The Suit Magazine

It’s a classic case of catch-22. When the economy gets tough, businesses need superior performance to weather the storm and generate revenue. But the necessary training incurs costs up front, and many companies simply can’t afford to make the initial investment.

Luckily, the training and coaching company Norquest Associates found a way to meet this challenge.

“We used to do a lot of stand-up training, or we would go to a central location and conduct a training session,” said Bill Blake, Norquest's principal and senior consultant. “But in this economy, the money just isn't there for this type of training. So more and more, it’s done online. We’re talking on an individual basis, or in small groups, sometimes via webinars. We even have an Online Learning Campus for business courses at NorquestOnline.com.”

It’s cost effective, and it works. Blake coaches his clients in the uses of a relationship-building tool called DiSC®, which stands for dominance, influence, steadiness and conscientiousness. The online hub is at www.DiscAndMore.com. This methodology attracts big clients; Blake has used his diversity training programs with the Ford Motor Company. He has also worked with the First Nations of Northern Ontario to help them reach their goals, and he has initiated the development of secondary schools in four communities.

Blake believes that the key to business success is in understanding relationships. “If you don't know your own behavioral preferences, and understand the effect that those behavioral preferences have on other people, you're not going anywhere,” he said. “We used to have the golden rule: 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' Well, now we have a platinum rule: 'Do unto others as they would like to be done unto.' It works better!”

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