July 2007

Taking Stock of the Year to Date:

Your Company's Journey & Our Core Values

Rather than our typical newsletter format, we felt the need for a mid-summer check-in. Temperatures are up, vacations are in full swing, and some of our clients are taking this season to recharge and be ready to get back to focusing on business in the fall. Here we are just after midyear. It's amazing how fast 2007 is flying by, isn't it? Churchill's words (at right) inspired us to raise some timely questions we thought could be of value to you: How is your journey progressing? Are you ascending; is your business improving? Are you enjoying the climb?

Now may be a good time to take stock of 2007 so far, review your goals and plans, and consider course corrections for the last half of the year. Perhaps you would benefit by reflecting on your business, identifying some clear milestones, and focusing your resources on achieving them.

While your leadership team is vacationing and your staff is spending time with family, you can take this opportunity to review your business results to date and reclarify your vision for the next phase of your company's journey. When your team returns from summer recreation you will be prepared to engage them in leading your organization to the next level! If you have metrics established, you may want to review your most recent monthly or quarterly results and update your priorities. If you have dashboard indicators, take a look and see what areas need attention. Whatever your systems and measures, this summer season may present an opportunity to review and prepare to make the most of the fall season.

As always, we are prepared to assist you in taking your business to the next level. We are available to provide a range of services from  individual executive coaching to a comprehensive, team-oriented strategic planning process. We can design creative procedures to inspire and motivate your team or to help you engage your team in action planning and implementation. If you could use an occasional objective thought-partner, or if you would want us to facilitate difficult relationship issues and conflict resolution, we are here to help. Please don't hesitate to contact us.

Finally, as part of our own mid-summer reflection and review, we have chosen to spend some time with our core values. These serve as the foundation of our practice and the anchor for our work. As Win Win looks forward to ramping up our services in the fall, we are redoubling our commitment to our organizational values:

• A professional consciousness that places the client first.

• Honesty, integrity, trust, and ethical behavior at all times.

• Genuine caring and respect for others.

• High-quality, competent, and meaningful services.

• Practical, client-centered solutions that are a good value.

• Efficiency, effectiveness, and responsibility.

• Continuous learning and growth.

We wish you a wonderful summer season and as Churchill says, "joy and glory" in your journey! 

Rick and Gail

P.S. Check out this fascinating article discovered by our web editor, Doug Drenkow, today: "Change or Die" ("All leadership comes down to this: changing people's behavior. Why is that so damn hard? Science offers some surprising new answers -- and ways to do better.")