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‘Some Time for Me?’ (Asks the VIP)

Nov 25, 2024JohnUncategorized

One thousand plus executives. Over the last twenty years, I’ve worked – as a business consultant and strategic adviser – with more than a thousand top executives (CEOs, Presidents, Partners, Owners, Managing Principals). A hundred or so of these leaders have become clients for an extended term. A couple of dozen have become close friends. “On a 1 to 5 scale – I give John a six!” (President, Engineering Firm) Along the way I’ve found something strikingly similar in nearly all of these people: they’re often quite alone. There are, of course, many benefits to being in charge: autonomy, authority, power, […]

Bigger Impact, Greater Value, Higher Fees – All Good, Or Not?

Nov 25, 2024JohnUncategorized

Do you have professionals on your team who have trouble asking for more – in scope, value, and fee? In recent client sessions, I’ve been reminded several times just how difficult this really is for many. Most of these client firms are quite well run – with strong, focused, and talented leadership. Still, and as one client CEO puts it “we have a lot of smart people here, but some of them don’t know how to make a buck.” Technical talent, yes – but business acumen (and professional courage) – are different. There are a number of issues – and […]

A Golden Age or Overwhelming Overwhelm?

Nov 25, 2024JohnUncategorized

Recent conversations with firm executives echo a familiar refrain. What’s up, they wonder, in this disconnect between the success of business today, and how so many on staff just don’t see it? A consensus has been building (now for a while) that these are indeed very good times for architecture, engineering, planning, and environmental firms. Business demand is hot, the economy is strong, talent is in short supply, and backlogs are busting. If this isn’t a “golden age” for the professions – well, it’s pretty damn close. But ask the larger team beyond these executives – general managers, project managers, […]

Leadership is the strategy ahead

Nov 25, 2024JohnUncategorized

Not long after I began consulting to professional services firms (eighteen years ago now) my focus coalesced around two important (and even existential) questions: 1.) Who will get the work for us today? and 2.) Who will lead the firm tomorrow? In my view, these two questions precluded most everything else (nominally) important to the business. Growth and leadership. I still believe this today. But the truth is, today you can’t get many to focus on the first question. With strong client demand, talent in short supply, a heated economy, and record backlogs – there just isn’t much interest in improving business development. I […]