FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Answers To Common Questions

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General Questions

  • My clients are based mostly in the US, though I have experience working with leaders from all over the globe, which broadens my perspective. I partner with leaders and teams from a wide variety of sectors — including manufacturing, construction, technology, financial services, and professional services. The common thread between these clients is the awareness that things aren’t functioning as well as they could or need to, and a willingness to address the people issues that are getting in the way. There’s generally a strong commitment to developing people's potential and creating a collaborative, thriving culture.

  • At least half of my work involves clients who live in other parts of the US. We use platforms like Zoom, Teams, or Go to Meeting to make things work. Often, I’ll fly to my clients’ locations once or twice a year to participate in off-site planning sessions and/or team-building days.

  • Because problems of this kind can be elusive to understand, sometimes a perfectly good consultant is brought in for the wrong problem. This is often the case, and it is the resilient leader, team, or partnership that decides to try again. Because I don’t provide specific services for specific ‘symptoms,’ we get to the root of the issue and resolve it at that level, so it doesn’t keep resurfacing with new symptoms. Also, this is one reason I give so much attention in the beginning to understand whether there’s a good fit between my services and your needs, company values, and preferred ways of working.

  • My clients can typically tell within the first one to two calls if I’m providing a fresh perspective that helps them understand and address the issues. That’s a good sign that the ongoing work will make a difference. But you don’t have to trust my word or your gut — we get actual data about the progress of the work using improvement reports and using business metrics of the outcomes we’re seeking to impact.

  • Great question! It depends on your needs. I often start with the leader because optimizing their functioning translates into better results for the company. The work naturally expands to the leadership team to get everyone rowing in the same direction. Sometimes that means people ‘working through their sh*t’ (pardon my French) so they can work creatively together. Since clients often contact me when there are stalemates in the leadership team, sometimes I start there — just to get a better understanding or lay some initial groundwork. No matter where we start, we impact the team and company as a whole in short order.

  • Yes. I have the privilege of providing quality, in-depth services to my clients directly, addressing their leadership needs, team issues, or partnership dilemmas. At times, I may bring in a team member/colleague to provide specialty services, but only with your permission.

  • EOS [Entrepreneurial Operating System] provides an invaluable framework for businesses along with an array of selected tools and processes. EOS Implementers teach that framework and the use of tools to help you get clarity and traction. My work tends to be more granular in nature — often addressing people issues that come to light as you implement EOS in your business. Since having everyone row together is emphasized in EOS, having a coach/consultant to provide in-depth help with this speeds up the implementation of EOS and amplifies its impact throughout the company.

  • When we’re in the Planning phase of our work, we determine the ideal frequency to meet, at least to start. We co-create a plan as we consider your business needs and what will work best for your situation. Often, I start with weekly meetings to get the ball rolling, and we adjust from there.

  • Though a good part of this process does involve interpersonal dynamics, leaders and team members who are not inclined toward talking about feelings appreciate the focus of our work, which is on the business goals themselves. We deal with team interactions as a way to improve the functioning of the business. This focus on business outcomes is what leaders appreciate when we’re addressing issues like ‘team health.’

  • My work with clients is typically broken down into three phases:

    1. The initial consult is to get a clearer picture of the situation and needs.

    2. The customization phase is to match your needs with the available services. This is often a discovery process aided by assessments, interviews, team meetings, and so on. We decide the frequency of meetings and with whom (starting with the leader(s) or the team, for example).

    3. Then we move into the implementation phase of pursuing your business goals while we actively solve team issues. We use two kinds of metrics — individual/team improvement and the business metrics for your most important outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions by Visionaries/CEOs

  • I provide a sounding board, reflect things back to you, and add my trained insights, so that you can get clarity and devise a plan of attack much more quickly than you would be able to on your own. This work actually saves you time. Many leaders have reported saving up to 10 hours a week. And there’s usually an accompanying boost in energy as well.

  • Leaders who feel responsible for their company and team often struggle to get what they need. In fact, it’s typical for them to take on even more. Engaging in this process is like putting your own oxygen mask on first. When you get clarity and can function at your best, you’re in a much better position to help your company.

  • I’ve learned to expect noticeable results within the first call or two. There should be, at the very least, a transfer of hope, which is having a goal, multiple strategies to achieve that goal, and a sense of agency. Though ultimately we’re striving for long-term changes — which take 6 -12 months, you should expect to see short term gains to build on within 30 days.

  • Because my work is highly customized to each client, it can look a variety of ways. The common structure is to start with a customization process involving 1:1 calls or meetings + strengths assessments for you (and sometimes your team to understand talents and work styles). Then we select the right tools and process for the goals we want to achieve and determine what best serves you, the leader, in terms of frequency, scope, and most effective strategy.

    Then we implement. Generally, this focuses on 1:1 scheduled meetings with ‘as needed’ calls or texts in between to enable you to make pivots in real-time. If it makes sense to widen the scope to additional team members, we’ll do so.

  • Many upper-level leaders benefit from discovering how to magnify their influence, demonstrate executive presence, and troubleshoot the myriad of people issues that come up daily. I often support additional C-suite executives in their development of an adaptive leadership style and ability to make sound decisions consistently.

Frequently Asked Questions about Leadership Teams Services

  • People are understandably wary of working on business goals with a stranger in their midst. I help you determine how best to present the work so that team members see how it will benefit them. I often start with strengths assessments (which really focus on strengths) so people can see themselves and each other in a new light. Typically, team members start relaxing into the process — even enjoying it — as they see things getting easier.

