Over the course of two decades in talent development, we discovered something that defies conventional thinking:

training won’t solve every

performance issue.

This happens everywhere. Organizations throw training at performance problems the way we throw medicine at symptoms without diagnosing the real cause. Meanwhile, employees want to do their jobs efficiently and effectively.

Take the city government client who was certain they needed extensive training on their new software system. After digging deeper, what they actually needed were simple performance tools—like decision guides—that helped employees enter and process “clean” data. No lengthy training sessions. No “click to continue” e-learning courses. Just the right form of support at the right moment in time.

Our diagnostic process gets to the heart of a single question:

What causes the gap between your team’s current performance and their ideal performance?

We begin by identifying the people in your organization who consistently produce above-average results. Then we observe them. Interview them. Study their approach. We look for patterns.

We also talk to subject matter experts, conduct focus groups, and observe the work environment. We gather evidence. We seek to understand the impact of poor performance on your bottom line.

Only after a thorough performance analysis do we recommend solutions.

And here's the crucial part: if your performance gap requires expertise outside our wheelhouse, we'll tell you.
You'll have our research and analysis to help you find the right partner. That's our promise of integrity—doing what's right for you, not what's opportunisic for us.

Of course, if we can lend our expertise to closing your performance gaps, we’d love to continue partnering with you. Here are some of the ways that we make magic happen for our clients…

  • What it looks like: Work takes longer than it should. Steps get skipped. Errors pile up. People are frustrated but can't articulate why.

    What we do: We map your current processes, identify bottlenecks and redundancies, and redesign workflows that actually work. Sometimes this means simplifying. Sometimes it means adding structure where there's chaos. Always, it means involving the people who do the work every day.

  • What it looks like: Your leadership development programs exist, but no one's sure if they're actually developing leaders. Your training feels disconnected from business goals. You're not sure what to prioritize or how to measure success.

    What we do: We help you step back and think strategically about your talent development initiatives. This often means engaging key stakeholders to identify necessary outcomes, defining what success actually looks like, and building programs that align with where your organization is headed.

  • What it looks like: Your LMS is an LM-MESS. It’s either underutilized or becoming a dumping ground for content no one can find. Version control is nonexistent. Reporting doesn't tell you what you need to know.

    What we do: We help you design learning management systems that actually serve your people. We organize content logically, create intuitive navigation, establish governance, and design reporting that gives you what you need to make data-driven decisions.

  • What it looks like: This is where training is the answer. Your people genuinely need to learn something new—whether it's technical skills, soft skills, or understanding new systems and processes.

    What we do: We design learning experiences that stick. This might mean instructor-led training with case studies and role plays. It might mean e-learning that employees complete at their own pace. It might mean job aids that provide support exactly when it's needed. Often, it's all of the above—a system of support rather than a single event.

  • What it looks like: Your frontline leaders were promoted because they were good at their jobs—but now they're struggling to lead others. They need skills in coaching, feedback, delegation, and conflict management. Or perhaps your management team needs to function better as a cohesive unit.

    What we do: We provide coaching and mentoring for individual leaders, facilitate team-building experiences that address real challenges (not trust falls), and help create dialogue spaces where hard conversations can happen productively.