The Loneliest Place on Earth is not
a Himalayan Mountain Top…
…It’s Here. Late at Night, Where, Faced with a Problem, You Ask: “How Am I Going to Solve This?”, and Wonder: “Who Can I Turn to for Help?”
Today, more than at any time in this century, senior executives are stressed by the new types of challenges arising, in part because of new technologies. Add in political uncertainties, global unrest, changing work norms and employee expectations, and greater pressure to perform, it is easy to understand why +60% of key managers often feel ill-equipped to make some of the tougher decisions.
Business owners have it even tougher if they are reluctant to confide in colleagues.
In these fiercely competitive, belt-tightening times, few companies have the tools that allow them to compete on a level playing field. That is true even of the mammoth-sized companies that top the food pyramid. Perhaps even more so, for them.
Sooner or later, corporate leaders – of companies large and small – find themselves in situations not previously encountered. Or for which they lack the specific experience to handle confidently. Often, it can be difficult to know where to find help that a) knows its stuff, b) will be discreet and c) is affordable.
This can be especially daunting for SMEs. Unable to avail themselves of the resources available to the larger rivals, smaller companies must find workarounds and, ofttimes, struggle.
At such times, a desk in a darkening office is the loneliest place on earth.
Enter Q Councils
Imagine having a group of trusted peers, from different industries, along with world-class strategists, that you can call on.
In essence, that describes Q Councils.
Who:
Each group consists of 8 leaders in comparable levels of seniority, each from a different industry. You don’t want to be airing your dirty laundry in front of the competition, after all.
Some groups have eight enterprise-level CEOs, others have eight IT decision-makers or owners of SMBs. In other words, you would be working with your peers. Signed NDAs add to people’s comfort about sharing details.
Each group is facilitated by senior strategists, who are also business owners. Some have also held senior corporate positions and teach in the MBA program at the Schulich School of Business.
What:
Once every 6 weeks, the groups meet for a full-a-day session. In the morning, each person has the opportunity to share a problem and get input from the team.
After a hosted gourmet lunch, one company is spotlit. With the presentation prepared, in large part, by one of the facilitators, key challenges are explored, root causes unearthed and solutions proffered. Afterwards, a report is generated, that includes outside research to support the recommendations made. Everyone in the group gets a copy.
Between sessions, there are opportunities for leaders to get help from other team members in the facilitators.
It is a little like having a Mastermind group, combined with outside research access and Senior Consultant input.
How Often:
One full-day session (9:00 am – 4:00 pm), once every 6 weeks, from September through June.
Where:
Most of the meetings take place at a conveniently-located venue in the GTA. Once or twice a year, sessions are held at an off-site Northern retreat (Thursday after work through ‘til Friday late afternoon.)
The first of the Q Councils was held in 1999. Over the years, we have refined the process to ensure that everyone can get input needed, when needed. Many groups continue for years, with members only changing as people move into new roles. We feel this is a testament to its success. We hope you do, too.
Thanks to the input I got from Q Council members, my retirement looks very different. I got advice on changes to make about be so my company for more. It took an extra year, but I netted the next $2 million. Thanks!
I appreciate having a safe place where I can share problems, and get really great input that is very different from what my internal advisors typically offer. In my line of work, people rarely switch industries, so we tend to approach challenges the same way. It’s really helpful to see how others solve problems – and some of my best solutions have come from the group.
It is great to have a group of smart people who can offer advice, without impacting my firm or my position in it. The advice has been great and so is – and I love knowing I can say anything. and that it won’t leave the room!
For more information and pricing, please contact Jane-Michèle Clark: jmc@theQgroup.com, 416.424.6644.