WOLFPACK @ EMERALD BUILDERS

 Orientation  and  Preparation  for  the  Wolfpack  Gathering  at  Emerald  Builders  in  Brunswick,  ME  

 October  4-­‐6,  2015  

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Table of Contents

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 Here’s what you will find in this document

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The  Wolfpack  Evolves   Carefully    Timed:    What  Happens  When  

Arriving    Sunday  to  Connect  over  Dinner  

We  explore  the  PEOPLE  Botton  Line,  then  focus  in  on  “Burning  Questions”  

We  shift  our  focus  to  Emerald  Builders  

Gaining  perspective  on  Emerald  Builders  

We  conclude  by  looking  forward  

Prepare  to  Engage!   Ground  Rules   Assignments  

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Being  a  Good  Group  

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The Wolfpack Evolves

 We  have  a  good  feel  for  each  other  and  our  companies.  We’ve  experienced  two  network  gatherings.  We  touch  base  monthly  and  communicate  online  to  track  each  others  progress.  Now  we’re  ready  to  try  some  new  approaches  

 PEOPLE FOCUS: At our last gathering we had a good opportunity to dig into the financial side. We shared income and expenses in the form of a Common P&L. Going forward we will be shifting between that focus (in the spring) and what we want to be paying attention to in the People and Planet domains in the fall. At our upcoming gathering the focus will be on People – “happy people” and what that condition requires internally, externally, and with those we collaborate with.

BURNING QUESTIONS: As we did last time, we will each zero in on a couple distinct challenges we each face and try to provide perspective and guidance that may lead to strategic action. We each get twenty minutes, so careful preparation is essential.

 EMERALD BUILDERS FOCUS: In the course of our engagement with our host we will pay special attention to the goals they have identified:

•  Generating better leads for the work we want

•  Weeding out dead end/unrealistic leads and clients

•  Using company values and how we treat empoyees as a selling point

 COMMUNICATING VALUE: There seems to be a larger theme here that we will attempt to explore. It relates to how we establish and communicate value for those we are asking to invest their valuable resources in what we do.

Prepare  to  engage!  

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Carefully Timed: What Happens When

MONDAY 7:30   Breakfast  

8:00   Orientation  

8:10   People Discussion  

10:00   BREAK  

10:15   People Discussion  

11:15   SHORT BREAK  

11:20   Building Shelter  

11:40   Lewis  Creek  

12:00   LUNCH  

1:00   Uncarved  Block  

1:20   Demetrick Woodworking  

1:40   Walker D/B  

2:00   New Commons  

2:20   BREAK  

2:30   Building Logic  

2:50   Bob Irving  

3:10   Wolfworks  

3:30   BREAK  

3:45   Emerald Builders  

4:30   BREAK  

6:00   Emerald Systems Paper Trail  

7:30   Dinner at Ebenezer’s Pub  

Here  is  an  overview  of  the  schedule  for  our  gathering.    

TUESDAY 7:30   Breakfast  

8:00 Orientation for Emerald

8:15 Staff Interviews

10:15 BREAK

10:30 Staff Interviews

11:00 Interview Team Huddles

11:30 Overview of Process

12:00 LUNCH

12:45 Strategic Priorities for Emerald Builders

2:00 BREAK

2:15 Insights for Owners

3:00 Company Commitments

3:30 Burning Questions

4:00 Schedule Next Gathering

4:30 END

SUNDAY • OCTOBER 4 TRAVEL TO BRUNSWICK, ME  

Hit the road and make your way north. Consider a car pool.

1:00 Optional: Meetup with BEBL Mainiacs for lunch at KTA office in Portland

5:00 Check in to the Daniel Hotel

5:30 Assemble in the lobby to organize for travel for dinner

Travel (30 minutes)

6:15 Dinner at Dolphin Marina (in time for sunset!)

Return to Hotel

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Arriving Sunday to Connect over Dinner

 We  start  out  by  gathering  together  over  good  food  and  drink  in  a  convivial  environment  that  reflects  the  local  culture.  This  is  our  time  to  share  stories  and  connect  with  each  other  and  our  host.  

Who’s  up  for  car  pooling  for  the  drive  north!  Maybe  even  a  meetup  with  fellow  Bottom  Liners  for  lunch  in  Portland?  

