Willow FM - Case Study
Willow FM recommend Reflection Consulting for 'high quality work and passion'
Willow Financial Management is one of Leicestershire's largest independent financial advisory companies. Set up in 1991, Willow has grown from £50,000 turnover in year one to commanding just under £2 million annual income since 2006. The company employs 23 staff. in a variety of roles from public facing to back office.
Despite Willow's impressive success, Chief Executive Calum Cameron believes firmly in ongoing personal development as a means of continually moving forward. He also places a high value on team work as a means of ensuring that Willow's staff are well motivated and effective. When looking to work on strengthening team dynamics, self accountability and performance management amongst the Willow personnel, he decided to use an external source to facilitate the project.
Word of mouth
"Reflection Consulting was recommended to me by a contact in my monthly business Mastermind Group," explains Calum. "Not only did I rate this contact's opinions highly, but I was also very impressed with Rosie when I met with her to discuss working together."
The project took place over a three month period from October through to December 2010. "The overall aim was to improve the team dynamics of my immediate back office personnel and ensure the consistency of high service standards to clients," explains Calum. "The project involved the appraisal of the current team with personality and skills profiling which was incredibly useful and enlightening for all of us. Rosie also led a series of monthly meetings to discuss team and individual dynamics and to look at ways of improving the organisation, clarity and performance of my team. It was a real eye opener, demonstrating how important it is to allow a group to make its own decisions and become accountable to themselves as well as their manager."
The value of an outside influence
Sometimes an independent facilitator with no existing knowledge, loyalties or preconceived ideas can achieve far more than a senior member of staff, no matter how well respected or skilled they may be. In this example, the influence of an outsider with the skills and experience to move the team forward proved to be highly beneficial. "The work that Rosie carried out really helped our staff become team members who understand themselves and each other," comments Calum. "It also enabled us to identify what we wanted i.e. blue sky scenario and what the team felt was needed to achieve this."
Calum is also planning to use Reflection Consulting in the future to build on the work already carried out. "We will use Rosie again, probably working on helping young managers to develop key skills and confidence in their roles, and maybe to assist us in looking at the performance management of our teams."
He also has nothing but praise for Rosie and Reflection Consulting. "The service from Reflection Consulting was challenging and the project was well delivered. The work that Rosie carried out handed accountability to the team members to make their own decisions. I would have no hesitation in recommending Rosie to other organisations for her high quality work and passion."
About Reflection Consulting
If you want to improve communication, motivation, team work and productivity within your organisation, Reflection Consulting can help. Using specialist knowledge and proven tools and techniques, Reflection Consulting will bring objectivity, experience and expertise to any problem that you may have. For more information, visit www.reflectionconsulting.co.uk. For a free consultation, call Rosie on 01509 416 936 or email her.