Leslie Shreve doesn?t reorganize closets ? she gets executives to make the most out of their time.
Starting Focus Consulting LLC four years ago, Shreve still tries to make sure potential clients don?t misunderstand her role as a productivity consultant. Shreve initially began her own company as a professional organizer, but she missed the corporate world after several months on the job and changed Focus? mission to target executives.
And despite being one of only 200 professional organizers certified through the National Association of Professional Organizers in its inaugural certification program, Shreve finds that she can offer more to her clients as a productivity consultant.
“Everyone is too reactive to what is going on in their business day,” Shreve said. “I want them to be more proactive.”
Working with clients from American Home Mortgage to Baltimore County Public Schools, Shreve is typically booked four to eight weeks in advance. Individual organization work usually starts with a one-hour introductory meeting, followed by three three-hour sessions. While three is the minimum number of meetings, some clients go as high as 20 meetings before reaching their goals.
Studies show just how important her services are.
According to a report on international business productivity from global workplace efficiency firm Proudfoot Consulting, an average of 37 percent of all working time is wasted, with much of this lost productivity attributed to poor time management.
Shreve balances about 30 clients at once, with an ever-increasing number of them rotating back onto her calendar for an annual checkup to make sure there are no relapses.
“These are big habit changes, behavioral changes,” Shreve said. “For the most part, people are cooperative and go along with it. It?s what they brought me in for.”
In the ever-changing business world, Shreve continually networks and finds new ways to bring her product to executives. About 20 percent of her business is digital and done over the Internet. She also works with business coaches on certain clients to help her reach out to new customers.
One customer that Shreve helped, Diane Via, the commercial lines manager with Bruce Grau & Associates in Hunt Valley, couldn?t say enough about the way her productivity has changed.
“I thought I was always very organized until I met her,” Via said. “She opened my eyes on how to use my skills and tools to manage my workload. She came in and looked at the job from the outside point of view.”
Focus Consulting LLC
410-218-4896
productiveday.com
