In a recent study, Deloitte Consulting tracked shareholder returns on the 56 publicly traded firms on the list of Fortune Magazine's Best Employers to Work For to see if these companies were also a good financial investment. Over a ten year period, these 56 Fortune Best Employers provided average shareholder returns of 18% compared to the S&P 500 that only provided a 12% return. It seems that happy employees create happy financial returns!

Many of today's successful executives understand that people are an important ingredient in their company's success - providing better customer relations, increased responsiveness to problem resolution, and the creativity and innovation that keeps an organization out in front of the competition. However, most executives would agree that they don't have the time or the expertise to make that happen in their organizations.

First Strategies has over 20 years of organizational and human resources consulting experience, implementing methodologies and programs to help organizations achieve these measurable, bottom-line results. Whether it is facilitating strategic human resources planning retreats, assisting with organizational redesign, succession planning, competency modeling, or performance management program design, First Strategies has the experienced professionals to help design and successfully implement these programs.

Examples of Our Projects:

• Directed a company-wide culture change process for a mortgage banking firm. Facilitated focus groups to develop corporate values; developed a multi-tiered internal university program; designed a 360-degree performance management process, facilitated quality improvement and problem solving teams and built a human resources department.
  
• Established career counseling center to provide assessments, counseling & retraining options for 250 employees scheduled to be terminated in a RIF . Company retained 249 employees. Project saved organization $1.6 million.
  
• Directed a strategic planning process for a mid-sized healthcare organization. Facilitated development of mission, vision and core values. Conducted leadership assessment and coaching. Revised department reporting structure. Facilitated employee problem-solving committees to improve clinical care operations.
  
• Facilitated organization-wide change management process, including strategic planning retreat and senior leadership effectiveness 360 ° feedback assessments. Provided on-going executive coaching, teambuilding and management training for senior executives during 12 months of major transition.
  
• Developed criteria-based performance appraisal program for an organization with 2,000 employees. Trained all managers and employees in use of the tool.
  
• Directed Human Resources department and developed competency-based interviewing process and training for a mid-sized manufacturer during period of transition.
  
• Conducted a 360˚ feedback process and individual coaching for the executive team of a large healthcare system. Facilitated the selection of key competencies to support the organization's strategic plan. Conducted 360˚ feedback for 50 management level staff and conducted feedback workshops and individual coaching sessions for selected management individuals.
  
• Facilitated a high performance work team committee for a pharmaceuticals plant; provided team training and communications; assisted in the design and communication of consolidated job levels; designed and implemented a peer review performance appraisal system.