It’s a long drive for many of us to get to Brunswick. I’m inviting Portland area Bottom Liners to meet up with us for lunch in Portland to break up the trip. We should also work to coordinate shared travel.

We  are  staying  and  meeting  at  the  Daniel  Hotel  in  Brunswick.  Plan  time  for  a  walk  in  nearby  downtown  Brunswick  or  along  the  Androscoggin  River!  

We’ll travel to the end of the world (OK the end of Harpswell, ME) to have dinner at the picturesque Dolphin Marina, arriving just in time for what we hope will be a wonderful sunset. Plan to meet in the lobby at 5:30 to make the trip.

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Monday: We explore what it takes to create the conditions that support “happy people”

 After a late morning break we will shift our attention to the one or two “burning questions” that we are challenged by in each of our companies.

 Plan on the following:

•  At least one week before we gather provide some background about where things are for you and introduce us to your challenges

•  When you present, take 5-7 minutes to review these challenges, then invite input from the group

•  Set time aside before we meet to understand what each company has shared and be prepared to explore each challenge and contribute your insight

Then: Focus on your burning questions for 20 min.

 Mark  is  going  to  facilitate  this  discussion.  Here’s  where  we’re  headed:  

 Happiness is at the foundation of the People portion of the triple bottom line mission. When we are happy and those we work with are happy it is contagious. People are attracted to happiness. Through the development of happiness we create a “happiness magnetic field” which can have a profound impact on our businesses.

 We want to tell stories about what happy and unhappy settings look like with a focus on happy, then chart the qualities of a happy enterprise. What do we pay attention to to create happiness in our relationships with our client, team, and collaborators? We will look for the tools and systems we need to help guide us toward creating the “happiness magnetic field.”

Domains  we’ll  explore:        Deep sense of purpose. Recognizing our innate purpose in being! What motivates us? Education, Growth, Helping etc. Making concepts reality. FULFILLMENT of that purpose. Building stuff, Manifesting stuff, Making stuff! Including business systems. Meaningful connections. A caring and connected community including boundaries, rules and policies. Our commitments to each other. Nurturing and being nurtured. Feeding and caring for the community ! SUSTAINABILITY. Compensation packages. “Attending to” things as they change and evolve. Design! What needs to be pruned and what needs to be redirected in order to be faithful to the purpose above. Evaluation, Quality assurance, tracking, sorting and measuring, the happiness chart of accounts.

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We shift our focus to Emerald Builders

 Emerald Builders is gaining experience and maturity. They are deeply committed to satisfying the commitments necessary to achieving measurable results in each of the bottom lines.

We are meeting them in the midst of that journey. They are invested in developing a hub for their business in a shared workspace. They are endeavoring to build a team that is both productively competent and culturally aligned with their mission

 Emerald  Builders  will  get  the  final  time  slot  before  we  take  a  break  at  4:30PM.  They  will  set  the  stage  for  our  engagement  with  their  company  and  call  attention  to  the  things  they  specifically  hope  to  gain  from  our  visit.    

 From  4:30  -­‐  6PM  we  will  take  a  break.  This  is  the  time  to  make  some  calls.  Check-­‐in  with  your  family.  Take  a  walk.  Catch  your  breath.  

 We’ll    meet  up  again  at  6PM  to  meet  the  staff  and  learn  how  they  practice.  Then  we  will  head  out  for  dinner  to  get  better  acquainted  and  digest  the  day.  

We will meet them at this juncture. We will endeavor to grasp the challenges they face and the potential they possess and are developing.

We will focus on the immediate challenges they have identified in communicating their identity and value. Together we will explore how to translate their aspirations into a concrete action plan that everyone understands and is invested in.

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Tuesday: Gaining perspective on Emerald Builders

 These 25 minute interviews will follow a common script. Each team will ask each person the same questions. These questions explore both personal and company aspirations and invite observations that lead forward. We’ll pay special attention to domains that matter most to Emerald Builders.

 The interview teams will take a moment to huddle, digest, and summarize what they have observed.

 Next we’ll all assemble to offer insight and guidance based on a deeper understanding of Emerald Builder’s people and operations

 This will be both in response to the guidance they are expressly seeking as well as what we have observed and they may find revealing.

 After  breakfast  we  will  break  into  three  teams  to  interview  three  active  staff  members  and  a  vendor/client/mentor.  

