Fantastic Businesses and How to Spot Them

Identifying Organizational Health

What makes an organization a “fantastic” place to work? When trying to decide what businesses to support, buy from, or even apply to, how do you gauge as an outsider whether an organization is worth your time? While a prestigious brand name and acclaimed product certainly help, often the most important thing that differentiates really successful businesses has less to do with classical measures of achievement and more to do with one thing: organizational health.

A business grounded in unhealthy organizational structures and processes will eventually implode on itself. Unhealthy organizations are ill equipped to handle internal struggles and, thus, do not sustainably handle external issues with tact or care, ultimately affecting the customer experience and bottom line productivity.

So, how do you ensure your business isn't, for example, riddled with more nepotism than a Waystar Royco board meeting or plagued with more inter-coworker competition than the halls of Runway Magazine? The most important thing a business can do is establish strong organizational health, and that’s what Rick Johnson Consulting Group (RJCG) specializes in. Matter of fact, the motto of RJCG is “Supporting Organizational Health.”

So, what does organizational health look like? If you were to take a peek into the internal workings of any organization there are a few key things to look for:

● High morale and low turnover indicate a culture not of toxicity and competition, but one of support and personal growth.

● Positive teamwork indicates an organization is clear and cohesive about their goals, values, priorities, and roles.

● Employees that feel valued and developed in their positions and careers indicate a culture of mentorship.

● Humble confidence, strong personal integrity, healthy boundaries, and low levels of emotional reactivity demonstrate effective leadership within a company.

Furthermore, according to Rick Johnson, Ph.D., Founder of RJCG, the most imperative factors to a business’ success are:

● The caliber of the organizational and team leaders

● Coworker-to-coworker (team) cohesion

● The quality of manager-to-employee relationships.

Overall, if employees respect and value their manager, other co-workers, and their teams, they will generally be happier at work and be more productive, what Rick refers to as, “Productive Harmony.”

In summarizing the research on effective team leadership, Rick indicated that, “Effective managers have a positive relationship with their direct reports, notice and value their contributions to the team, and reinforce these contributions with praise and further creative inspiration.”

Team leaders can accomplish this cohesion by being intentional and basing their leadership on well-articulated, shared values and priorities. When an organization has clear goals, employees can more easily identify their own roles and responsibilities related to the organization's overall success.

Our Core Purpose at RJCG

The driving motivation at RJCG is to help organizations become more inspiring, energizing, healthier places to work. RJCG Consultants have specialized training and experience in our unique, integrative coaching model, and a passion for helping individuals and organizations across multiple industries reach their creative, interpersonal, and financial goals. RJCG Consultants increase team cohesion, support leadership skills, and effectively identify and resolve conflict and communication challenges among employees, restoring trust and teamwork. We also help organizations and teams rally around core values and strategic plans.

For more information on how Rick Johnson Consulting Group can help your company or organization, visit www.rjcg.org, connect with us on Instagram (@rjcg_org), or call 503-313-5186.

RJCG at University of New Mexico Foundation

I had the pleasure of facilitating a day-long PRINT team-building workshop and then a Leadership Essentials Workshop with the dedicated and talented team at UNM Foundation on June 23. It was a bit of a homecoming for me as I spent 3 years in Las Cruces, NM for my doctoral studies in the early 90s. The Lobos welcomed this Aggie as we are all a part of the New Mexico family. I was so impressed with the intelligence and dedication of the UNM Foundation team. They are doing amazing work from a place of stewardship! I'm honored to support them!

#team #building #teambuilding #organizationaldevelopment #leadership #cohesion

RJCG at Ponzi Vineyards!

Wow! What an amazing team at Ponzi Vineyards! RJCG Consultant, Polly Gravely, facilitated a PRINT team-building workshop with the dedicated and talented team at Ponzi on April 27. Fantastic wine made by wonderful people! We are honored to support them!

