Talent Assessment
Without the right people in the right seats, your business won’t get very far. This talent assessment tool with give you the ability to review and create a score for how well you're aligning your people with your strategy.
Without the right people in the right seats, your business won’t get very far. This talent assessment tool will give you the ability to review and create a score for how well you're aligning your people with your strategy. The video walks you through the process and guides you on how to assess each person on your team for both role performance and cultural fit. Get this right, and your business will thrive; get it wrong, and you’ll suffer.
Here are the slides: https://bit.ly/eckfeldt-talent-assessment
Please send questions, comments, and feedback to bruce@eckfeldt.com.
Building a Strategic Framework
Creating an effective and easy-to-use strategic framework is key to growing and scaling your company. In this video, I walk through the key elements of the framework that I use with my client based and Scaling Up and 3HAG/Metronomics.
Creating an effective and easy-to-use strategic framework is key to growing and scaling your company. In this video, I walk through the key elements of the framework that I use with my client based and Scaling Up and 3HAG/Metronomics. This system applies to any business in any industry and is focused on creating a clear set of foundational values, a well-differentiated market position, a focus operational model, and a practical 12-quarter/3-year roadmap for implementation.
Here are the slides: https://bit.ly/43pSXUZ
Please send questions, comments, and feedback to bruce@eckfeldt.com.
Opening Exercise - Describe Card Game
Opening exercises are key to setting the tone for the meeting. This one uses the game Describe to explore the meanings of words and the importance of communication.
Opening exercises are key to setting the tone for the meeting. This one uses the game Describe to explore the meanings of words and the importance of communication.
Describe game on Amazon: https://amzn.to/401H2Mm
Please send questions, comments, and feedback to bruce@eckfeldt.com.
Defining Your Core Customer
At the center of strategy is choosing a customer segment that naturally fits your best product or service. By zeroing in on a specific customer segment you can choose a targeted set of differentiating attributes and a focused set of operational capabilities. Getting this right will allow you to scale faster and easier. Getting this wrong can mean your targeting customer that won't be profitable or easy to serve. This presentation walks you through how to identify your best customers, build a persona around them and create a differentiated strategy that will make them want to run to you for your products and services.
At the center of strategy is choosing a customer segment that naturally fits your best product or service. By zeroing in on a specific customer segment you can choose a targeted set of differentiating attributes and a focused set of operational capabilities. Getting this right will allow you to scale faster and easier. Getting this wrong can mean your targeting customer that won't be profitable or easy to serve. This presentation walks you through how to identify your best customers, build a persona around them and create a differentiated strategy that will make them want to run to you for your products and services.
Presented: Dec. 11th, 2020 1:45-2:10pm EDT, by Bruce Eckfeldt
Downloads: Presentation slides (4 MB)
Additional references:
Some articles from Inc.com and my blog on retrospectives:
Your Brand Represents a Promise to Your Customers. Make Sure You Know What Yours Is
Your Company's Purpose Should Be More Than Making Money. Here's How to Discover It
5 Key Questions Cannabis Companies Need To Answer Before Going To Market
Before you launch your cannabis business, you need to answer these five key questions to clarify your business strategy and value proposition. These will ensure that you're not only creating a valuable and needed solution to the problems in the market, these will also make sure you have and capabilities and capacity to deliver on your plan. Getting these right will accelerate your success and growth. Getting them wrong can mean falling flat and wasting precious time and money.
Before you launch your cannabis business, you need to answer these five key questions to clarify your business strategy and value proposition. These will ensure that you're not only creating a valuable and needed solution to the problems in the market, these will also make sure you have and capabilities and capacity to deliver on your plan. Getting these right will accelerate your success and growth. Getting them wrong can mean falling flat and wasting precious time and money.
Presented: Nov 13th, 2020 1:45-2:45pm EDT, by Bruce Eckfeldt
Downloads: Presentation slides (5 MB)
Team Performance Assessment
The vast majority of work in today’s business is team-based. Your organizational success will be determined by how well your teams work together and start focused on strategic goals. Take this performance assessment to learn where your team can learn and improve.
