Discovering genius. Creating excellence.

We’ve all seen it: The suit-and-tie-clad business consultants waltz into a client’s office, armed with a generic presentation, a lot of assumptions and very little curiosity. They go on to give off-the-shelf solutions, telling the client exactly what they’re doing wrong and exactly what they should be doing instead. And why not listen to them? They are the “experts,” after all.

Here’s the problem: they didn’t ask any questions before coming up with those solutions. 

A tailored approach

We’re a busy bunch, and we’re lucky to work with a varied list of clients — hospitals, financial institutions, insurance companies, waste management companies and even the occasional cheese factory. In every instance, we’ve been able to help those businesses, or their teams, get past obstacles preventing them from growing.

And it’s not because we’re experts in all those fields. Sure, we love a good cheeseboard, but we’re not up to date on the latest cheesemaking methods. Our role is not to be the expert — or worse, pretend to be the expert. 

Our job is to ask questions and access the genius that’s already in the room. From there, we help dig through underlying issues to identify the real roadblocks and create tailored solutions. 

Accessing genius

Like great ideas, genius is found throughout a business — from the C-suite corner offices to the new hire’s desk. How we discover and access that genius is really quite simple, and it’s a part of every interaction we have. It starts with: 

Curiosity: Questions are the cornerstone of our entire approach, and it’s how we reach the core problems.

Empathy: Growth is a great thing, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. We understand the trials business owners and employees face when trying to reach the next stage of success.

Vulnerability: Open dialogue is key to coming to a common understanding. It’s what helps us understand points of view, motivations and desired outcomes.

We find that these three elements create an environment that allows genius and expertise to flourish. Suddenly, the questions start to answer themselves. 

Conclusion

The genius in the room isn't always the loudest voice or the longest title. Sometimes, it's the quiet idea that's been simmering for years, just waiting for the right question. Our job is not to be the smartest people in every room, but to create the perfect conditions for smart ideas to emerge.