#team #building #teambuilding #organizationaldevelopment #leadership #cohesion #cohesionbuilding

New Consultation Clients

RJCG is excited to announce that we are partnering with three new amazing organizations that are building on their organizational health and improving their leadership. They are: (1) Craft3, a local nonprofit with an inspirational mission to support community development, (2) Prime Forest, a lumber company providng high-end, custom wood products, and (3) Knudsen Vineyards, a Willamette Valley winery with delicious wine varieties.

PRINT cohesion-building workshops are an excellent way to build team culture and improve communication! Our workshops provide a scaffolding system that will be used long after the workshop is completed!

Leadership Essentials Workshop

I'm happy to announce the launching of RJCG's Leadership Essentials Workshop. I've been providing leadership coaching for individuals and small groups for years. Recently, I packaged the content from the individual coaching into a PowerPoint and interactive Workshop for up to 15 leaders/managers in a group, which can be done as either a 4-hour stand-alone or in a two-segment series. The Workshop includes three assessments that I created based on my research as a professor: (a) Differentiated Leadership Scale, (b) Interpersonal Coping Style Scale, and (c) Essential Management Skills Scale. Completion of the scales results in a 8-page report on the participant's leadership strengths and challenges. The Workshop leads to greater self-confidence and competence for all levels of leaders, from new to experienced.

If you know of anyone that could use support to develop or refine their leadership/managerial skills, please connect with me at RJCG.org. Of course, RJCG also specializes in team cohesion-building workshops!

RJCG marketing

RJCG Team-Building Workshop at BBCP

RJCG is thrilled to have provided a half-day Team-Building PRINT Workshop at Budget Blinds of Central Portland (BBCP) on January 5. This is the 2nd PRINT Workshop we facilitated at BBCP. The first was with their Leadership Team while this was was for the entire organization. Michelle, the owner of BBCP, is truly committed to supporting organizational health. BBCP is filled with talented individuals with high levels of EQ! They are a great team! It is an honor to be supporting them as they prepare to open their new building, with an amazing showroom. Be on the look out or info about their upcoming Grand Opening!

If you know of any organizations that want to improve their organizational culture (or just optimize morale and team communication), please send them to rjcg.org. We love to help organizations build cohesive teams, improve leadership, resolve conflict, and engage in values-based strategic planning.

#team #leadership #communication

#teambuilding #cohesionbuilding #organizationaldevelopment

Rick and Michelle
Rick doing a PRINT workshop

RJCG at Mondelēz International

Rick Johnson Consulting Group (RJCG) participated in a two-day off-site at Skamania Lodge on December 15-16 with the amazing individuals at the Mondelēz Portland Plant. Rick provided cohesion-building with PRINT® as well as thought-partnership and process facilitation support throughout the two days. The PRINT Workshops with the Leadership Team were amazing! What a talented and dedicated team! The off-site supported teamwork, communication, valuing of diverse motivational strengths, and values-based strategic planning! I am grateful to Fernando, Lisa, and Mehdi as well as the entire Leadership Team for the collaborative support in making the team/organizational culture healthy and productive!

Visit us at RJCG.org if you would like support for your team with cohesion-building, leadership enhancement, conflict resolution, or values-based strategic planning.

#organizationaldevelopment #cohesionbuilding #PRINT

#teambuilding #organizationalconsultation #businesscoaching

Rick at Mondelez International workshop

RJCG Cohesion-Building Workshop at Budget Blinds Central Portland

Rick Johnson Consulting Group (RJCG) facilitated a cohesion-building PRINT® Workshop with the fun and talented Leadership Team at Budget Blinds Central Portland on November 10. The workshop focused on teamwork and leveraging their strengths and talents! We appreciate Michelle and the entire Budget Blinds Central Portland Leadership Team for inviting us to be part of their intentional culture-buidling process.

To elevate your organizational culture and team performance, contact RJCG at rjcg.org! We help organizations across various industries increase cohesion, enhance leadership effectiveness, resolve interpersonal challenges, and engage in values-based strategic planning.

