The right questions
often come in the guise of stupid ones. Thirty years of business
experience gives me the confidence to ask them.
A robust process
For larger assignments, my approach is to
take a hypothesis, prove or disprove it through robust analysis,
and make recommendations accordingly.
Formulate
a
hypothesis
Prove
or refine
the hypothesis
Assess
the
implications
From our
initial discussions I will develop a hypothesis – an
assumption on which to base the work that I will do.
I’ll test the hypothesis
from many different angles, using qualitative and quantitative
research and I won't ignore inconvenient facts.
Thorough investigation
brings the real issues to light – and
these aren’t always what is expected.
Give honest feedback and recommendations
I’ve found that the ‘truth’ of
a situation is not a fixed point, but a balance between intuition
and analysis. My clients trust me to deliver on both counts
and recommend the best possible course of action.
An entrepreneurial approach
I adapt my approach to the client and the problem
at hand. Many smaller companies and start-ups prefer
a ‘just do it’ approach – and although my
solution will be just as evidence-based, I will ensure that
the process does not get in the way of making things happen
quickly.
