Tandem Solutions

Prioritizing leadership development is essential for fostering organizational change and growth. Without the effective development of leaders at multiple levels, organizational change efforts may struggle to achieve their intended outcomes. “Organizations change when people change,” says Joe McCafferty, Co Managing Director at Tandem Solutions. “And the job of leaders is to help their people adapt effectively to change.”

As a premier leadership development and change management firm, Tandem Solutions recognizes the profound importance of actively engaging leaders throughout the organization. Through its work, Tandem Solutions aims to underscore the critical role that strategic involvement at all levels plays in cultivating a culture of continuous development and ensuring sustained organizational success.

Tandem Solutions assists organizations in navigating large-scale changes and redefining roles, responsibilities, and functions within their structures. Integral to this effort are strategic considerations, such as engaging employees in the change program to create solutions that are best fit for the organization. The underpinnings of these change efforts include developing leadership capabilities to envision the desired future state and then translating high-level objectives into more tangible goals that all employees can embrace.

“A significant facet of our work with clients centers on guiding leaders across organizational levels to adopt a coaching and development mindset. This strategic shift empowers them to engage their team members in the problem-solving process, which can help improve the organization’s ability to embrace change and adapt,” says Joe McCafferty, Co-Managing Director of Tandem Solutions.

In pursuit of this goal, the company offers various training programs that harness the power of coaching for leaders. These programs empower leaders to grasp the fundamental significance of conversational skills by mastering the art of attentive listening to comprehend their team members’ priorities and concerns, then engaging them in the process of joint problem-solving.

Tandem Solutions’ leadership training is rooted in their LongitudinaLearning™ approach, a methodology developed nearly two decades ago. This method aligns the training process with how adults naturally learn, starting with recognizing the need for new knowledge or skills, followed by information gathering, experimentation, and adaptation. The approach is firmly rooted in neuroscience research and focuses on the fact that learning is a process, not an event. Traditional event-based training programs (e.g., seminars, workshops, etc.) focus on providing information, while LongitudinaLearning™ programs focus on helping participants adapt by applying new information to their specific circumstances.

The methodology is evident in Tandem Solutions’ training programs, which typically initiate with pre assessments to help participants identify potential knowledge gaps, followed by the seamless infusion of new information. The programs include one or more TandemTools™, which include online templates and activities that challenge participants to directly apply emerging concepts in their work environment, complete with a built-in feedback loop for ongoing improvement.

Coaching is interwoven throughout the company’s programs. This coaching element guides participants and enables them to reflect on their progress, assess effectiveness, and make adjustments to further improve. Integrating these components, the LongitudinaLearning™ approach creates a dynamic training experience that aligns with the natural progression of adult learning.

For all training and development initiatives, Tandem Solutions conducts post-assessments immediately after program conclusions. This allows participants to gauge progress from the program’s start to its conclusion. “Our post-assessments clearly show the impact that our programs and LongitudinaLearning™ approach have with our clients,” says McCafferty. “We now have several years of data that show how our programs lead to a better understanding of new concepts and promote behavioral change.”

In addition to building leadership bench strength, Tandem Solutions works with clients to structure and lead their change programs. The team uses a number of different proprietary assessments to evaluate critical dimensions like vision, organizational structures, processes, climate, and culture. Through a streamlined survey process, the company’s assessments efficiently highlight potential gaps across the organization.

Subsequently, Tandem Solutions recommends solutions for organizational development based on identified gaps. For example, if the issue lies in goal clarity, the solution involves defining the vision and goals more explicitly. If it’s a cultural challenge, a deeper exploration into existing behavioral patterns is undertaken, contrasting them with the desired workplace culture.

This approach serves as an effective starting point for organizations, offering insights into team dynamics and suggesting interventions for progress. It emphasizes individual development in tandem with organizational enhancement, making the vision more tangible for team members and helping individuals recognize and transform existing behavior patterns to align with the desired institutional culture.

For example, in a recent engagement, where Tandem Solutions collaborated with a large academic medical center, initial assessments revealed areas for development, from organizational structure challenges to defining team objectives. Working closely with the client, Tandem Solutions formulated targeted programs, resulting in new organization structures as well as significant improvements in employee engagement scores.

McCafferty believes that people with the right skills are the heart of successful organizational growth, and Tandem Solutions is proud to have a team of individuals with extensive experience in the field. The company’s collective goal is to share its wisdom and expertise, providing executive-level insights to clients. What sets it apart is that all team members have considerable experience as former executive leaders and have committed to helping others develop by pursuing coaching certification with the International Coaching Federation. This commitment, combined with Tandem Solutions’ flexible approach and methodologies, forms the foundation of its approach to working with clients. Whether engaging at a senior or junior level, the team is equipped to guide clients forward effectively.