Canonbury Healthcare is the UKs leading podiatry specialist, supplying a range of foot care products, training & education programmes and general support to a range of podiatry practitioners. Simon Wheeler, CEO and managing director, describes his experience of working with Growth Plans® to facilitate a senior team away day.
"As a business, we wanted to focus on strategy and growth, to bring the team together, particularly two of the younger board members and a Non-Exec Director. We wanted to ensure we were all the same page, pulling in the same direction. Liz organised a strategy away day for us. She sorted the location, drew up the agenda and she chaired the session. And it proved a very useful exercise.
When you have meetings at work, the day job often gets in the way of being able to really think outside the box. Taking ourselves into another environment, where we could lay everything out on the table, was a great opportunity. It gave us the headspace, as well as the confidence, to just be very open about things. That can be difficult to do when you’re sitting in a boardroom. You don’t tend to meander down different avenues or explore things in detail. With Growth Plans® board away day, we were able to do a much deeper dive into who we are as a business and what our strategy is, what makes Canonbury different and all of those things that you need to consider in order to make strategic decisions for growth.
As a coach, Liz has a wealth of experience across a number of different sectors which is backed up by an approach that is supportive. She is able to probe with almost laser precision into the heart of a problem but in such a way that you don’t feel like you’re being criticised.
It helps you get the best required outcome for the skill sets or the personality that you have. I think with a lot of growth-type courses I’ve been on in the past, you quite often are given a set of tools which may not actually fit your business or may not fit you as a person. So consequently, you’re trying to tighten up a nut with a screwdriver or loosen the screw with a spanner; it doesn’t work.
With Growth Plans® you get the best possible chance of addressing a problem. Liz provides a tailored solution, she gets you to look at the problem from different angles. She doesn’t suggest solutions to you; she makes sure you come up with solutions to ensure that you’ve all got the buy in."
Simon Wheeler CEO and Manager Director Canonbury Products Ltd
"Liz is able to probe with almost laser precision into the heart of a problem but in such a way that you don’t feel like you’re being criicised."
Objectives
To focus the business strategy for future growth.
Bring the team together so all are on the same page and pulling in the same direction.
Identifying what needed to change in the strategy and agree how to move forward.
Challenges
Holding board meetings on the premises can lead to disruptions.
Creating a safe space where the Leadership team can communicate openly, think innovatively and do a deep dive on strategy.
Outcome
Leadership team agreement on the strategic goals for future growth.
A strategy and tools to suits the business and individuals within the team.
Able to work together with greater understanding.
Contact Liz Whitfield to see if she is right for you and you are right for Growth Plans®
