Cutting through the noise of a growing a business | Compass Point Skip to main content

Cutting through the noise of a growing a business

Business Challenge:

A quick look back 10 years ago saw orders dropping significantly, profits shrinking, and finance reports lagging; leaving the owner unable to truly assess the health of the company. He tried to utilize consultants, only to be told “Man, you’ve got some problems.” It was the wakeup call the owner needed to find the right CFO.

Fast forward to 2019 and as progress was being made COVID hit. Orders (which have a lead time of 6 months or more) dipped, internal communications were strained, the team pushed back on the number of goals and the owner could sense that the company was not headed in the right direction. At the encouragement of the new CFO, Compass Point was hired to bring a fresh perspective on the business and team dynamics.

Download PDF

Owner Challenge:

  • Improving the business model that was far too dependent on him to grow
  • Re-imagining the sales model to focus on the best solution rather than lowest cost
  • Changing the conversation from a cookie-cutter RFP to deeper discovery conversation before submitting a bid
  • Improving internal team meetings that were dragging out for hours and unproductive
  • Rethinking how the team needed to collaborate to get things done

What Owner Wanted:

  • Control the conversation with their clients to prevent commoditization of their services and poor design solutions
  • Improve teamwork and meeting outcomes
  • Plan to address talent gaps
  • Confidence to walk away from projects that weren’t an open dialogue for alternate solutions beyond the initial bid requirements

17%

Growth in Sales

 

31%

Growth in Gross Profit

Results of the Compass Point Process

  • Created a new level of trust among the leadership team allowed for the flow of ideas and constructive debate
  • Increased the number of departmental meetings in a way that actually brought efficiency and transparency, cutting the weekly full team meeting to under 1 hour
  • Invested in 1:1 executive coaching for 2 key executives, so owner could begin designing his succession plan
  • Created accountability across the executive leadership team
  • Develop cohesion amongst the leadership team, working as one synchronized unit rather than operating as silos
  • Developed an onboarding program from new hires
  • Booked orders grew from $6 million in 2019 to $9 million by end of 2021
  • Better communications resulting in higher performance from Executive Leadership team
  • Next generation actively being coached for leadership role
  • Owner peace-of-mind around the future and legacy of company

You may also like…

Erwin Forrest Builders Highlight

CLIENT STORIES

Building a business that gave this owner his time – and family – back.

The owner was the business – sales, customer service, operations, finance, and team building. See how Compass Point helped the owner build out a team that could both build custom homes and high-end remodeling.

Read More

CLIENT STORIES

Engineering growth as a non-family leader

As a well-respected engineering firm, the team at Barry Isett was looking to move from “Good to Great” and be a company “Built to Last”.

Read More

CLIENT STORIES

Ensuring the business scales for the next generation

The business was doing well, but all major leadership roles were held by owners, with no active plan to groom their replacements. Learn how Compass Point helped them create the best governance plan for all generations.

Read More

Where Family Businesses Come to Grow & Learn

At Compass Point, we make it easy to get insights, training, tools, and articles straight to your inbox and help family business owners and their team continue to grow, learn, and lead.