Episode 137: Vision & Values: The Winning Formula Behind Enfuse Group's Success with Graeme Curwen
Jan 5, 2024
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Graeme Curwen, Co-Founder and CEO of Enfuse Group, talks about their journey of starting a consultancy firm, understanding client needs vs. wants, building deep relationships, handling awkward questions, transitioning to a larger organization, the analogy of a rock band and success, and creating a high performing workforce with a positive team culture.
The success of Enfuse Group can be attributed to their shared vision and values, which have driven the firm's growth and created a transparent and engaging culture.
Transparency and data-driven decision-making are fundamental to building a successful consultancy, as sharing financial and performance data with employees cultivates a culture of trust and accountability.
A positive and engaging culture is essential for attracting and retaining top talent, and organizations can achieve this by establishing core values, promoting transparent communication, and recognizing and rewarding excellence.
Leaders in consultancy must navigate growth and overcome challenges through careful planning, flexibility, and proactive risk mitigation, while fostering resilience and encouraging collaborative problem-solving.
Deep dives
Building a High-Performance Consultancy
Building a high-performance consultancy requires a clear vision, strong values, and a focus on growth. By creating a shared vision and transparent culture, employees are engaged and motivated to contribute to the organization's success. Investing in data-driven decision-making and implementing systems and processes early on helps manage growth effectively. Emphasizing business development as a team effort and providing support and training for individuals in sales roles fosters a business development culture. Developing deep client relationships and delivering exceptional work builds trust and leads to repeat business. Through strategic planning, including forecasting and risk mitigation, sustainable growth can be achieved while managing pipeline fluctuations. Cultivating a strong culture founded on values, transparency, and a collaborative mindset creates a great place to work and attracts talent. Engaging employees through ongoing communication and addressing challenges openly builds resilience and unity, even during challenging periods in the market.
Transparency and Data-driven Decision Making
Transparency and data-driven decision-making are fundamental to building a successful consultancy. Sharing financial and performance data with employees cultivates a sense of ownership and contributes to a culture of trust and accountability. Key performance indicators (KPIs) such as revenue, profit, client exposure, and employee satisfaction provide quantifiable metrics to track progress and identify areas for improvement. Regular feedback and engagement surveys enable continuous improvement and ensure that the organization remains responsive to the needs of its employees. By harnessing the power of data, organizations can make informed decisions, identify trends, and adapt their strategies to achieve sustainable growth.
Creating a Positive and Engaging Culture
A positive and engaging culture is essential for attracting and retaining top talent. Building a strong culture involves establishing core values that guide decision-making and behavior throughout the organization. Transparent communication, including regular updates and open forums for discussion, fosters a sense of belonging and unity. Creating opportunities for employees to contribute to the growth and development of the organization promotes a sense of ownership and investment in its success. Recognizing and rewarding excellence, both individually and as a team, reinforces a culture of high performance and continuous improvement. By prioritizing culture and ensuring alignment with values, organizations can create an environment where employees thrive and contribute to the long-term success of the consultancy.
Navigating Growth and Challenges
Navigating growth and overcoming challenges requires careful planning and flexibility. Leaders must be proactive in anticipating potential risks and developing mitigation strategies. Strategic workforce planning, including recruitment and talent management, helps ensure a smooth transition during periods of rapid growth or market fluctuations. Regular assessment of market trends, competition, and client demands informs decision-making and enables the organization to adapt and remain competitive. Open and honest communication with employees about challenges and market conditions fosters resilience and encourages collective problem-solving. By staying agile and responsive, organizations can thrive even amidst uncertainty and position themselves for long-term success.
Importance of Broad Experience for Consultants
For consultants starting out in their careers, it is crucial to gain a wide range of experiences. Instead of focusing solely on desired projects, embrace opportunities in different areas, even if they may seem less glamorous. Building a strong foundation of skills early on will benefit you as you progress in your career, taking on leadership roles and understanding the mechanics of various aspects of consulting.
Shifting Focus from Individual Success to Enabling Others
As a manager in consulting, your role shifts from individual success to enabling others to perform at their best. It's about leading and supporting your team, fostering high performance, and contributing to the growth and development of the organization. Embrace the responsibility of cultivating a high-performing workforce and focus on holistic team success.
Clear Identity and Vision as a Partner
When becoming a partner, it is essential to have a clear identity and vision for your role. Develop a strong personal brand and understand how you will fit into the leadership team, bringing value and contributing to the growth and success of the firm. Have a clear purpose and plan for aligning your expertise and growth objectives with the broader strategic goals of the organization.
In the latest episode of Climb in Consulting, we had the huge pleasure of talking to Graeme Curwen, Co-Founder and CEO of Enfuse Group, an award-winning Digital Transformation consultancy that delivers high-performance transformations and solutions, through a deep understanding of people and technology.
As an experienced career consultant, Graeme always had an aspirations to forge his own path. This journey began when he stepped out into the world of contracting, a move that set the stage for his entrepreneurial venture. But his pivotal moment came when he reconnected with a former colleague, Harry Vazanias. This reunion was the catalyst that ultimately led them to establish Enfuse Group.
The partners spent the first 3 years learning the ropes, and then one New Year’s Eve, they met to discuss their vision for the future – a 150-strong consultancy within 10 years. Fast forward 5 years and Enfuse Group are well on their way to achieving that target. They are now a firm of over 50 consultants, and they’ve recently been recognised by Best Companies as the No. 2 Best Consultancy to work for in the UK and No. 3 Best Small Company.
In this episode, Nick and Graeme have an in-depth conversation about the phenomenal growth of Enfuse Group, and the shared vision and values that have driven the firm’s success.
They discuss a huge range of topics, including:
- The three core principles Enfuse Group was founded upon
- How Graeme and Harry built a roadmap to help them achieve their ten-year plan
- Why business development is a lot like managing a football team – and why everyone has their own position to play
- Why doubling the firm’s monthly revenue in the space of 3 months ended up being one of the most stressful times at Enfuse Group
- And the 5 key growth areas Enfuse Group are focusing on to get to the next level
If you’re looking to start 2024 off on the right foot and get your consultancy set up for success, then this is a must listen! Whether you’re just starting out, already established in your consulting career, or you’re planning to start your own firm, this interview is packed full of valuable advice and insights that will help you along the way.
We hope you enjoy the show!
Reach out to Graeme: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graemecurwen/
Learn more about Enfuse Group: https://www.enfusegroup.com/
Books, magazines, and websites mentioned in the show:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Growth-Building-Successful-Consultancy-Digital/dp/0367710846/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=R4ULS&content-id=amzn1.sym.3413293e-3815-4359-96ba-1ec5110e0b30&pf_rd_p=3413293e-3815-4359-96ba-1ec5110e0b30&pf_rd_r=262-1895527-3140948&pd_rd_wg=6M5ng&pd_rd_r=70608808-7a2e-46fb-a383-9740bc6e1de0&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk
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