Hello and welcome to my blog, teer on design.
Providing growth counsel exclusively for Designers, I established teer as an advisory practice in 2002 to mentor and coach; start-ups, early-growth stage and established design firms.
Why?
I’ve worked with many great designers since the mid 80s, but I’ve experienced so many to be somewhat ‘reactive’ in their work-behaviours outside of fee-paying client projects. This I saw as an opportunity to help them improve, and gave me a reason and a purpose to start teer – to understand their goals, their challenges and to help shape and influence behaviours that drive designers to lead a more ‘proactive’ work life.
Having ‘proactivity’ as the driving behavioural characteristic at the core of your agency can enable greater control of your future, and allow designers to fulfil their own potential and purpose. An exemplary outcome of this is seeing designers ‘lead’ their clients far more, as a true partner, and not being led so much by them.
Proactive Working is a mindset, a culture and has been my mantra in providing consultancy, mentoring and coaching services to 40+ design firms since 2002.
What I do
Having clearly understood at what stage each firm exists in the business life cycle, I work with owner-founders and leaders through a mix of 1:1 consultancy, mentoring and coaching to help them to; clarify and shape objectives, and realise potential. Working closely together, we explore behaviours and attitudes, we identify goals and understand internal and external perceptions, we craft value propositions and shape activities that help maintain and develop businesses.
Location permitting, I work right alongside my clients to help build trust, to become part of the team, and to feel the genuine pulse of the company. I typically focus in the following areas:
Discovery Q&A
Strategy & Objectives
Positioning & Value Proposition Development
Brand Development
Client Retention & Development
Marketing & Outreach Planning
I bring that critical external perspective, valuable industry insights and practical objective guidance to support, challenge, motivate and facilitate such areas as;
- the exploration and implementation of a proactive-working behaviour and culture,
- the introduction of innovative and progressive business growth initiatives,
- tackling day-to-day business issues and challenges,
- changing founder / owner / team mindsets, and more.
Value
What’s special about teer is captured in some client testimonials.
I also hear from clients that the value of engaging teer is the understanding and perspective that comes from my work with 40+ agencies since 2002 and many great designers since the mid-80s, helping them to; understand and shape their purpose, make valuable business connections and build tangible value.
Alongside client testimonials, we have a track record and evidence of success to demonstrate our value and return on investment.
Standout
There’s a wealth of free resources and many great trainers and consultants in the market offering strategic guidance/planning and marketing/business development services to the many resource-stretched small firms in the design industry. But there are few, like teer, that combine the theory (strategic thinking and planning) with practical ‘hands-on’ delivery and implementation (the doing!). I’m an adviser and a doer. And I make myself accountable by frequently working alongside clients in putting a strategic plan for growth to work.
When we become focused, explore and go the extra mile, we are generally rewarded. We discover space that’s rarely crowded, and we get to know more of ourselves. I believe the more a business demonstrates that it really knows itself and its value to others, the more easily it will be understood, elevate its standing and make the right connections.
How would I describe myself?
Proactive, ideas-led, motivational, diligent, affable, authentic.
What am I passionate about?
My wife Lisa (who frequently refers to me as Mr Continuous Improvement) and my son Ellis. I admire true innovation and like challenging conventions to make things better. I enjoy contemporary buildings, distinctive household furniture, golf, cycling and running.
What’s ahead?
I’ve worked with many talented people, and have learnt a great deal about designers and what makes them tick. I look forward to more of the same – harnessing my experience to support designers that are looking to improve themselves and make their mark in the industry.
Simon Teer
Founder
