Scaling Leadership: How ATG Streamlined Assessments for Growth

Challenge

Alliance Technical Group (ATG), a fast-growing equity-backed engineering services firm, has been experiencing rapid expansion, acquiring 2-3 companies annually. The company adds new services, technology, and sector expertise with each acquisition. The Executive Leadership Team (ELT), comprising 15 diverse leaders—legacy members, new hires, and acquired talent—underwent extensive leadership assessments during the investment process. This included 360 reviews, personality assessments, and psychometric testing. However, the ELT now sought to extend similar evaluations to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT). The existing service provider was costly, time-consuming, and yielded static results. The ELT needed a more efficient, customizable, and cost-effective solution. They approached Renew by TRANSEARCH to design and implement an approach aligned with their evolving culture, addressed their leadership needs, and supported their growth strategy.

Solution

Renew proposed a Leadership 360 Project, offering a streamlined, customizable service tailored to ATG’s requirements. This included:

• A comprehensive culture work-up to understand the current and aspirational culture at ATG.
• Selection of key leadership competencies necessary to drive future growth.
• Individual Hogan assessments and feedback for each SLT member.
• A Hogan team report analyzing collective strengths and areas for development.
• 360 reviews for 15 SLT members, with feedback from 45 raters.

The project was designed to minimize disruption while maximizing insight. Each SLT member spent roughly 3 hours on assessments, with the ELT dedicating around 4 hours. The raters spent approximately 45 minutes on each review, with some completing multiple reviews. The entire process was completed in 90 days, delivering results that were more dynamic, engaging, and actionable than previous efforts.

Results

Renew successfully delivered a comprehensive report that provided critical insights into the SLT’s leadership competencies, hidden strengths, and potential performance derailers. The report also outlined clear next steps for the team to address identified blind spots. Key outcomes included:

• Cost Efficiency: The project was delivered at a lower cost than the previous provider, making it a more financially viable option for ATG.
• Time Savings: The streamlined approach reduced the hands-on time required from participants, allowing them to focus on day-to-day responsibilities while still benefiting from thorough evaluations.
• Improved Engagement: The assessments led to a greater understanding of team dynamics, with actionable insights into how to leverage individual strengths and address developmental areas.

The project delivered more participants than previous efforts at a faster pace and with greater depth of analysis. It also provided key findings about the team’s overall competency in driving the company’s culture shift, revealing that:

• The SLT is highly results-oriented and shares a commitment to ATG’s growth strategy.
• The team exhibits strong authenticity and resilience, critical to navigating the challenges of rapid growth.
• Areas for development include Unwavering Focus and Leadership Development, both vital for sustaining ATG’s long-term success.

Key Learnings

• ATG’s leadership excels in results-oriented behavior but needs to balance boldness with humility and grace to avoid overconfidence.
• The team’s shared scientific approach enhances its analytical capabilities, but fostering an environment of collaboration will be essential for long-term growth.
• To further develop, the team will need to focus on risk assessment, cross-functional partnerships, and building a structured knowledge-sharing system.

Next Steps

Renew recommended a series of steps for the SLT, including leveraging hidden strengths, addressing blind spots through targeted development plans, and encouraging greater collaboration across teams. Additionally, they emphasized the need to focus on continuous learning and structured decision-making to maintain ATG’s competitive edge in a rapidly evolving industry.