1. Client curiosity, respect, and honor — Flip recounts, "When I grew up working for nine years as a teenager in my father's independent grocery store, I learned a number of valuable lessons. One was 'value every customer as if your paycheck depended on it.'" This has led to a philosophy of "power with" not "power over" — which simply means that in this work we reject the "command-and-control" model as it applies to giving or receiving consulting, coaching, or facilitation services. We do not dictate, order, or control our clients, and we ask for the same in return.

   A second lesson was "take everyone where they are at, regardless of their presentation." In our work, this means everyone has something to offer, if we can just "get out of our own way" and tune in to what they may be providing. This has been a guiding principle in working across a wide spectrum of client organizations, owners, managers, and employees.

2. Social responsibility — in order to have profitable companies or financially healthy non-profits, committed and fulfilled employees, a strong sense of well-functioning communities, and a healthy planet to support all of life for millennia to come, we must use the positive, driving force of business to aid, not constrain these goals. Through active involvement for almost ten years with Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, we have been privileged to work with and alongside of some of the leaders in this new paradigm. The "multiple bottom line" approach guides our practices, methods, and results.

3. Professional growth and development — it is vital to "walk our talk" when it comes to exploring new models, practicing new methods, and learning from the collected wisdom of others. To stay fresh, competent, and current, I regularly attend professional workshops, seminars and lectures, and do research among a wide variety of magazines, books, articles and the Internet There is also what my wife, Sandy Post, likes to call "eating my way to success." What she means is that I sure have a heck of a lot of business lunches. While a number of these are legitimate marketing efforts, many are with professional colleagues. Finding out what others are doing in the field, learning how other business owners are meeting their challenges, and keeping an active sense of community is important.

4. Integrity/Ethics

1. Confidentiality — I do not share the content of what my individual or organizational clients share with me outside of the project. Failure to adhere to this core concept destroys trust and effectiveness.

2. Dual relationships — living in the "small community" of Vermont means that there are times when previous contacts, friendships, and relationships create the need to discuss the parameters of having both professional and "other" connections. Examples have been former neighbors, referrals from a family member, friends who work at client companies, and executives that serve in a volunteer capacity with me.

3. Accurate representation — I strive to describe in clear language what we do. Services are described both in "matching meetings" and in written proposals.

4. Competence — This means being trained and experienced to offer the level, depth, and range of services that are promised. For example, I do not provide consultation on the human resources category of salary compensation evaluation, however I could facilitate a discussion or coach an individual on how to start a conversation on the value they bring to the organization.

5. Conflict of interest — If there is a situation that creates a conflict of interest it is important to ascertain at the first opportunity how the conflict may exist, what the implications are, and what remedies are required.

6. Openness — if at any time a client feels the need to discuss or question my methods, techniques, or practices, I will engage in this conversation without defensiveness. And through both spontaneous and structured ways I invite feedback about my process.

7. Impaired judgment — Should I be unable for personal, medical, or psychological reasons to adequately perform my professional services in a competent way, then I am required to seek consultation or evaluation of my capabilities, and if necessary, make other arrangements for transfer or termination of services.

8. Financial clarity — I believe it is key to a good working relationship to clearly communicate the price, terms, and methods of how our services are paid.

9. Avoiding collusion — One dictionary defines "collusion" as "secret cooperation between people in order to do something illegal or underhanded." This will not be allowed under any circumstances.

5. Sense of Humor and Fun — Virtually all the initial contacts and discussions about engaging Business Culture Consultants for a project contain elements of stress. While some of this stress is positive (rapid company growth, receiving a significant capacity-building grant, opening a new location), much of the tension has to do with built-up emotions, conflicts, or lack of clarity. While it is important to bring an appropriate level of seriousness to workplace change, part of what I bring to a project is a sense of "dancing lightly." I believe it's important to balance the tough stuff with appropriate humor and fun as a "sweetener" to keep the work from getting heavy or boring.

6. Life balance — I am committed to a reasonably balanced lifestyle, which includes time with my wife, family, and friends; deep immersion into music, an active relationship with the earth and the food I eat through organic gardening, and the cleansing ritual of the Finnish sauna.

   I also take multiple weeks of vacation per year, including one seven-day period when I do not check newspapers, TV, the Internet, voice mail, or e-mail. It is remarkable how relaxed a human being can be when one is not "on alert" scanning for incoming information. A week-long diet of "no electrons" does me good as well, to disconnect from our helpful but entangling technology which can be our friend or our jailer. I strongly encourage you to do the same.

7. Spirit — It is my belief that there is a universal life force that connects all elements of this universe without separateness. This is most evident in nature, where the timeless patterns of birth, growth, adaptation, and death take place without fault or judgment. It is my goal to continually remind myself that this powerful source of energy is available for me and the people that I work with, and that it is this energy, not ego or power or money, that produces the greatest connection, goodwill, and satisfaction.

   This "job" of mine is simply part of a life-long unfolding of the pattern that constitutes the core of Self. When I garden, I am always amazed that the small round seed of broccoli, for example, that I hold in the palm of my hand has all the information encoded within to produce the full potential of the plant, given optimal conditions.

   In this work I strive to find those optimal conditions for my clients and myself that will allow the deeper patterns to be observed, ascertained, supported, and realized. That to me is how Spirit manifests itself in the connections we make through socially responsible, caring, effective, and rewarding work.

"Limitless, undying love which shines around me like a million suns ... it calls me on and on across the universe."
— John Lennon

E-mail: bizconsult@mac.com  Office: 802-658-4111  Snail: P.O. Box 3067, Burlington, VT 05408