Robertson Art Zone (RAZ), a small, independent arts and creativity center, was experiencing the typical growing pains any small business faces. Finances were tight. Systems were in chaos. To grow, the leadership knew they had to make a change. The short-term pain of the investment in guidance would be worth it for the long-term gain.

In their own words, RAZ’s Visionary and Integrator share their experience of working with Catalyst Fractional Integrator, Paulina Walters:

Q: What were the triggers that led to the decision to hire a Fractional Integrator?

A year before we started working with Paulina, who is one of the greatest Catalyst Integrators, our business structure was a big mess! For many months, we were looking for the right business system to use for building the infrastructure. When my friend recommended the EOS® book (Traction by Gino Wickman), my assistant and I started to implement EOS® in our business. It took us about 6 months to somewhat navigate through several chapters. We realized that we needed more individual assistance.

Then, another friend recommended we speak with Jamie from Catalyst Integrators. We struggled with money and to pay for a three month commitment seemed unrealistic to us. We were hesitant for a few weeks, but could see that for our business to grow, we must invest in the structure and started to work with Paulina. It was one of the hardest and the best decisions we ever made!

Q: Tell us more about the milestones you accomplished while working with your Fractional Integrator Paulina.

After one month, Paulina helped us identify our values, niche, uniques, guarantees, and all our 10-year, 3-year, and 1-year goals!

After the second month, Paulina assisted as we built our accountability chart with all the seats and responsibilities, and also figured out the RAZ marketing and operational processes.

During the third month, we started to have our L10 meetings, focused on our scorecard and issues list, figured out which new job positions we must create and hired two more people to join our staff! It was a very intense and satisfying process, and we are looking forward to continuing our monthly check up meetings to stay on track!

Q: We know EOS® provides a great structure for mid-sized businesses, though you are a small business. Do you feel the operating system worked just as well for a business of your size?

We highly recommend EOS®, and especially Catalyst Integrators, to any business that wants to have strong infrastructure, healthy work environment, and effective meetings. EOS® completely transformed our business!

RAZ experienced dramatic, yet lasting change, over the three months spent rolling out EOS®, leading to additional revenue and even more exposure within the community. The team is gaining traction through the new structure, efficient meetings, and streamlined processes. Paulina stepped in as an “Interim Integrator” to not only dial things in operationally, but to coach and mentor their Integrator Hagit. RAZ has been set up to continue to grow and crush their goals!

Fractional Integrator Paulina Walters notes: “Working with RAZ solidified the fact that all businesses, regardless of size, are dealt the same type of issues. The leadership team and I worked heavily on building trust so that when confronted with an issue or a decision to make, we were empowered to solve for the greater good of the business. They're now effectively using the systems and practices we put in place and I couldn't be more proud! Thank you to the team at RAZ for reminding me to always "Shine Your Light" which has now become one of their core values!”

Through it all, the team at RAZ had all the answers. Catalyst Integrators is here to ask the right questions and serve as the guide to uncover, solidify, and then succinctly track the goals and strategies to make the business move forward, efficiently and effectively. We model the Integrator role to set the gold standard.

Does the RAZ story resonate with you or sound like the struggles of a fellow business owner? Catalyst Integrators is here to help. Email us to learn more or click here to set up a time to discuss how a Fractional Integrator can help elevate your business to the next level!

Do you know how healthy your team is? In this three-part series, we first define why team health deserves constant attention and look at the importance of defining “ideal” team health. The second part of the series explores assessing your own team’s health. In the final portion of the series, suggestions are provided for elevating your team to be the very best they can be. So stay tuned!!

PART 1: DEFINING TEAM HEALTH

As a small business owner, your team’s health is of the utmost importance. Teaching, coaching, guiding, and leading are your ultimate responsibility as a business leader. Without a positive, healthy, and thriving team, all the great products or services developed by you, your leadership team, and those who make up your team, your business is likely to ultimately fall short.

TEAM HEALTH AFFECTS KEY “PEOPLE” MEASURABLES

When your team is healthy, so is your business. When your team is in a good place, they care for your clients. Workplace and team health impact your people in measurable ways: absenteeism, productivity, recruitment/retention, culture and employee morale. Your team wants to know the work they do matters. And when they understand and get behind the “why” of their work, the right team members want to give the business their best!

Recognizing the impact of your support as the team leader is step number one. You built your team because of your belief in the work you and the team do and because your leadership vision is strong. Building a team is not easy work. Ensuring team health is strong is paramount to your business’ success.

TEAM HEALTH AFFECTS INDIVIDUAL ENGAGEMENT

Identifying the ideal picture for your team and their ultimate success will help them to understand the “why” of their work and be able to translate their work into the meaningful impact they have on clients. The consequences of that good work reflect back on them in both financial reward, strong mental health, and the pride of being part of something bigger than themselves.

With a clear, succinct picture you and your team can share and see and believe in, your productivity knows no bounds! A supported team is a supportive team. Your expectations for the team should be well-known, paired with your tough love, support, guidance, and coaching.

Do you have a good sense of where each individual on your team is in terms of good health? What are the missing pieces holding your team back from achieving their ideal team health? Digging deep and looking at the root causes for any challenges in your way is a necessary step.

TEAM HEALTH STARTS WITH LEADERS

Paint the picture for your team. Tell them what your ideal team’s health looks like, feels like, and the associated characteristics regularly demonstrated by that ideally pictured team. When you come together to brainstorm around needed resources and activities, you may be amazed at the simple solutions available to you.

We know a strong team is an unstoppable team. The work of building, maintaining and cultivating a great team is never-ending work. Patience, persistence, and recognition of when something is off with your team are all pieces of the bigger puzzle. Doing the work - both as the leader and as the team - will provide great rewards! Make the investment of time and imagination to paint your team’s ideal health picture and watch it come to reality.

In the next section we look at assessing your team’s health in three steps. Article three outlines low or no-lost to take your team’s health to the next level, regardless of where the health level is currently.