Transform your management team.
Transform your business.

Whether you’re preparing for growth or an exit from your business … whether you’re ready for more vacation time or simply in desperate need of a break … a strong management team transforms your business and helps you reach your goal. 

Companies that require the owner to be involved with every detail without falling apart will never thrive.

Organizations like this will never grow past a certain point. They will never be attractive to a future buyer willing to make the exit rewarding. What’s worse, the owner in this situation will always be scattered or overwhelmed—never with enough time for friends, family, or leisure (you know, the things that make life worth living).

The Exceptional Manager Program (EMP) provides structure and develops skills for a team of managers, equipping them with the tools and mindset they need to take on more responsibility. This creates more margin for the owner to invest in what matters most—whether it’s business growth, personal relationships, relaxation, or something else.

The EMP is a hands-on, interactive program. Employees learn relevant skills and implement them over a 12-month period, resulting in an ownership mentality. As a team, they share a common language and understanding of what the business needs to thrive.

In short, the EMP transforms employees into skilled managers who think like business owners.

Learn More About the Exceptional Manager Program

At the end of the program, participants say they gained a
40% improvement in effectiveness as a manager and
their team gained a 34% improvement.

Program Structure

The Exceptional Manager Program is the only program of its kind to combine comprehensive training for a team of managers with hands-on activities that advance the business. By creating a habit of making time to work ON the business, the momentum continues beyond the conclusion of the 12-month program.

Program Length

12 months

Meeting Cadence

Meetings are held once a month. Each meeting lasts between 3-5 hours, depending on the number of participants.

Program Format

Participants meet online via Zoom or in person, depending on the preference and circumstances of the group.

Session Format

A typical monthly session, covering a business dimension:

• Begins with a review of the previous session’s topic and discussion of how each participant applied the principles over the past month.

• Moves to a discussion led by the facilitator of the primary topic, which is based on the video content watched by participants prior to the meeting. 

• