Services
Our clients have described Conocer as an
invaluable resource for pursuing their public
leadership dreams. They say our greatest strengths
include listening to multiple perspectives without
judgment; helping clients discover unseen strategies;
building connections among issues, people and
organizations; and doing all of these things with a
keen sense of reality.
“Conocer helps me to find the courage and
wherewithal to take the next step.”
Karen Northup, Virginia Primary Care Association
“Given any amount of content, Conocer can pull
everything together in a way that makes sense.”
Teri Pinney, Piton Foundation
Here are the services we offer that enable us to provide our expertise to public leaders:
Stakeholder Research
The effectiveness of public leaders often turns on their understanding of all stakeholders. Conocer uses many research tools – focused interviews, focus groups, surveys – to look far beneath surface level attitudes and opinions. We crystallize multiple stakeholder perspectives into an accessible, useful and coherent whole.
Leadership Assessments
How effective are you and your organization as a public leader? How do others perceive you as a public leader? What are your emerging leadership opportunities? Conocer helps public leaders answer these questions through a methodical research process, analysis using well-tested leadership and issue frameworks, and consulting sessions.
Strategic Planning
Strategic planning is one of Conocer’s hallmark services. Our approach enables groups to accelerate and expand what can typically be accomplished in a short period of time. We have developed proven methodologies that enable groups to reach agreement on purpose, get to the essence of key decision points, make plans for action, and develop measures of success.
Program Design
Turning strategic direction into program design is not always easy; nor are those who are best at implementing programs always the best at design work. Conocer supports public leaders and their organizations by turning strategy into programs. We work closely with key program staff in this process to ensure that they have proprietorship for the work they must carry out.
Long Term Scenario Planning
Public leaders often comment that anticipating “what’s next” and supporting groups to act effectively in the midst of change is an ongoing challenge. Conocer works with public leaders to identify driving forces that they must manage, sorting out what can and can’t be controlled, and then helps them to develop strategies for these emerging environments.
Align Purpose, Principles and Action
One of the most difficult challenges for any public leader is helping large and often disparate groups translate shared purpose and principles into concerted action. Conocer works with groups ranging from internal management teams to national networks of loosely affiliated organizations to neighborhoods and groups. We help people understand, embrace and move toward action on the purpose and principles they share.
Ongoing Leadership Counsel
Many public leaders find it useful to keep Conocer on retainer to provide counsel on emergent leadership issues. Conocer is available, in such relationships, to help public leaders prepare for critical events and meetings, to sort through issues as they arise, and to serve as a guide to help these leaders further hone their own leadership practices.