“We brought Eric in to help us improve a very difficult work environment in one of our departments. Morale was low, people were stuck in conflict with each other, and we had had several turnovers in leadership as a result. Eric worked closely with the interim director and university administration and established a steering committee that sought input from everyone—faculty and staff—in the organization. He then designed and facilitated a two-day summit process with the entire organization, which produced significant public commitments to make change. Communication and morale have since improved considerably, and we successfully recruited a new dean. Eric's help was instrumental in getting us to where we are today.”

How we work

Our approach

Rather than coming in as "external experts," we've found that it works best to work side-by-side to understand your situation, identify what needs to happen, implement the plan and measure results. This collaborative approach yields the best, most sustainable outcomes. By collaboration, we specifically mean that we keep in close touch over the course of the project (especially at the outset), each take on different assignments, and make many, if not most, project decisions together (you always have the final say).

To every project, we bring a vast array of tools, techniques, models, and ideas. In addition to dealing with the immediate issue, we leave you with resources to help you the next time.

We are flexible and adaptable in our approach. Different situations call for different approaches; one size definitely does not fit all. Everything we do is customized for your unique situation.

We rarely accept projects where only our expert opinion is desired—where we are asked only to study a situation and prepare a report. Reports by themselves do very little to improve a situation. Our value comes from implementing our recommendations, not by merely offering an expert opinion.

Expected results

We constantly focus our efforts on delivering the business results you want. Depending on the nature of your situation and the work we do together, you can expect see significant improvements in how people communicate with each other and how they resolve conflicts. Levels of trust and respect will increase. Key performance metrics (like quality, quantity, time, cost savings) will improve. Deadlines will be met and decisions will "stick." You will see people voluntarily contributing more to the organization. You will experience an organization that is firing on all cylinders and getting traction.

Overview of a project

The best way to get started is to arrange a telephone conversation to discuss your situation and see how we might be able to help you.

Once we sufficiently understand your situation and what you want (people results and business results), together we would craft a scope of work (or proposal depending on your needs) and come to mutual agreement about what to expect from each other.

Once that contract is in place, we collect information from other people involved (usually in interviews, but also in meetings, site visits, and occasionally surveys). We summarize that information, analyze it, and prepare preliminary recommendations for actions to take. This work is sometimes captured in a brief, written report; other times it is presented verbally.

Next, we choose with recommendations or other actions to take and implement them. Implementation may involve any of our services and often a combination of them. Our services include:

• Communication and conflict resolution
• Organizational change
• Team development
• Leadership development
• Strategic planning
• Coaching
• Facilitation
• Speaking
• Training

The implementation step involves the most dedication and effort. During implementation, we also often gain additional information and make adjustments in our approach.

Throughout the project, we monitor our progress against the business objectives you identified early on. Are we getting the results we expected? If not, we would make adjustments in our approach.

Finally, when we have achieved the results you were after and the contract comes to an end, we meet to identify your next steps and to debrief the project.

If you're ready for that first telephone conversation, call Eric Svaren at 206-352-2400 or e-mail to get started.

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