Frequently Asked Questions

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I've guided architecture and engineering firms of all sizes—from boutique studios to large, multidisciplinary organizations—on engagements focused on business fundamentals, strategic planning, leadership alignment, and ownership transition. Typically, my work begins by reinforcing essential business basics, such as clarifying the firm’s mission, vision, values, and strategic goals, ensuring these elements are clearly understood and embraced by all team members. From there, I assist in building comprehensive strategic plans that establish measurable objectives, actionable milestones, accountability structures, and clear methods for evaluating ongoing success. This approach has consistently helped firms achieve significant improvements in operational clarity, team cohesion, and long-term profitability.

My approach combines deep industry-specific experience as an architect and business leader with tailored solutions for your unique firm culture and dynamics. I don't apply a one-size-fits-all framework; rather, I collaborate closely with your team to create a customized path for measurable and sustainable improvement.

I facilitate conflicts constructively by creating a safe, structured environment where team members can express differing views respectfully. My methodology emphasizes open dialogue, active listening, and collaborative problem-solving, ensuring that conflicts lead to positive, actionable outcomes rather than increased friction. On occasions where tension is palpable, I will follow up afterwards individually to discuss underlying motivations and how best to overcome the issues. 

For firms with multiple stakeholders,  confidential interviews allow me to deeply understand each leader’s individual perspectives, motivations, and challenges. They set a strong foundation for trust, provide insight into team dynamics, and inform the customization of our subsequent group workshops and coaching sessions.

Confidentiality is paramount. I clearly define confidentiality expectations upfront. Individual sessions are completely private, with insights shared only in an anonymized and aggregated manner to inform group discussions without compromising personal trust.

My engagement structure is inherently flexible, designed to adapt to your evolving needs. Regular check-ins and quarterly strategic reviews allow us to recalibrate our focus as necessary to address emerging priorities and ensure continued alignment with your firm's objectives.

Typical KPIs I've used effectively include:

• Leadership satisfaction scores
   
• Employee retention rates
   
• Goal achievement rates
   
• Firm profitability (yes, that tells the story from a different perspective)

I use collaborative platforms such as Notion to provide real-time tracking of objectives, document progress, and clearly outline outcomes. Regular quarterly reviews ensure accountability and a transparent evaluation against agreed-upon KPIs. These reviews also serve as checkpoints: if we find progress isn't meeting expectations, we'll assess underlying reasons and collaboratively address them. Ultimately, my goal is to consistently add value—if we find that the engagement isn't beneficial, we’ll openly discuss options, including concluding our work together, to ensure everyone's time and resources are effectively utilized.

In addition to structured regular meetings, I utilize collaborative online tools such as Notion for ongoing task tracking and accountability. I provide structured meeting summaries, action plans, and regular progress check-ins to keep the team on track and engaged.

Billing occurs quarterly in advance, aligning intentionally with our structured engagement. This approach simplifies administration, clearly defines financial expectations, and most importantly, reinforces mutual accountability. Meaningful organizational change requires sustained commitment—it doesn’t happen overnight. By structuring payments quarterly rather than monthly, we establish a mutual investment in the process, mirroring how architectural firms use retainers to confirm their clients’ dedication to projects. This ensures your team remains consistently engaged and committed, enabling us to achieve lasting results together.

"Ongoing support" includes direct email and phone access to me for urgent questions or issues that arise between scheduled sessions. It ensures that your team can promptly address concerns without waiting for the next formal meeting, supporting continuous progress and momentum.