Business Learning
Three questions for successful client relationships
Want to build strong relationships with your clients from the beginning? One that ensures all their goals and issues are addressed effectively to set you both up for success? Then, client relationship management must be a top priority. This does not mean you “roll over” when pushed by a client. Of course, these are two…
Meet market demand by accident and you are sure to fail
We’re all busy trying to bring in new business, service clients at the highest level possible and bill at high rates. Because this requires so much focus, strategic planning can take a back seat. If you tread water, living off what you learned earlier in your career, there are sharks who will eat you whole…
Your Firm is Your Wings or Your Drag
Training, education, learning, knowledge, skills, or whatever you call it. If you are a marketing coordinator, a senior manager, principal or CEO, you seek more of this. And, you like to spend your time wisely. Most of all, you want something of value out of your learning investment. Yet, time and again, you experience little…
Strategic Execution– What 4 things must you do to “make it so”?
The planning process is essential to establishing broad goals, but it doesn’t just start or stop there. Next, you must execute consistently on clearly identified steps that build to the ultimate goals identified in your strategic plan. In the case study below, you’ll see innovative actions that ultimately led to the firm’s success. They include: hiring…
Hire for Growth, Educate to Execute (A true story)
The planning process is essential to establish broad goals, but it doesn’t start or stop there. As owners, if you have an interest in growing the business, success will come a lot easier if your employees are growth minded. The way to accomplish this is to attract and hire people who have demonstrated a drive to learn,…
Design-build risks– solutions to participate in the new generation of projects
Challenge Small and medium engineering and architectural firms are having a tough time in the alternative delivery market. At a recent conference of engineering consultants, small firms (less than 50 employees) identified this as a top three area of concern. They identified that they feel compelled to participate in the market and to agree to…
For best results don’t just learn, learn right
As a staff engineer on the cusp of securing my professional license, my employer gave me opportunities to support new business pursuits. While I happened to be successful on the first few, I don’t give myself the credit. I give the credit to the owners and senior managers of the firm who gave me the…
Learning is not an “event”
Training, education, learning, knowledge, skills, or whatever you call it. If you are a marketing coordinator, a senior manager, principal or CEO, you seek more of this. And, you’d like to spend your time wisely. Perhaps you seek this to benefit your personal life, not just your professional life. But, often there is a disconnect…
To change or not to change. How does it impact your future?
Do you contribute to a 401(k)? Do you have a mortgage and plan to have it paid off someday? These thoughts and actions we take or don’t take, are related as we must start now, to protect our interests later. How about your career and business interests? Do you constantly work to improve you, your team,…
DB: A/E Business Viability Risk or Sustainable Practice?
What has the A/E industry learned after 30 years of Design-Build and CM-at-Risk infrastructure projects? The industry has learned that owners love it. And, they have learned that it has stung many A/E firms. It is clear that the owners are the winners, not A/E firms. Must A/E firms continue to be the victim or…