decides to move on, an important new initiative isn’t ready to launch on time ― or one of a million other things. I’ve certainly faced my own setbacks at work too.  To get through tough times,

Your network matters.  In an example from my own life, I was recently able to respond to a large RFP because I had maintained a relationship with a former client.  That former client has complementary skills to mine and is now working as a consultant. So we partnered up to put together a strong response

We’ve been helping one of our long-term nonprofit clients implement live case studies this year. And it’s transforming their hiring process! Hiring managers are finding it really helpful to see a candidate’s thought process unfold and to understand how and why they arrive at their recommendations. They also gain a lot of information about a

As I’ve been deeply embedded with a client’s team this year, I’ve been reminded of some of the truths and challenges of leadership. When you’re a leader, your team notices every move you make.  Everything ― from your tone of voice to what you say (and don’t say) to the way you show up ―

Retention doesn’t happen because of pizza parties, team building activities, annual retreats, lunches, or cute swag. Retention doesn’t happen by checking off compliance activities either, like completing continuing education hours.Retention is ultimately how people feel about your organization. If they feel positively, you retain them. So how do you retain your team? Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all

When you’re looking to hire a talent firm, it’s not enough to lay out the scope and deliverables you need. You must also know what skills, experiences, and attributes matter. Skills: These are the abilities someone has gained. For example, if you want to reorg your finance department, you should hire a firm that is