The Business Problem:

The “How” of Execution & the “Why” of Meetings

Michelle Wink, then-CEO of UP Professional Solutions, had been on a decade-long strategic execution journey when she began working with Rhythm. “I read books on strategic planning and I understood the concepts, the ‘why’ and the ‘where’, but the ‘how’ evaded me,” Michelle shared. Although UP had a strategic vision, they lacked a system for execution that would help them get from point A to point B. 

They also spent extensive time in meetings, with the executive team gathering for six hours once a week to share project updates. This pulled executives away from growth-oriented work and burned payroll dollars as the team listened to status reports. 

How Rhythm Helped:

Focusing on Key Adjustments

Rhythm coaches introduced the UP team to a new meeting approach. Instead of using their time for status updates, they would color status all goals in the Rhythm software prior to the meeting. Green goals were on track to achieve success and did not require discussion. Yellow and red goals were encountering roadblocks (minor or major) that put their successful completion at risk. 

The UP executives began to hone in on this heatmap of issues and use their time to problem-solve as a team. To document detailed project updates, team members left comments on their goals before the meeting and notified key stakeholders in real time. 

Following these practices, the team reduced their weekly meeting time from six hours to just 90 minutes. “My executive management group, who are critical to the progression of the company, are freed up to do more important work,” said Michelle. 

High Visibility and Quick Corrections

As UP tracked their goals using the Rhythm method, their projects gained visibility. They had recently launched a proprietary program to gather safety data from the field, and they added this program’s growth as a KPI in Rhythm. 

By quickly recognizing issues when this metric statused Red or Yellow, the team was able to take swift action to improve performance. This proactive approach empowered the team to substantially grow the new program in less than a year. 

The Results:

Efficient, Effective, and Ready for the Next Chapter 

Harnessing the power of Rhythm software and methodology, UP streamlined their weekly meetings and advanced their strategic plans. They kept high visibility on their most important goals, avoided wasted time discussing business as usual, and proactively solved problems to get their projects on track for success.

During their partnership with Rhythm, UP:

• Reduced executive meeting time from 6 hours to 1.5 hours
• Grew a new safety data program by 3X in 10 months
• Used Rhythm tools to bring the company’s strategic plan to execution 

UP achieved a state of growth that attracted potential buyers. In 2022, they merged with PTS Advance, a subsidiary of HUDDL3 Group, and Michelle continued her strategic execution journey as Advisor to the CEO.