  • At least half of my work is with remote clients using the platforms of Zoom, Teams, or Go To Meeting … whatever works best for the team. Whether your team meets in person or if most or all of you work remotely, this process has proven itself to be successful.

  • Great! EOS tightens company processes, clarifies people issues, and gets you on the road to traction. Because I’m familiar with the tools, language, and processes, I support you as you implement EOS in your company. I help to address the people issues that come to light as you strive to achieve your rocks and milestones. When I attend ‘business as usual’ meetings (L10s), I gain deep insights into the dynamics of the team and can help make adjustments in real time. My work is an excellent supplement to the EOS framework.

  • Because my work is highly customized to each client, it takes a variety of shapes. The common structure is to start with a customization process to make sure we’re addressing the most pressing needs and goals. This often involves 1:1 calls/meetings plus strengths assessments for the team to understand talents and work styles. Sometimes we add a ‘conflict inventory’ to understand how people deal with disagreements.

    Then we select the right tools and process for the goals we want to achieve. We determine ideal frequency and set the stage for transformation by introducing the work and positioning its benefits for both the people and the bottom line.

    Then we implement. Generally, this focuses on 1:1 scheduled meetings, ‘as needed’ calls or texts in between. leadership team meetings

  • In my experience, resources are often limited and have to be allocated carefully. Because stalemates in teams get worse over time rather than better, addressing problems sooner is more effective than later. Also, because this work is results-driven — making improvements in the team as you pursue your most important business goals — you typically save time and create more revenue because the team functions better together and uses ‘creative tension’ to innovate and iterate.

  • Though a good part of this process does involve interpersonal dynamics, leaders and team members who are not inclined toward talking about feelings appreciate the focus of our work, which is on the business goals themselves. We deal with team interactions as a way to improve the functioning of the business. This focus on business outcomes is what leaders appreciate when we’re addressing issues like ‘team health.’

Frequently Asked Questions by Partnerships

  • It’s often the case that one partner is motivated to make changes and seek help in doing so more than the other. Though ultimately the work is most effective when everyone participates, many people are surprised at the degree of change they can make on their own. Because interactions occur between two or more people, changing the way you interact necessarily changes the dynamic. These are cumulative in nature. Plus, it promotes a whole new sense of agency when you’re actively engaged in the change process — with or without your partner(s).

  • Partners who have been mired in problems often can’t see their way out and eventually lose hope. Sometimes all they need is an experienced guide to help disentangle the conflict, provide new tools, and show the way forward.

    Even if ending the partnership is the next step, partners benefit from doing so from a position of strength, resilience, and understanding. Partnerships built over time can feel like one’s ‘baby’, and determining what happens to this ‘baby’ is generally emotionally charged. There’s often resentment, disillusionment, and disappointment, and it’s hard to create a good strategy and make decisions from that place. The stakes are high and partners owe it to themselves to sort things out — work through their sh*t to the degree possible — so that the partnership can come to a good end.

  • This is a common challenge amongst flourishing small businesses. Everyone is busy doing the work that keeps the business running effectively and, though succession planning is important, it never feels urgent. In this case, business owners often need me to provide a process and a cadence that helps keep them on track. They need a thought partner that helps them think through the different factors involved in planning for the future. Sometimes, any issues that have differing viewpoints regarding how to move forward, get pushed off because there’s no clear way to sort through the ideas. This is the essential help I provide.

  • There are many situations when two people have to work together closely, even though they’re not technically partners. Non-family executives in a family business are one such situation. Also, with companies running on EOS, there are often communication challenges between the Visionary and Integrator. By design, these roles have a different set of innate talents and work styles. These complementary skills translate into different ways of communicating and approaching problems. My clients are often amazed at how their frustration with each other transforms into appreciation for the others’ talents. Within 30 days, these issues can be illuminated and the friction smoothed out — creating long-lasting change for the path forward.

  • My work typically begins with individual conversations and strengths assessments. From there, the work is highly customized to the individual situation and needs. The data gathered informs how we move forward; the common structure often includes 1:1 meetings, facilitated conversations, attendance at ‘business as usual’ meetings, off-site workshops or retreats, and ‘as needed’ calls with individuals to address issues that come up between scheduled meetings. I’ve found those ‘as-needed’ calls to be pivotal in the transformation process.

    Then we select the right tools and process for the goals we want to achieve. We determine ideal frequency and set the stage for transformation by introducing the work and positioning its benefits for both the people and the bottom line.

    Then we implement. Generally, this focuses on 1:1 scheduled meetings, ‘as needed’ calls or texts in between leadership team meetings.

  • In my experience, resources are often limited and have to be allocated carefully. Because stalemate partnerships get worse over time rather than better, unbelievable amounts of mental and emotional energy get tied up in partnership conflicts — often impacting life at home. Most of my clients tell me they wish they had reached out sooner because they had no idea how much better things could be with some assistance. Also, I offer monthly payment options to keep the work affordable as you make progress toward your business goals.

Let’s Talk

During your Free Business Therapy Session, we’ll discuss the particulars of your situation. This includes:

  • your experience as a leader / owner in the company

  • trouble areas you’re seeing in the team/company and what you think is going on

  • what you’ve tried in the past to solve them

  • the next practical step(s) to take

  • if it seems there may be a good fit for us to work together, we’ll talk about what that would look like

This call is confidential and there’s no assumption or pressure to work with me at the end. However, this call is meant for people who are interested in learning more and possibly working together. If you prefer to email me directly, send a message to nancy {at} drjonker.com.