Our Process

Our Process: Straightforward steps. Real business results.

Running a business can feel like juggling with one hand tied behind your back. There are staff to manage, clients to look after, and constant fires to put out. The last thing you need is another consultant filling your head with theory that doesn’t apply in the real world. Our process is designed to keep things simple, practical, and results-driven. No gimmicks, no over-complication, just a clear pathway that helps you build the business and lifestyle you want.

Step 1: Understand your goals

The starting point is always you. Before we dive into any management development program or leadership development work, we’ll take the time to understand what’s really going on in your business. Do you need to strengthen your leadership skills? Build a team that steps up rather than steps back? Free up your time so you can focus on growth instead of firefighting? These conversations set the direction. We don’t just tick boxes, we get to the heart of your challenges so the support is directly linked to the results you’re chasing.
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Step 2: Tailor the right approach

Once we know what matters most to you, we’ll shape the support to fit. For some business owners, that’s one-on-one sessions with a business coach in Auckland who can provide regular feedback and guidance. For others, it might be a structured leadership development programme that helps you and your team grow together. The point is, there’s no one-size-fits-all template here. Every tool, exercise, and conversation is chosen to move you closer to your goals, not fill time. That flexibility is what makes working with us different, you get a process built around your reality, not the other way around.

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Step 3: Work alongside you

Plenty of advisors give advice, send you a big report, and disappear. That’s not how we roll. When you bring us in, we’re right there alongside you, helping you put changes into action. We’ll test new ideas, hold you accountable, and help you keep momentum when business gets tough. As your New Zealand based business advisor, our role isn’t to tell you what to do and walk away. it’s to support you while you’re doing it, so the changes stick. With us, you get both the big-picture guidance and the practical “here’s what to do next week” kind of help that makes a real difference.

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Step 4: Review and adjust

No business stands still for long, and neither should your development. As the market shifts, your team grows, or your goals evolve, we’ll revisit and refine the approach. That could mean adjusting your management development program, introducing new leadership training, or simply giving you space to reset and plan your next steps. The aim is to keep you moving forward steadily, building confidence and clarity as you go. By regularly reviewing what’s working and what’s not, you’ll always have the right support at the right time , so you can keep building a stronger team, sharper leadership, and a business that works for you, not against you.
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Frequently asked Questions

Working with Think Differently follows four steps: understand your goals, tailor the right approach, work alongside you, then review and adjust. The aim is a simple, practical pathway that connects every conversation and tool to the results you want for your business and your lifestyle.

At Think Differently, the first meeting is a relaxed coffee with Phil Pickford, which is about getting to know each other rather than a sales meeting. A two-hour workshop at the Albany, Auckland offices then documents the key aspects of your business and builds an initial strategic plan. Think Differently believes that providing Value is the most important part of any new relationship.  What this means in a practical sense is that the Think Differently team start providing help and support prior to any agreements or money changing hands. 

Think Differently tailors it. For some owners that means one-on-one sessions with a business coach in Auckland, and for others a structured leadership development programme for you and your team. Every tool, exercise and conversation is chosen to move you towards your goals, not to fill time.

With Think Differently, yes. The team works alongside you while changes are put into action. It helps you test new ideas, holds you accountable, keeps momentum going when business gets tough, and gives practical next steps, so the changes stick instead of ending with a report.

Think Differently reviews what is working and what is not, then adjusts the approach as your market, team or goals change.  Think Differently still works with some clients that it formed a  relationship with 20 years ago, where a deep understanding of a clients business ensures that Think Differently becomes a valuable and trusted resource, whilst in some cases 6 months is all that is needed.  Think Differently believes that change takes time, effective change takes longer.

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Our promise to you

When you work with us, you get more than advice. You get a partner who’s committed to your success. We’ll be upfront with you, we’ll keep things simple, and we’ll focus on results that actually matter. Whether you’re looking for a NZ business advisor to help navigate the big picture, or a business coach to fine-tune day-to-day leadership, we’re here to help you build a business that supports the life you want.

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