The case study methodology was pioneered by the Harvard Business School faculty to rapidly increase a students skill to analyze root cause and unpack issues, develop judgment skills and make difficult decisions. Harvard calls this the hallmark of skillful leadership. How much more effective is this approach when you are the student and the subject is your business.
It the heart of our approach is to create AIR to the gremlins in ourselves and our business. The concept is to discover the blocks or gremlins that are holding us back and get them out into the AIR so our intellect can deal with them directly.
A = Awareness – get the blocks or gremlins to the surface, to our intellect
I = Integration – understand and cognitively accept the block or gremlin is a part of you
R = Release – let it go. The block or gremlin doesn’t have power. It is a choice.
Ultimately this process is all about improving you. You will participate to the extent you are ready. The success and growth of your business is often affected by this decision.
Teams meet monthly. Each member brings the challenge they face in their business. It may be affecting the strategic plan, it may be an operational or employee challenge, it may be a personal issue that is blocking their success. Fellow members create the magic in the room. The room prioritizes which case studies they will work.
Present: The member will present their challenge after preparation with one of our Case Study Coordinators.
Unpack: The room asks questions, analyzes root cause, inquires, seeks to understand, unpacks the issue. Once fully understood, the room will help the member determine if a personal block, a mis-truth in their personal story is clouding their judgment.
Clarify and Disclose: Are their times when you don’t see the world around you like others do? Your sky may be pink, your world flat, the weather stormy. Everyone in the room sees it different that you, they know the sky is blue, the world is round and the weather is bright and sunny. How can you see what they see? Our process will help you take those blocks and bring them from your gut to your intellect. Our coaching sessions will seek to go deeper and help you let go of the block, to find a new level of positive energy.
Solutions: Once the room understands the issue at hand, the room will provide potential actionable solutions. The member will discuss what seems to fit. The room may have more questions.
Action Plan: The member will choose which from the list he will take action on. These become an action plan.
Follow-Up: Fellow members will volunteer to serve as a Causation Board and follow-up with the member during the course of the month. The Causation Board will make certain the solutions are having a positive impact. The impact of the action plan may cause new issues to surface. If so, the Team will want to provide new insights to support the Member with their action plan so the Member action will be successful.
Findings & Reporting: The Member and the Board volunteers will each report the finding of the action at the next meetings. So unlike a Business School, we will benefit from seeing success in action and thwarting bad decisions before they become costly mistakes.
One on ones will build on the process. It is an opportunity to dig deeper on personal discoveries from another members case study, work on personal issues or prepare your case study for the next meeting. It is about improving you.