 Going  in  Emerald  Builders  will  call  attention  to  their  domains  of  interest.  The  interviews  provide  a  breadth  of  perspectives  on  the  challenges  and  opportunities  the  company  faces.  

 We  will  then  gather  to  share  what  we’ve  observed,  engage  their  team,  and  identify  strategic  opportunities.  

 We will assemble with their full team to reflect together about what we have learned. We will invite them to query us.

 We  will  pay  special  attention  to  the  question  of  how  Emerald  Builders  establishes  and  commuincates  value.  

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We conclude by looking forward

 Each company will reflect on what they have learned and determine what their most important areas for focus and development will be going forward.

 We will each share these insights with each other in this final phase of our gathering. We will each identify three measurable goals that will make a significant difference in our operations in the next six months.

 These will be the goals we report on during the next sequence of monthly conference calls.

 After  a  break  we  will  conclude  our  day  by  sharing  our  company  and  individual  goals  and  commitments,  surfacing  and  discussing  “burning  questions”  that  emerged  during  our  time  together,  evaluating  the  success  of  our  gathering,  and  scheduling  our  next  meeting  for  the  

fall.    

 The  gathering  will  conclude  at  4:30  and  we’ll  hit  the  road  for  the  journey  home.  

 Before we conclude we will review and discuss any “burning questions” that emerged and were captured in our “parking lot.” We will expect to explore these online following our gathering.

 We will also take a moment to evaluate the experience we just shared. What worked? What might we do differently? What next?

 Finally we will determine who will be our host and what dates we will plan on gathering again in the spring of 2016.

 We will also highlight what will be taking place at the Bottom Lines Summit in Northampton.

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Prepare to Engage!  To  get  the  most  from  this  experience  we  each  need  to  devote  a  bit  of  time  to  preparing  ourselves  to  be  active  and  involved  participants.  

 This  includes  completing  the  Common  P&L,  preparing  and  assembling  any  documents  you  will  share,  choosing  your  “burning  questions”  and  briefing  everyone  online  before  we  meet.  

 You  should  also  devote  some  time  to  digesting  what  is  posted  in  advance  of  our  gathering.  The  better  we  understand  each  other  the  more  usefully  we  will  be  able  to  provide  insight  and  support.  

 VISIT  B-­‐LABS  

 During our exploration of the PEOPLE domain we will reference the B-Labs assessment. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with this system and set of metrics.

 SET  GOALS  &  PLAN  YOUR  PRESENTATION  

 Make a list of things that you want to get out of this experience. This might be challenges you are facing, opportunities that have presented themselves, or business practices you are having difficulty mastering. Identify the “burning questions” that emerge from these conditions, brief us on them, and we will engage in discovering useful strategic possibilities. We each have twenty minutes for this activity so plan carefully.

 BRING  THINGS  TO  SHARE  

You may have been getting a lot out of a book or online resource. Bring these along to share. If you have images of projects you’re proud of, include a few (but be brief). If you have a form you created that is working great or a marketing piece you want input on, bring them along. There will be times at breaks for folks to share this stuff.

 GET  MENTALLY  FOCUSED  

 Set aside one hour a week leading up to the gathering to work on preparation. Give yourself time to prepare and to think about why you joined Bottom Lines and what you are hoping to get out of it. Write things down, make lists, create outlines. Making time ahead of time helps avoid having to pull things together at the last minute when the phone is ringing and suddenly the printer is out of paper.

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Ground Rules  Learning  to  behave  effectively  as  a  group  is  one  of  the  organizational  skills  we  want  to  help  Bottom  Liners  develop.  We  do  this  by  practicing!  

 All  groups  benefit  from  agreeing  to  some  basic  ground  rules.  These  guidelines  help  the  Wolfpack  make  the  most  of  the  time  we  have  committed  to  sharing  with  each  other  to  achieve  a  common  purpose.  

 PAY  ATTENTION  TO  TIME  As you may have noticed, the schedule is rigorous. Everyone deserves an equal share of time to present, to be heard, and to listen. •  Quietly get ready to start your

presentation five minutes before your time.

•  Plan your presentation to plenty of time for engagement with the group.

•  Focus on key issues and listen for insights that emerge.

•  End on time!

