A founder's experience
What it’s really like working with
The Leader’s Diagnostic?
Matt Howarth
Co-Founder
Reason Digital
Manchester, UK
Reason Digital’s organisational purpose
SOLVING PROBLEMS THAT ACTUALLY MATTER
We partner with organisations that care, to create digital tools alongside people with lived experience. Together, we create lasting social good.
www.reasondigital.com
It kept us honest and moving forward
“The biggest impact that improved our progress was that the process was keeping us honest.
As a team we would have ideas and initiatives that started with good intention but went nowhere as business as usual pressure took over.”
The structure created momentum
“Having a set structure for each session with a start, middle and end was great. It created a rhythm we could easily adopt and allowed us to make space for our ‘homework’.
For each session, we knew what was expected and could quickly build continuity and momentum.”
People first — with a commercial focus
“We developed a truly valuable, lasting relationship which was human first and last.
There was a purpose and intent to developing the business, but it was never at the expense of understanding us as people.
It put our needs at the centre of everything we did.”
Built-in accountability and urgency
“Having a committed meeting schedule to work to gave us a sense of being ‘forced’ to create space in our schedule for progress.
We didn’t want to turn up empty-handed. It created more straightforward dialogue between the board members and a sense of urgency.
This wouldn’t have happened without the external impetus of the programme.”
Trust, confidentiality and clarity
“Trust is a big thing when discussing business issues, especially when they are sensitive, but it soon became clear that this is a very confidential, personal service that is built on integrity and transparency.
It gives you confidence in the process.”
No grey areas — just priorities and progress
“The sessions themselves were incisive, but on those occasions where progress was slow, which can sometimes happen, there was a dogged determination to create clarity and priorities.
There were never any grey areas between sessions — everyone knew their responsibilities and what was expected.”
Real-time tracking of growth
“The notes that were provided after each session were super good and super helpful.
Over time, it was really rewarding to be able to look back across the notes and see just how far we had come on a range of initiatives.”
Holding the founder to account
“As a founder, there is no-one to hold ‘the boss’ accountable.
And in fact, because founders build businesses, there has to be real value in the advice they are being given or they probably don’t listen and dismiss the input.
But being held to account by a hugely experienced professional with gravitas who’s been there and done it is very different and valuable.”
Experience that saves time and energy
“The anecdotes and stories used in the sessions were always interesting and relevant.
Sometimes, hearing what similar businesses did in similar circumstances had a big impact and provided us with a short-hand to get to the point.
Experience of what has and hasn’t worked for others undoubtedly saved time, money and energy. It stopped us going down dead-ends on a number of occasions.”
Shared language, sharper thinking
“The cautionary tales we heard from similar situations are still very relevant and give our team a vocabulary that wouldn’t have.”
Unexpected value from new connections
“An unexpected benefit of the programme was the access to new networks and connections that on occasion helped the business to expand our reach and provide valuable introductions.”
Board-level thinking — without the cost
“As a private business with limited resources, on reflection, the only way to get similar support to the same depth as the programme would have been to assemble a bigger board of maybe four new people — something that would have been too costly and definitely out of reach.”
Value at the top of the business
“The service is a very affordable way to get high-quality input and accountability into the very top of the business where it can have maximum impact.
It delivers great value, particularly when compared to the monthly amount you pay.”
I would happily recommend — personally
“If there are any prospective clients that want to speak to me before using the service, give them my number.”
A straight-forward start — and a new way of thinking
“At the very start of the process, I can recall a very straightforward conversation along the lines of ‘are you ready to engage in a new way of doing things that may take you into uncomfortable places’.
This honesty set the tone for the way the relationship developed and how we made progress. It made me do my homework between sessions.”