We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lauren Carter a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, thanks for joining us today. Can you recount a time when the advice you provided to a client was really spot on?

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve given clients is to focus on their self-concept and awareness. I often see entrepreneurs consumed with taking classes and learning business skills, but they forget that their personal characteristics play a huge role in their decision-making process. If someone struggles with low self-esteem, poor communication skills, or emotional triggers from their past, it can impact how they run their business and treat their employees.

Because most people decide to engage in strategy consulting when they’re facing business trouble, on more than one occasion, I’ve had clients who were struggling to keep their business afloat. They were constantly stressed, their employees were unhappy, and they were on the brink of shutting down. When I talked to them, I realized that they were struggling with a lot of personal issues that were bleeding into their business decisions. Whether it was unresolved childhood trauma, relationship challenges, illness, or imposter syndrome, it impacted how they communicated with their team and handled high-pressure situations.

So, I recommend working with a therapist and a coach to address these underlying issues often. My most successful clients who can turn around quickly and achieve even greater success have a therapist and coach. It’s not an easy conversation to have, but when it’s necessary for their success, I will have it. Sometimes, clients take my advice; sometimes, they don’t. But, the ones who do work with someone regularly do much better. The ones who engage coaches improve their communication skills and emotional intelligence.

The results have been remarkable. They become a much more effective leader, and their employees notice a significant difference in how they are being treated. Typically, the business starts to thrive, and they can turn things around. More importantly, they were happier and healthier as a person.

This experience reinforced my belief that personal development is just as important as business development. It’s one of the reasons why I run a “holistic” consulting firm and include personal development as a strategic objective in my framework. I make sure to regularly check in with my clients and ask about their mental and emotional wellbeing. It’s not just about helping them run a successful business; it’s about helping them live a fulfilling life.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Absolutely! My name is Lauren Carter, and I’m the founder of Lauren Ashley Consulting, a strategy execution consulting firm. I got into this business because of my background in various industries, such as fashion, insurance, legal, finance, and healthcare, where I was able to gain an exceptional business toolkit.

As a strategy consultant, I consider myself a surgeon for a sick business. Just like a surgeon identifies the root of an illness and prescribes the best course of action, I work with companies and their leaders to identify gaps in their performance against their strategy, diagnose their challenges, and prescribe solutions for their success.

My firm offers strategic advisory and Fractional COO services that help underserved populations leverage holistic support that understands their unique challenges and possibilities. We help businesses identify what makes them unique, viable, profitable, scalable, and sustainable, which allows them to survive environmental changes.

What sets me apart from others in my industry is my reason for focusing on Black-owned businesses and other underserved communities. As a Black woman, I’m passionate about helping these businesses achieve sustainable growth and long-term strategic advantage to develop strong economic and political power. I believe the Black community (here and abroad) has a unique opportunity to build wealth at unprecedented levels. I want to help them leverage their resources to create economic power and independence.

I’m most proud of the impact I’ve made on businesses and communities through my work. I’ve helped companies stay within their strategic positioning and pivot to survive during difficult times like the COVID-19 pandemic. I’ve also advised founders to leverage their competitive advantage and hire top talent to compete against larger competitors. And most recently, I’ve been helping my clients prepare for inflation and recession.

Overall, I want potential clients to know that I’m passionate about their success and committed to helping them achieve their goals. Whether you’re a Black-owned business or any other underserved community, my firm can help you identify the challenges holding you back and develop solutions that will allow you to thrive. So, if you’re looking for a strategy execution consulting firm dedicated to your success, please visit my website and schedule a call. I would be honored to help you achieve your goals.

Any advice for managing a team?

Maintaining high morale in a team is crucial for any leader, and I’ve actually written about this on my blog in a post titled “Maintaining Company Culture As You Grow: 6 Ways To Do It Right.” https://laconsulting.co/insights/maintaining-company-culture-as-you-grow-6-ways-to-do-it-right Here are some of the key takeaways:

– Communicate regularly and transparently with your team.
– Foster a positive company culture by recognizing and rewarding employees’ hard work and accomplishments.
– Prioritize professional development opportunities and career growth paths for your team members.
– Encourage collaboration and teamwork while also acknowledging individual contributions.
– Be empathetic and understanding toward your team members’ needs and concerns.
– Continuously seek feedback from your team to identify areas for improvement and opportunities to enhance the workplace environment.

Additionally, as a leader, it’s important to lead by example and embody the values and culture you want to instill in your team. Celebrate successes, address issues and conflicts in a timely and respectful manner, and foster a sense of community and connection among team members. You can build and maintain a team with high morale and positive company culture by prioritizing communication, recognition, growth opportunities, empathy, and feedback.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

For me, the best source of new clients has been referrals and word of mouth. I’ve been fortunate enough to have worked with some fantastic clients who have shared their positive experiences with others, which has led to new opportunities. However, I’m also aware of the importance of continually marketing myself and my services. That’s why I’ve started to focus on other channels, such as blogging, social media, and email marketing. These platforms allow me to share my thoughts and ideas with a broader audience and connect with potential clients who may not have otherwise known about my work. In fact, I’m currently working on an ebook that will focus on strategy and organizational effectiveness, which I believe will be a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their business. While referrals and word of mouth have been great for me, I know it’s important to continue to grow and expand my reach through other marketing channels.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://laconsulting.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laconsultingco/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/laconsultingco/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/laconsultingco/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/laconsultingco/

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