 RESPOND  BRIEFLY   Our engagement with each other is one of the most valuable features of our gathering. Ask questions and offer insights as succinctly as you can so everyone has a chance to contribute.

 SHOW  UP  ON  TIME   Better yet, show up early! See a theme here? Moving a large group requires that we all be ready to go at the designated hour. Help keep things moving by listening to the plans and following them.

 MIX  IT  UP  While our days are tightly scripted there are times and spaces between where we can visit with each other and our host. Make an effort to rotate socially. Sit with different people at meals. Most importantly, determine to get to know our hosts.

 FOCUS  YOUR  ATTENTION   Every phase of our agenda has a distinct purpose and you should be clear about what we’re doing and what your role and responsibilities are. This means no interruptions for calls, email, texting, etc. Everyone needs to pay attention and contribute.

 USE  THE  BREAKS   To avoid distraction while we are meeting, use the breaks to check email, make calls, or respond to texts. This is also an important time to get up and move around. Just be sure to be ready to return to your seat on time.

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Assignments  We’ve  all  got  some  work  to  do  before  we  arrive  in  Brunswick.  Set  time  aside  to  give  these  assignments  your  attention  well  before  you  are  packing  for  the  trip.  

 We  will  also  each  be  responsible  for  capturing  what  we  learn,  sharing  what  we  observe,  and  most  importantly,  giving  Building  Shelter  our  full  attention.  

 TAKE  STOCK  OF  B-­‐LABS  Again. Take a moment to vist the B-Labs website and at least probe the assessment. We will be referring to this during our exploration of the PEOPLE domain.

 OTHER  REPORTS  OR  FORMS   If you have business documents that you like or depend on bring them to share. This may be sales tracking, production reports, job costing, or even a great invoice. These may be referenced during discussion and its useful to have them to share if need be.

 CREATE  A  BINDER   This is discretionary. If you find it useful, bring a binder to collect stuff that people may distribute.

 MEASURING  PEOPLE  &  PLANET   Our discussion will include the question of what quantitative and qualitative measures we want to start tracking and sharing. Bring your ideas.

 TAKE  NOTES  While you listen to others make notes that will help you offer them insight or ask questions. When its your turn to present keep notes about what others offer you. Capture everything that has meaning for you. Review all this before setting your next goals.

 TAKE  A  TURN   Each of us will take a turn keeping notes that will be shared during discussions and presentations. These are intended to help capture as much as possible that is said and shared.

 LISTEN  CAREFULLY  AND  SHARE  USEFULLY   Two of the most important activities we will do are tp learn how Emerald Builders operates and then interviewing the staff and a collaborative ally. What we hear and observe will form the foundation for the insight and support we will share afterward. Our purpose is to help them discover and set useful short and long term goals that everyone in the company can embrace and enthusiastically pursue.

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Being a good group  One  of  the  important  leadership  skills  we  will  all  be  working  on  learning  together  is  how  to  behave  as  an  effective  group.  These  three  practices  are  intended  to  help  us  do  that.  

 CAPTURING  GOALS  While we are together we will gain insights and be inspired to pay better attention to the domains of our businesses. Consider how to translate these insights into plans to act. Record measurable goals and identify them by business domain: Sales, Production, Administration, Owner, and Team. For each goal determine if it is short or long term and preferably who will be responsible for success. When the list is complete we’ll identify priorities.

Before  we  leave  we  will  each  commit  to  three  short  term  and  three  long  term  goals  and  share  them  with  each  other.  

 BACKUP  NOTES  During your presentation you’ll want to take notes. Because it will be hard to both present and capture everything that is said we’ll each take turns making backup notes for each other. Think of it as a buddy system.

We  will  use  a  Google  Docs  Spreadsheet  to  take  notes  in  a  single  shared  file.  

 PARKING  LOTS

Meetings often end up following paths to topics that are not related to the purpose of the meeting. Good facilitation requires the group to recognize when they have strayed. It is useful to have a place to “park” these ideas and topics and a process to return to them later. When we stray we will park the topic on a flip chart page and get back on course. At the end of our meeting we will review what we “parked” and decide what to do with what was recorded.

We will also keep one other parking lot for resources. These are the books that get recommended, forms someone relies on, websites or software that are worth knowing about.

During  each  presentation  we  will  each  take  turns  being  the  scribe.