The vast majority of work in today’s business is team-based. Your organizational success will be determined by how well your teams work together and start focused on strategic goals. Take this performance assessment to learn where your team can learn and improve.
Download the tool:
Eckfeldt.com - Team Performance (PDF - 56 KB)
Copyright © 2020 Eckfeldt & Associates
101 Conversation Starters
Before you dive into your agenda, start your meetings with an opening exercise to get people focused and present. Here are 101 questions you can use to open your meetings to warm up the room and get the conversation going. Select from several categories that range topics and levels based on the nature of your group and timing constraints.
Before you dive into your agenda, start your meetings with an opening exercise to get people focused and present. Here are 101 questions you can use to open your meetings to warm up the room and get the conversation going. Select from several categories that range topics and levels based on the nature of your group and timing constraints.
Download the tool:
Eckfeldt.com - 101 Conversation Starters (PDF - 118 KB)
Copyright © 2020 Eckfeldt & Associates
Spinning Your Flywheel
Every business has a core engine that drives its momentum and business success. This webinar explores the concept of a company’s Flywheel that was introduced by Jim Collin’s in Good to Great and then expanded on in his monograph Turning the Flywheel. Getting this right and drive business sustained business success. Getting it wrong can be frustrating and make growing your business a grind. Find out how to identify and leverage your flywheel to scale your company faster and easier.
Every business has a core engine that drives its momentum and business success. This webinar explores the concept of a company’s Flywheel that was introduced by Jim Collin’s in Good to Great and then expanded on in his monograph Turning the Flywheel. Getting this right and drive business sustained business success. Getting it wrong can be frustrating and make growing your business a grind. Find out how to identify and leverage your flywheel to scale your company faster and easier.
Presented: May 21th, 2020 4:00pm-5:00pm EDT, by Bruce Eckfeldt
Downloads: Presentation slides (2 MB)
Additional references:
Jim Collins book: Turning the Flywheel
Leadership Team Assessment
Is your leadership team up to the challenge of scaling your business? This assessment covers six different categories that are critical to creating a high-performing leadership team. Before you start investing time and money in scaling, double-check that your team is ready to grow.
Is your leadership team up to the challenge of scaling your business? This assessment covers six different categories that are critical to creating a high-performing leadership team. Before you start investing time and money in scaling, double-check that your team is ready to grow.
Download the tool:
Eckfeldt.com - Leadership Team Assessment (PDF - 56 KB)
Copyright © 2020 Eckfeldt & Associates
Running Retrospectives
The best way to improve future performance is to review and critically assess recent results. Retrospectives over a simple and flexible tool to find opportunities for improvement. We cover the goals of continuous improvement efforts, the basic five-part structure, and example exercises you can use.
The best way to improve future performance is to review and critically assess recent results. Retrospectives over a simple and flexible tool to find opportunities for improvement. We cover the goals of continuous improvement efforts, the basic five-part structure, and example exercises you can use.
Presented: May 14th, 2020 4:00pm-5:00pm EDT, by Bruce Eckfeldt
Downloads: Presentation slides (3 MB)
Additional references:
Some articles from Inc.com and my blog on retrospectives:
The Secret To Turning Your Mistakes Into Opportunities In 6 Simple Steps
The 2-Day Goal Setting Process That Will Make 2019 Your Best Year Yet
Making the Transition from Founder to CEO
As a company grows, everyone on the leadership team needs to grow with it. And the number one role that needs to evolve as the company scales is that of the Founder becoming a CEO. Many things change in this transformation. Everything from where you spend your time, how you do your work, what you focus, and even your mindset will need to shift as you take on this new role.
As a company grows, everyone on the leadership team needs to grow with it. And the number one role that needs to evolve as the company scales is that of the Founder becoming a CEO. Many things change in this transformation. Everything from where you spend your time, how you do your work, what you focus, and even your mindset will need to shift as you take on this new role.