#organizationaldevelopment #cohesionbuilding #PRINT

#teambuilding #organizationalconsultation #businesscoaching

RJCG at Nike

Rick Johnson Consulting Group (RJCG) facilitated a half-day cohesion-building PRINT® Workshop with the talented and innovative Digital Marketing and Engagement Program (DMEP) Leadership Team at the Nike campus on November 2. The workshop supported their strong teamwork, facilitating even better communication, relational understanding, and valuing of their diverse motivational strengths! We are grateful to Andy, a Senior Director at Nike, and the entire DMEP Leadership Team for inviting us to support their continued efforts at making their team culture healthy and productive!

Visit us at RJCG.org if you would like support for your team with cohesion-building, leadership enhancement, conflict resolution, or values-based strategic planning.

#organizationaldevelopment #cohesionbuilding #PRINT

#teambuilding #organizationalconsultation #businesscoaching

RJCG at Nike logo

RJCG & PDX Property Group

Rick Johnson Consulting Group (RJCG) facilitated a cohesion-building PRINT® Workshop with the driven and successful team at PDX Property Group on October 26. The workshop focused on teamwork and leveraging their considerable strengths and talents! We appreciate John and the entire PDX Property Group team for inviting us to their wonderful space on NW Hoyt Ave. I highly recommend them for all of your real estate needs!

To elevate your organizational culture and team performance, contact RJCG at rjcg.org! We help organizations across various industries increase cohesion, enhance leadership effectiveness, resolve interpersonal challenges, and engage in values-based strategic planning.

#organizationaldevelopment #cohesionbuilding #PRINT

#teambuilding #organizationalconsultation #businesscoaching

RJCG at PDX property group workshop

RJCG PRINT® Workshop

RJCG facilitated a half-day cohesion-building PRINT® Workshop with the amazing and talented individuals at Studio Petretti Architecture on October 18. The workshop built on the already great culture that exists at Studio Petretti, facilitating even better communication, relational understanding, and valuing of their diverse motivational strengths! We are grateful to Amanda and the entire Petretti Team for inviting us to support their continued efforts at making their workplace healthy and productive!

#organizationaldevelopment #cohesionbuilding #PRINT

#teambuilding #organizationalconsultation #businesscoaching

Rick doing workshop at Studio Petretti

RJCG is Growing!

RJCG is excited to announce that two experienced executive coaches/consultants have joined the RJCG team! We are thrilled to welcome Ruth Hescock and Kalpana Krishnamurthy!

Along with over 7 years of hands-on experience as an executive coach/counselor, Ruth has a master’s degree in Counseling with a specialization in Clinical Rehabilitation from Portland State University, a graduate certificate in the Psychology of Leadership from Cornell University, and is a Certified PRINT® Coach.

Kalpana has extensive experience as a consultant in community-based organizing, strategic planning, and non-profits. She is a Certified PRINT® Coach and is currently enrolled in the master’s program in Counseling with a specialization in Marriage, Couples, and Family Therapy at Portland State University.

Ruth and Kalpana have added expertise and passion to our existing team, which includes long-time RJCG Consultant, Polly Gravely. With our talented team of Certified PRINT® Coaches/Consultants in place, RJCG is now able to expand the number of clients/organizations we are able to serve. Our focus remains on helping individuals and organizations build cohesive teams, reduce workplace tensions/conflicts, improve leadership skills, and facilitate values-based strategic planning. #OrganizationalDevelopment

#ExecutiveCoaching

#TeamBuilding

RJCG and PRINT®

I'm excited to announce that a long-time RJCG Consultant, Polly Gravely, has recently become Certified in PRINT® Coaching. RJCG is growing in our scope of consultation offerings and is so excited about the positive impacts of using PRINT® for increased cohesion and improved communication among organizational teams. PRINT® is a transformational technology created by The Paul Hertz Group to help organizations effectively recruit and retain talent, develop leaders, build teams, tap into employees’ strengths, remove interpersonal barriers, and meet performance objectives ― with unprecedented efficiency, receptivity, and success. To learn more about RJCG and our services, including PRINT®, please visit our website [RJCG.org][1].

