M&A Integrations

Many mergers and acquisitions (M&As) do not succeed due to poor integration. This can be avoided with the proper approach and follow-through.  The HNC approach to M&A integrations includes a workstream methodology.  This consists of arranging the key aspects of an integration (financial, legal, strategic, sales, technical, HR, etc.,); assuring each workstream has the right leadership, mission and tactical plans; and then facilitating progress over an established timeframe.  Hunter Nolen brings deep experience integrating new acquisitions.

HNC provides integration focus difficult to achieve internally due to conflicting and competing responsibilities of managers and executive leaders.

Change Management

HNC helps clients institute effective change management. These services can include use of the HNC Change Management Playbook (CMP) built on HNC’s Triple-A method (Align, Act, and Advance) framework:

• Align - Align key leadership that change is needed, and the selected change is the best alternative.

• Act - Set the change in motion and put the teams, systems, and tools in place to complete the change.

• Advance - Drive the changes to completion, verify that alignment continues and desired results are achieved, and adjust the approach as needed for continued success

Operational Troubleshooting

Any business operation has room for improvement and sometimes needs troubleshooting. HNC uses an Operations Management Review (OMR) to support operational troubleshooting.  The OMR includes:

·       Interview executive leadership to understand concerns and expectations for the project

·       Understand mission, strategy, goals and timeline expectations

·       Conduct individual interviews of key members of the operations leadership team (OLT)

·       Compile findings into recommendations for improvement

·       Facilitate action planning

An OMR provides information that is difficult to acquire in a group setting where interpersonal dynamics can impede transparency.  The deliverables include recommended actions, tracking, and reporting to ensure success.

Stakeholder Facilitation

Everybody has an agenda and if allowed to operate without leadership, alignment cannot be achieved. Agreement on goals, priorities, systems, communications, schedules, and the multitude of other important matters is often best accomplished by way of an independent facilitator.  A facilitator with no stake in the endeavor can be invaluable to project success.  HNC provides facilitation services using the copyrighted HNC Stakeholder Teaming & Execution Planning (STEP) approach to achieve stakeholder alignment and action planning.  STEP builds on the Pareto Principle (or 80/20 Rule) in pursuit of clarity around the roughly 20% of issues that address 80% of the important consequences. The outcome of STEP is a stakeholder-agreed mission along with action plans.

HNC Recently I provided a STEP workshop for a multi-party environmental project at a petrochemical facility. This project has stakeholders from the federal government, the petrochemical company, three major engineering companies, and providers of socioeconomic analyses. The STEP helped assure alignment of stakeholders’ interests, clarity of roles and responsibilities, and priority actions needed to kick off and maintain successful project delivery.

Client feedback on STEP:

“It’s one thing to have a strategy, but even more importantly is the plan of attack to implement the strategy. Hunter used his STEP process to develop a detailed plan of attack on our strategy to develop our design-build services, and we are benefiting greatly from the outcome.” Design-Build leader of an engineering and construction company.

“I personally experienced the full value, and saw success from, the STEP process for the formulation of a global digital strategy for my company.  I was new to the company, and the task was to evolve over 6 months.  Hunter helped me fill out the basic building blocks of the STEP process, from stakeholder key expectations, deliverables RACI, critical success conditions, must-dos and down to the triple-W action plan.   For me personally I found the critical success condition exercise a powerful way of being reminded how failure could happen, and how to mitigate those risks by getting clarity on must do actions to address.  Over the 6 month period I referred back to these many times, and was able to track progress on what was getting done.  For someone without strong organizational skills, this was an invaluable tool for me.  In the end the global digital strategy was delivered successfully, and I believe STEP was an important factor in establishing an early framework to work from.” Digital Technology leader for a global engineering consulting company.

Executive/Leadership Training & Coaching

Negotiations Training & Competitive Workshops

Negotiation is continuous across life and  no other skill offers so much value for competent performance.  Like all skills, negotiation requires study to understand it and practice to develop it. The HNC Negotiations Course enlightens participants to the many different negotiation circumstances and various useful tools and methods for success across that spectrum.

Client feedback on the HNC Fundamentals of Negotiation Course:

“…offers one of the best returns on investment for any training I’ve encountered in my 40-year career.” President of a global engineering company.

“All participants were very pleased. The competitive scenario was not done in a way to embarrass people, but showed them where they can improve.” Director of environmental program for a global aerospace/defense company.

“Mr. Nolen was knowledgeable and entertaining. He engaged the team well, provided opportunity for participation, and brought great working examples. Relaxed and conversational versus lecturing.” Participant for a metropolitan area publics works department.

“Great exercise with many learning points, also great for learning about my colleagues!” The competitive challenge delivered on all accounts with respect to engagement, team building, education and most importantly in challenging us.” Participant from a leading global internet sales/distribution company.

Everything that was delivered was based on experiences amassed over many years, so carried massive credibility, which had the team fully engaged. President of an industrial construction company.

—

Change Management Training

One must be good at change management to be an effective leader.  Change is lifeblood to any organization, however, care and effective method is required relative to overall operational success.

Effective change management requires timing, motivation, planning, execution and follow-through; and all this requires process.

The HNC change management training is oriented around a Change Management Playbook (CMP) formulated around a Triple-A method (Align, Act, and Advance).

—

Effective Communications

HNC communications training focuses on certain keys to communications for managers, developing leaders and executives:

• Basic Business Communications – when less is more and when more is needed

• Effective Meetings Management – purpose, process, efficiency, and follow-through

• Difficult Communications – embracing and tackling difficult communications through method and emotional control

• Presentation Skills – teach the audience and they will love you for it

• Persuasive Business Writing - easy, enjoyable reading with a punch