Presented: May 14th, 2020 2:00pm-3:00pm EDT, by Bruce Eckfeldt
Downloads: Presentation slides (2 MB)
Additional references:
You May Not Be the Best Person to Grow Your Company. Here's Why
Building a Defensible Calendar
As you move up the ranks and take on more and more responsibility, managing your schedule becomes critical. Time becomes your one true limited resource. And if you don’t have a plan, you’re not going to be successful. By building a defensible calendar, you make time for your most important and valuable work.
As you move up the ranks and take on more and more responsibility, managing your schedule becomes critical. Time becomes your one true limited resource. And if you don’t have a plan, you’re not going to be successful. By building a defensible calendar, you make time for your most important and valuable work.
Presented: May 7th, 2020 4:00pm-5:00pm EDT, by Bruce Eckfeldt
Downloads: Presentation slides (874 KB)
Additional references:
Some articles from Inc.com and my blog on Defensible Calendar:
You Can Become Highly Productive If You Start Keeping a Defensible Calendar
Want More Value Out of Your Day? Focus on Creating Time Blocks
Master These 6 Strategies to Avoid Overcommit and Increase Your Productivity
Objectives and Key Results
Setting goals can sometimes be harder than achieving them. For organizations, it can be a challenge to keep them simple, tied to long-term strategy, and internally aligned. Objectives and Key Results have become popular with many high-growth and highly successful companies in the last decade. This webinar walks through what they are, how to use them, and common pitfalls.
Setting goals can sometimes be harder than achieving them. For organizations, it can be a challenge to keep them simple, tied to long-term strategy, and internally aligned. Objectives and Key Results have become popular with many high-growth and highly successful companies in the last decade. This webinar walks through what they are, how to use them, and common pitfalls.
Presented: April 29th, 2020 4:00pm-5:00pm EDT, by Bruce Eckfeldt
Downloads: Presentation slides (2 MB)
Additional references:
Here is the link to the Google Sheet template (this is “view only”, download a copy for yourself)
Eckfeldt.com - Objective and Key Results - example tracking sheet
Some articles from Inc.com and my blog on OKRs…
You Can Set Many Types of Quarterly Objectives. Here Are 5 Types That Work the Best
Two Examples of Weak OKRs and How to Fix Them
Setting powerful team goals using objectives key-results (OKRs)
Sales Conversation Strategy
Once you have a business strategy, you need to figure out your sales strategy. And the best sales processes are really a conversation with your prospect. This sales conversation strategy template walks through the key stages of creating an effective relationship with your prospect and helping them frame the buying decision in a way that will put you on top.
Once you have a business strategy, you need to figure out your sales strategy. And the best sales processes are really a conversation with your prospect. This sales conversation strategy template walks through the key stages of creating an effective relationship with your prospect and helping them frame the buying decision in a way that will put you on top.
Download:
Eckfeldt.com - Strategy - Sales Conversation (PDF - 26 KB)
Copyright © 2020 Eckfeldt & Associates
Better Decision Making
A great leadership team is a decision-making engine. And how well your top team and make good decisions quickly on the issues that matter most will drive your performance and growth. This webinar covers several strategies and tools you can use to prioritize your decisions and develop effective processes to select criteria, develop options, and drive to action effectively.
A great leadership team is a decision-making engine. And how well your top team and make good decisions quickly on the issues that matter most will drive your performance and growth. This webinar covers several strategies and tools you can use to prioritize your decisions and develop effective processes to select criteria, develop options, and drive to action effectively.
Presented: April 23rd, 2020 4:00pm-5:00pm EDT, by Bruce Eckfeldt
Downloads: Presentation slides (879 KB)
Additional references:
Some articles from Inc.com on decision making…
Want to Improve Your Team's Decision-Making Skills? Start a Journal
Why Procrastination Can Be the Best Strategy to Making Better Decisions
Special thank you to Kristin McLane from Vivid Ink for the following taking visual notes from the session…
Updating Strategy
A strategy is worthless if it’s not updated and adjusted on a regular basis. This webinar goes through the questions that you need to ask yourself on a regular basis (more frequently in times of change) to review and revise your plans. A good strategy is key to driving your quarterly priorities and milestones.
