About International Advantage®
Our values and philosophy
Values
Our values guide the decisions we make every day. We describe them here and we look forward to demonstrating to you that these values are more than simply words on a website.
First, we believe that our words must match our actions. We call this personal integrity. We also subscribe to the ethical standards in the consulting profession, and founder Lisa Koss has earned Certified Management Consultant (CMC®) status awarded by the Institute of Management Consultants USA as evidence of meeting the highest standards of consulting and adherence to the ethical canons of the profession. Less than 1% of all consultants have achieved this certification. See Why hire a CMC? We call this professional integrity.
Second, we believe that learning to be a core value since it is the basis of all growth and change. In our view, there is a choice point that we face frequently: when is the time to learn and when is it time to “perform”? Understanding this choice makes all the difference in our ability to be a true partner with our clients. We expect it of our clients and we also expect it of ourselves.
Third, we believe in an attitude of service. Community and service to others is a big part of our roots, and we bring it to every client engagement. “What will best serve our client?” brings us back to this attitude.
Next, we hold ourselves to a challenge of acting with courage. Serving our clients often requires saying what no one else is willing to say or take the opposite route from what is popular. Courage is a key ingredient for bold leadership and positive change
Connection is how we keep client initiatives moving: connection with our clients, connection between members of the organization, and connection to our values. We use a systems approach in our work and appreciate and leverage the way in which all systems interconnect and become part of the solution.
We have nothing without the respect of our clients. We strive to earn respect based on the foundation of truly knowing our clients and what is meaningful to them.
Philosophy
Our philosophy of working with our clients is based on distinction of the roles that we – individually and collectively – are called upon to play. We hope you also find it inspiring and empowering.
We believe that answers to the challenges most often lie within you and your people. It is the collective organization that has the answers to most challenges
It is the leader demonstrating universal values that honor the common good, who is responsible for jointly creating a shared vision, and who inspires others to join in that vision. Achieving more than what anyone thought possible is the leader’s calling
It is the engaged individual that makes all the difference in creating that change. The acknowledgment and leveraging of multiple and diverse perspectives allow organizations to learn and grow. It is the consultant’s role is to help frame, focus and manage the forces in an organization toward a worthwhile result.
It is the consultant’s role to be a supportive partner, a role model in her actions and a guide, taking the organization on a tour of itself.
The consultant’s responsibility is to act with integrity and candor, communicating truths, based on observable behaviors and the best of interest of the client.