Client: Largest Wholesale Floral Distributor in the United States

Situation: The client was experiencing unprecedented growth and was faced with the decision to develop current leaders or hire new leaders. The client decided it would be in the best interests of the company to develop existing leaders, but did not have the experience or bandwidth to do this. The client hired LFP Consulting in May of 2013 to help them create a customized leadership development program to cultivate the skills of the valued employees already in place.

Our benefits have been numerous. In short, however, is that we have a much more effective leadership team. They are confident in their approach to leading others with proven techniques, greater collaboration and improved communication.

- Company President

Process: The client organized a steering committee to help Lorri identify the most important topics that needed attention from company leaders. Starting with a class of 28, the client tapped anyone with supervisory or management responsibility plus a dozen influential contributors who had informal leadership to participate in the program.

Respecting the value of employee time, Lorri developed a series approach for the program. A key leadership topic was chosen with input from the Steering Committee and the class would meet monthly for two hours. Lorri created a broad-based curriculum that included a variety of activities including role play, team building, books to anchor the series, TED talks with discussions, and guest speakers. The class was also broken down into smaller work groups that met monthly to review progress and work on out-of-class assignments.

Lorri would meet with a small sub-group from the class throughout the series to gather input and feedback, ensuring she was staying connected with the day-to-day challenges on the floor and in the business. The program became ongoing and organic – allowing the client to be completely responsive and flexible to the current needs of the company and address leadership development opportunities as they arose.

Results: Today, the leadership development program has become an integral part of the client’s business strategy. The program grew to two classes meeting monthly to accommodate over 60 employees.

Everyone up to, and including, the CEO participates in the program, ensuring a shared experience that lays the groundwork for mutual accountability. The program continually instills a much more collaborative company culture with more problem solving and less siloed communication. Employees understand other parts of the organization with more clarity and, in turn, the company has continued to grow exponentially. The program continues in its 5th year.