A strategy is worthless if it’s not updated and adjusted on a regular basis. This webinar goes through the questions that you need to ask yourself on a regular basis (more frequently in times of change) to review and revise your plans. A good strategy is key to driving your quarterly priorities and milestones.
Presented: April 16th. 2020 4:00pm-5:00pm EDT, by Bruce Eckfeldt
Downloads: Presentation slides (3 MB)
Additional references:
Here are the PDF files which you can download
eckfeldt.com - strategy - business model canvas (PDF)
eckfeldt.com - strategy - strategic map (PDF)
eckfeldt.com - strategy - strategy canvas (PDF)
What's your strategy...in simple terms? - 3x3 Strategy Summary Tool
Your strategy needs to be both effective and easy to communicate. Use this tool to test your strategic thinking or use it to develop a quick update to your current plans. Focus on these three questions to make sure you’re well-positioned and have a clear set of priorities.
Your strategy needs to be both effective and easy to communicate. Use this tool to test your strategic thinking or use it to develop a quick update to your current plans. Focus on these three questions to make sure you’re well-positioned and have a clear set of priorities.
Download:
Eckfeldt.com - 3x3 Strategy Summary Tool (PDF - 28 KB)
Copyright © 2020 Eckfeldt & Associates
Processing Issues
Every team needs to process issues that come up. The key is to process the right ones in the right timeframe. This webinar talks about how to collect issues, priorities them, process them quickly, and make sure that actions are planned with timeframes and success criteria.
Every team needs to process issues that come up. The key is to process the right ones in the right timeframe. This webinar talks about how to collect issues, priorities them, process them quickly, and make sure that actions are planned with timeframes and success criteria.
Presented: April 9th. 2020 4:00pm-5:00pm EDT, by Bruce Eckfeldt
Downloads:
Presentation slides (1 MB)
Additional references:
Here is the google sheet template for the issue log. (This is a view-only document, you’ll need to download or make a local copy for yourself. (Please don’t request access.)
eckfeldt.com - webinar - issue processing template (shared Google Doc - view only)
Do you have the right people in the right seats? - People Tool: Love, Loath, Long Lust
Do you have the right people in the right seats doing the right things? Use this people tool to see what people like and don’t like about their roles and see what you can optimize your team’s focus. We’ve extended the traditional Love/Loath exercise to include two other questions to help you find opportunities. Check out the video for details.
Do you have the right people in the right seats doing the right things? Use this people tool to see what people like and don’t like about their roles and see what you can optimize your team’s focus. We’ve extended the traditional Love/Loath exercise to include two other questions to help you find opportunities. Check out the video for details.
Download:
Eckfeldt.com - People Tool: Love, Loath, Long, Lust (PDF - 28 KB)
Copyright © 2020 Eckfeldt & Associates
Weekly Planning Meeting
Your weekly planning meeting is the workhorse of your key meeting rhythms. It’s where you take your strategic goals and create real tasks and commitments to action. A good planning meeting will drive progress and accountability on your team. This webinar gives you an agenda and strategy for how to drive real commitment to actions.
Your weekly planning meeting is the workhorse of your key meeting rhythms. It’s where you take your strategic goals and create real tasks and commitments to action. A good planning meeting will drive progress and accountability on your team. This webinar gives you an agenda and strategy for how to drive real commitment to actions.
Presented: April 2nd. 2020 4:00pm-5:00pm EDT, by Bruce Eckfeldt
Downloads:
Presentation slides (1 MB)
Additional references:
Here is the google sheet template for the weekly meeting tracker. (This is a view-only document, you’ll need to download or make a local copy for yourself. (Please don’t request access.)
eckfeldt.com - sample weekly meeting tracker (shared Google Doc - view only)
Articles from Inc.com on weekly planning/habits:
https://www.inc.com/bruce-eckfeldt/6-ways-to-revamp-your-weekly-routine.html