I do with, not to
Collaboration and co-design are at the heart of how I work. I don’t walk in the door with an answer, we discover it together. Change only sticks when the team supports it. The team only supports it if they help design it. Teams win.
I give you the truth
I am not a ‘yes’ man. I will speak the truth I see, warts and all. You aren’t paying me to always agree with you, you are asking me to help you deal with big decisions on the future of your business. Healthy challenge and debate is part of the journey.
I seek insight not just opinion
Everyone has an opinion on the challenges you face, and those voices should be heard. The real value comes when opinion is backed up data, as it leads to insight that gives deeper understanding and is actionable. Balancing these two delivers gold.
I use constraints to focus creativity
Creativity needs boundaries to work best. These can be design principles, values, constraints of time or budget. They define the space within which we play, and the rules of our game. Using a ‘we can if’ mindset, and reframing constraints leads to breakthrough ideas and new sources of value and impact.
I stay curious
Just as a musician will collect samples to use in their own compositions, so I collect stories and new tools to use with my clients. New business models and strategies are emerging all the time, which makes constant learning a must.
I create systems not sticking plasters
One secret to sustainable change is building systems that can scale instead of using sticking plasters to cover up problems. Sticking plasters may be an easy answer, but they become organisational debt - the price for quick fixes that don’t address the underlying issue.
I seek first to understand
The answers are usually easy once you get the right question. You may not always like the solution, but honesty is critical. We often struggle making big decisions because we’re trying to find a more palatable answer than the one we can see. First ask better questions, then look for the answer.
I bring a tool box
Every client and every challenge is different and needs a tool box - not a single approach - to unlock. The magic is in the mindset we bring to our work, the art is in the tools and practices we deploy, the science is in the execution, the fun is in the journey, the satisfaction is from overcoming.
I believe in the power of small steps
Whatever the ambition, or the change required, every journey is completed by taking small steps repeatedly. There is a mantra in Crossfit that applies equally to change - mechanics first, then consistency, last comes intensity. Complete a small change properly, do it again, and only then start moving faster. Plan. Act. Observe. Measure. Reflect. Learn. Improve. Repeat.