"As companies age, if they do not evolve, adapt, and change elements of their culture, they grow increasingly maladapted and the culture becomes a serious constraint on learning and change. The organization clings to whatever made it a success. The very culture that created the success makes it difficult for members of the organization to perceive changes in the environment that require new responses."
—Edgar Schein
- High-end retail jewelry shop and store:
- Worked with husband and wife team to examine impact of dual relationship on business management. Facilitated staff meetings and one-on-one dialogs for consistency and clarity. Coached management team on developing ongoing process for monitoring store success.
- Non-profit foundation:
- Provided assessment of component fund, including relationships between foundation staff, advisory board, and executive director. Produced extensive report outlining survey responses, cultural observations and organizational recommendations.
- Foreign consulting firm:
- Facilitated multiple team retreats to examine group norms, procedural improvements, and strategic planning. Coached Vice-President on supervision and performance evaluation methods.
- Non-profit sports organization:
- Entered into extensive executive coaching relationship with the Executive Director, with the full support of the Board, to improve communication with internal and external stakeholders, improve decision-making process and timelines, and enhance task and relationship management.
- World-class medical facility:
- Collaborated with department business manager to design and host a full-day retreat for twenty-eight doctors and administrators. Facilitated group and break-out discussions that created specific action items. This provided a means for resolving some systemic issues. Followed up to ascertain progress.
- Women-owned veterinarian practice:
- Helped the four owners to examine their management behavioral patterns, personnel problem-solving, and conflict management. Assisted in the implementation of a new practice manager model, and coached person promoted from within as a first-time manager.
- Leading web design firm:
- Worked with the Owner in identifying how to best use his talents and energies within the business. Provided new communication methods and skills. Facilitated team meetings with his direct reports in building additional team functionality.
- Natural food wholesaler/franchise headquarters:
- Assisted Owner/Founder in assessing his CEO-level skills that led to the recruitment and hiring of the company's first president. Facilitated negotiations with outside stakeholders to clarify business agreements. Worked with the senior management team to improve mutual accountability.
- Division of State government:
- Facilitated six-month culture change initiative, including enhancing leadership capabilities of Division Director and management team, improving decision-making and meeting effectiveness skills, training all staff in the "Difficult Conversations" model, and facilitating group and one-on-one meetings.
- Telecommunications firm:
- Worked with front-line customer service staff to improve skills in dealing with difficult customers on the phone and in person. Additional topics included roles and responsibilities of supervisors, the value of peer learning and support, and developing strategies for reducing staff burn-out.
- Nationally-known Vermont manufacturer of outdoor recreation equipment:
- Assisted Human Resources and department manager in resolving strong negative interactions between two co-workers based on a cross-over between personal and professional relationships.
- Small creative services business:
- Consulted with owner on how to move team of six team members forward in terms of better cohesiveness and effectiveness. Facilitated all-day group brainstorming and strategies for future success session. Followed up with team to insure implementation.
- International manufacturer of food products:
- Facilitated meetings of North American sales force, and conducted training on effective outcomes for challenging customer interactions. Provided training to Vice President of sales. Consulted on integrating sales and production cultures within the company.
- Well-known retail operation:
- Facilitated discussion between three co-owners to clarify roles and responsibilities. Assisted in formation of senior management team, including models of decision-making, agenda management, and group communication.
- State-wide Vermont bank:
- Conducted three-hour training sessions for managers and supervisors on "Business Relational Skills". Discussed delivering clear expectations, handling conflict, providing motivation, and all-around coaching. Extensive use of role-play in small groups. Follow-up session held six months later to reinforce skills training.
- Large Central Vermont non-profit:
- Proposal was accepted by Executive Council for an employee morale project. Conducted extensive series of facilitated dialogs with managers and line staff. Compiled objective data and subjective observations into twenty-page report, and led two-hour management team discussion on how to implement improvements in employee morale.
- Small manufacturer of industry-specific supplies:
- Consulted with company president on the dynamics of managing his brother as lead salesperson. Facilitated company-wide meeting on unresolved issues. Coached meetings of the two brothers to sort out business vs. family dynamics.
- Well-known construction materials firm:
- Worked with team of sixteen senior managers to increase business relational skills, such as providing clear expectations, increasing employee accountability, delivering specific praise for motivational purposes, practicing the art of supportive confrontation, and improving coaching abilities.
Testimonials
"Flip Brown knows how to initiate and facilitate the intentional conversations that every leader must have to be his or her best, do great things and have meaningful success. If your leadership team needs to take its dialogue, strategy and results to the next level of effectiveness, I highly recommend Flip Brown as your next executive coach and facilitator."
Marta Wilson, PhD
CEO, Transformation Systems, Inc.
Author, The Transformation Desktop Guide
"Flip came to American Flatbread to help us out during a time of significant transition for us as a company. He was patient, sensitive and possessing a well-honed sense of humor which is critical when dealing with delicate situations. He was able to connect with our founder/president in a way that allowed for an honest relationship throughout challenging and sometimes emotional discussions which were essential to growth.
Flip invested himself at a deep level in order to get to know our business culture and build the trust necessary for our team to accept his guidance, but he was conscious and cautious about the line between employee and consultant. Our team is in agreement that we would not be in the better place we are in today without Flip and for that we will always be grateful. "
Camilla Behn
Director of Operations
American Flatbread Company
"Over a year past his engagement, Flip's insights continue to pay dividends. His honesty, candor, and good humor quickly overcame the reluctance I had to undertake "coaching," and I've subsequently found myself recommending his services to several profession acquaintances and friends."
Hunt Blair
Vermont Director of Public Policy
Bi-State Primary Care Association
"I have worked with Flip in group trainings as well as one-on-one coaching. Flip has been able to help me gather insight into my professional behavior that has a bearing on the relationship with my coworkers. Flip is the paramount professional who helps you confront, challenge and change behavior that just doesn't work (not always the most pleasant of tasks) with humor and thought provoking expertise."
Rosemary Martell
Human Resources Manager
Barry Callebaut, USA
"Our organization was looking for a way of improving our communication and doing some team building during semi-annual retreats. We engaged Flip and have been very satisfied with the results. Our meetings have been productive and strategic issues have been tackled in a positive way. We would not have made the gains that we have without Flip's guidance and exceptional facilitation skills."
Carrie Russell
Senior Vice-President
A Canadian consulting firm
"We just wanted to say thank you for working with Resort Maps and our franchisees at our annual franchise meeting in Newport, RI. Flip's preliminary work with the Resort Maps team and his role as meeting facilitator allowed us to achieve results that otherwise would not have been possible. It was our first meeting under new management and Flip did excellent work in allaying the concerns of the attendees as well as helping us - as management - get our message across. Thanks again and we look forward to working with you again soon."
Peter Hans
President
Resort Maps Franchise, Inc.