Business Developer (and Management) Hurdles
D. Brown Management
April 13, 2025
Finding a customer that will pay you is the first thing a contractor does. Scaling the business development function with growth is one of the most challenging things a contractor must do for sustainability and succession.
business development growth
The Capability and Market Balance (The Chicken or Egg Dichotomy)
D. Brown Management
April 13, 2025
Sustainable growth for contractors requires balancing capabilities and capacity with the available market. Like balancing on the toes of one foot, balance is not a static relaxed state. It requires focus, continuous adjustments, and deliberate practice.
planning strategy talent
Development Progression (And Joy Level)
D. Brown Management
April 12, 2025
We’re all born with aptitudes waiting to be discovered or developed. From the start, we form preferences. How those preferences become strengths—and how we use them in life and business—shapes both our joy and competitiveness.
management talent
First of a Kind: Managing to Accelerate Outcomes and Mitigate Risks
D. Brown Management
March 16, 2025
Special attention is required for all "First of a Kind" projects, job roles, processes, and tools. This is often overlooked, slowing down progress and creating unnecessary risks for contractors.
management risk
Problem Solving Capabilities: From 3 Months to 3 Minutes
D. Brown Management
March 16, 2025
The first step of solving a problem is identification of the root-cause(s). That capability ranges from taking 3 months to 3 minutes. Understanding these ranges is the foundation of organizational structure, development, and succession readiness.
development succession training
Management System Hierarchy Example
D. Brown Management
March 16, 2025
A management system has hierarchies from culture through to the individual steps in a procedure. These hierarchies must be integrated with strategic decisions, the organizational structure, and training to create a competitive advantage.
management
Intelligence Progression from Fluid to Crystallized
D. Brown Management
March 16, 2025
Understanding fluid versus crystallized intelligence is critical for hiring, training, organizational structures, workflows, and retirement planning.
retirement succession talent
Management System Improvements (4 Interlinked Phases)
D. Brown Management
March 9, 2025
Many improvements fall short of expectations because steps are skipped in the earlier phases. Following these four phases will result in faster overall adoption of the changes, better outcomes, and most importantly, development of the team.
management process value stream workflow
Progressive Questions for Interviews, Evaluations, and Development
D. Brown Management
March 9, 2025
Asking progressively higher-level questions helps assess capabilities while allowing you to stop before making the other person feel inadequate. These questions are valuable for development—answering them is like exercise for the brain.
interviews talent
Work Observations and Time Studies (Basic Overview)
D. Brown Management
February 15, 2025
Work observations and time studies are related but distinctly different. Both are incredibly powerful tools for management, process improvement, and talent development. Starter resources and use cases below.
lean management