Client Successes
Here's a sampling of our client success stories over the years. Your firm could easily be the next great success:
Organizational Effectiveness
Strategic Planning
Facilitated a management retreat for a division of a $1.2 billion science and
technology company. The division had been experiencing shrinkage in a
key market segment and managers were focused on the performance of
their individual service areas, rather than the performance of the
division as a whole. The retreat resulted in the development of and
commitment to a shared division vision and mission, a joint strategy
for developing business in targeted growth markets, and a new sense of
team cohesion and shared purpose.
Strategic and Operational Planning and Development
Designed and facilitated a strategic planning and development process that incorporated leadership sub-team activities and two annual off-site retreats for the entire leadership team of senior scientists in both research and applied chemistry within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Process reduced interdepartmental conflict over annual funding decision-making and strengthened resource allocation, operational planning and peer partnership.
Strategic and Marketing Planning
Designed and facilitated a strategic planning process for a growing public affairs and communications firm. The high-involvement approach collected ideas and input from all staff and partners and resulted in a road map for marketing, financial and leadership development growth goals and strategies tailored to its creative and entrepreneurial culture. A year after the plan’s completion, the firm is successfully meeting targets despite the economic downturn.
Coaching
Performance Coaching for Teams
Coached a budget and accounting team with a history of interpersonal conflict
and alienation from their internal clients. Workshops succeeded in
enabling team members to collaborate for the first time on
presentations to the chief executive and board members. Practicing new
skills also provided a lasting foundation for improved interactions
among previously antagonistic colleagues.
Executive Coaching
Dozens of executives and managers have benefited from individualized coaching by LGA
that has helped them prepare for promotion, operate at higher levels of
effectiveness, reduce the stress of specific challenges, improve peer
and leader communication, strengthen relationships, enhance general
and/or targeted performance, master career transitions and find greater
satisfaction in their work and life. Individual coaching plans
start with client-defined goals and include specific milestones for
evaluating progress. Coaching plans are updated to reflect
changing development needs as the process unfolds. Examples
include everything from handling tricky interpersonal issues — such as
an executive working through conflict with a peer leader or board
member — to an emerging leader developing the planning skills,
strategic perspective and leadership influence needed to transition
from mid-level management to executive success.
Team Coaching
Coached the management team of a precision machine shop that designs and
manufactures highly specialized and finely calibrated measurement
equipment for a scientific research and measurement organization.
Over a two year period, the team enhanced their project management
skills, developed and implemented an operations improvement plan, and
learned to listen, problem-solve, negotiate and generally work better
together as a team. Individual and team assessments and exercises
provided understanding and a common language for working with
differences in individual styles, and managers learned ways to be more
effective in challenging interactions.
Meeting and Retreat Facilitation
Management Retreat
Designed and facilitated the first department-wide retreat for the financial
services unit of an organization that was evolving to a values-centered
high-performance model. The department had previously been managed in a
strictly hierarchical, top-down style. The objectives of the meeting
were to build a platform for increased employee empowerment and to
create a shared departmental vision. A cross-functional, multi-level
team was formed and developed a collaborative process that ensured
employee participation in ongoing organizational changes.
Board and Senior Leadership Team Retreats
Designed and facilitated six annual retreats for the DC Bar Board of Governors,
producing targeted action plans and practical solutions for a range of
complex strategic leadership and stewardship issues as well as
fostering collaboration among board members. From one retreat, an ongoing governance committee was created which now allows consistent multi-year implementation strategy and initiatives beyond officer and member term limits.
Non-Proft Board Retreat
For a non-profit Board in conflict over significant issues, facilitated the annual Board retreat. Introduced a dialogue process that allowed members to openly and constructively deal with the “elephant(s) in the room”. By the end of the two-day offsite, Board members came to consensus on goals, priorities, target milestones and accountabilities, and identified viable alternative strategies for contentious areas to work on in follow-up meetings.
Project Launch and Planning
Designed and facilitated two annual retreats for an NIH project leadership team,
first to launch the project and foster a cohesive team with a clear
mission and vision, then to strengthen planning and skills for on-going
operations and management.
Leadership Development/Training
Diversity/Sexual Harassment Training
Led a team of subject matter experts in developing an award-winning multi-media EEO training program to prevent discrimination and support workplace diversity. Customized case studies and interactive exercises enabled participants to apply practical approaches for working constructively with diverse staff and limiting individual/organizational liability back on the job
Performance Management Training
Customized and facilitated modular performance management training programs,
originated by Development Dimensions International (DDI), for multiple
organizations. Workshops are highly interactive, using customized
case studies to practice new skills and techniques. The training
empowers employees to perform consistently at the top of their ability
and skill, supports individual and team commitment, enables managers to
hold underperforming employees accountable to improve their own
performance, and helps sustain improved performance over time.
Customer Service Training
Tailored and delivered customer service training to management and staff of a
higher education trade association, using customized case studies in a
mixed media format. The training focused on the entire chain of
communication to ensure consistent responsiveness from the front lines
to the back office and executives. Case studies were designed to
reflect actual and anticipated customer interactions, so participants
continued to retain lessons learned back on the job.
Organizational Assessments
Business and Operations Assessment
Conducted a corporate-wide organizational assessment for a $15+ billion
organization that had recently undergone major downsizing,
restructuring, and consolidation of multiple operating sites and
facilities. Developed strategies and recommended actions to reduce
barriers to desired changes in thirteen areas, including leadership
development, performance measurement, communication, and overall
alignment of organizational systems and structures to support the new
strategic and behavioral goals.
Program Evaluation
Evaluated the effectiveness of a pilot community-policing program for a Maryland
county government. Also designed and conducted focus groups and
identified five key areas to better integrate community policing into
daily operations and gain wider acceptance among the troops.
Upward Feedback System for Managers
Designed and implemented a customized upward feedback assessment, reporting system, and coaching process for the senior managers of an 80,000 member professional association. System has now been in place for over eight years, the bi-annual process uses secure web-based access for rating, reports and administration. Six categories of questions enable staff and subordinate managers to rate the management team based on defined and observable behavior-based criteria. The resulting data is used for individual and team coaching, as well as for designing leadership training.
360° Performance Feedback
Created 360° performance feedback instruments and an assessment process for a
Federal agency to align its performance evaluations system with its new
teamwork and customer service orientation. Installed survey, analysis,
and feedback reporting software to support ongoing use of the new
performance assessment approach.
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