Our Story: Our Company Invests in Our Future Leaders
After the learning sessions our teams hit the field, going to different spots around D.C., gathering intelligence and stoking our creative sides. We developed ideas based on our newfound knowledge from the peer groups and presented them to the entire company. No two presentations were the same; some groups did videos (including a video punctuated with clips from The Office), while others had presentations. There was even a skit! Everyone had a great time and it ended the project on a high note.
There’s no better way to make a lesson stick than to leap in with both feet. The time I spent in Consultants by Design was both challenging and rewarding. It went beyond typical training, allowing us to learn from those senior leaders within the company and then put those lessons into direct practice. It was an invaluable step in my professional development and left each of us far more capable of benefiting the company and our clients. The experience was completely unique, and I look forward to seeing future Peer Groups in action!
About Arc Aspicio
Arc Aspicio is a management, strategy, and technology consulting firm that takes a mission-oriented approach to complex client challenges. Focused on innovation, Arc Aspicio provides services in strategy, design, human capital, operations, analytics and visualization, technology and information sharing. The company is known for a strong, collaborative culture that values gratitude, provides leadership opportunities, and explores the future. Our teams take a human-centered approach to working with clients and are flexible and responsive within dynamic Government client environments where missions evolve and new priorities arise sometimes even daily. We thrive on these situations and promote continuous improvement and new ideas. And, #welovedogs! Follow us on Twitter @arcaspicio or learn more at www.arcaspicio.com.
We tell our story to share who we are as a company. This blog is the fifth in a series that highlights how our strategy and culture lead to positive results for our clients and employees.
Change happens fast, and businesses are more competitive than ever. Talent has emerged as a major differentiator in today’s world. The better the people, the bigger the advantage. To address this in 2017, Arc Aspicio implemented a new initiative to create an innovative, customized Peer Group for its consulting professionals to focus on their personal and professional development. Peer Group learning focuses on consulting skills and leadership capability. With their peers, consultants can learn skills through formal training, role playing, coaching, and leadership opportunities throughout the duration of the group. Peer groups also create a sense of community among participants and help build a strong internal network.
I was honored to participate in the inaugural Consultants by Design Peer Group created specifically for Junior Associates and Associates. As a Consultant by Design, I had the opportunity to attend learning sessions with executives that covered topics ranging from how to deliver effective feedback to how to create a Project Management Plan. These are all crucial skills for people who want to be future leaders. At the end of the program, we even got a chance to get our hands dirty! Members of the peer group created their own Legacy Project, an opportunity for each member of the group to leave a lasting mark on the company.
Our Peer Group led a company-wide effort to conduct multiple design thinking projects to integrate excellent customer experiences into the company’s DNA. Each peer group member led a team of volunteers from within the company. Experience level varied across each team and was key to bringing different perspectives to the table. We wanted to give everyone an opportunity to shape the company’s 2018 strategy, and people were eager to contribute.