Certified PRINT® Coaching/Counseling for Individuals and Couples

I have been Certified in PRINT® Coaching for just over two months. In that time, I have had nearly 60 individuals complete the PRINT® assessment and have provided over 45 debriefs to individuals, couples, families, and organizational teams. While I knew how powerful PRINT® is for organizational team building (This has been reinforced!), I have been very pleased to discover its usefulness for individual coaching/counseling and couple therapy. For individual clients, PRINT® provides incredibly useful information about an individual's core needs/motivations; this information can easily be integrated into the therapy process by understanding triggers, defensive/protective "shadow" behaviors, and the client's Best Self within their motivational structure.

I have had several clinicians reach out to me asking if they could have their clients take PRINT®. We are working out procedures where the clients will complete PRINT®, have a debrief with me, and then bring the comprehensive report back to the therapist to integrate into the existing treatment. For the therapists out there, let me know if you would like to discuss this type of arrangement to support you and your clients.

I am also finding incredible value in using PRINT® with couples. PRINT® very quickly provides information that highlights the reasons why couples get stuck in frustrating interactional cycles and provides tools to interrupt these cycles so each partner can return to their Best Self. The reports make it very apparent why partners trigger defensive/protective reactions in each other, an understanding that supports many couple therapy models such as EFT. The report provides a roadmap that therapists can use to understand triggers, interrupt cyles, and promote self soothing as well as relational healing.

Certified PRINT® Coach

I am excited to announce that I have recently become a Certified PRINT® Coach. This means that, in addition to being a Licensed Psychologist, I am now a licensed coach in The Why of You Powered by PRINT®, a breakthrough model of human motivation and behavior that was developed by The Paul Hertz Group.

The approach is used to enhance understanding of the way people react and how they relate by explaining the “why” behind their behavior – why people act as they do, why they make certain choices, why they are attracted to certain things and why they function better in certain situations than others.

Everyone has core motivations that drive their actions and behaviors. PRINT® reveals what these motivators are and in doing so, clarifies what is needed to bring out people’s best. It helps unleash the potential that lies within all people. PRINT® is a valuable guide to create success and reveal what can be done to face and overcome one’s challenges. PRINT® builds insight into others, as well as one’s self.

There are 72 PRINTS®, each with their own core motivations and behaviors. No PRINT® is better than any other and each possesses its own natural gifts and contributions (Best Self) and its own potential barriers and obstacles (Shadow).

Every PRINT® exhibits Best Self and Shadow behavior. The goal of the Why of you program is to teach people how to diminish the frequency of Shadow behavior and increase the presence of Best Self. Shadow is people’s automatic response to the stressors in their lives. It may be more automatic for some people to be in Best Self or Shadow than others. A person’s professional and personal environment plays a role, as well as their level of self-awareness. Studies have shown there is a positive correlation between Best Self and performance.

I am certified to use and analyze the Paul Hertz Group’s PRINT® Survey, a 10-15 minute, statistically validated, highly accurate, and dynamic online instrument as part of my coaching process (dynamic meaning that different questions come up based on how previous ones were answered, so people take different surveys). The instrument helps me uncover an individual’s core motivators and the behaviors that reflect both their Best Self and their potential Shadow. This information helps me work in partnership with individuals to efficiently accomplish goals and generate strategies to yield desired results.

Knowing “why” accelerates successful growth and transformation. PRINT® provides this vital information. I look forward to utilizing PRINT® in my work with individual clients and organizations to faciltate this growth and transformation.

Please visit rjcg.org to learn more about my executive coaching and organizational consultation services.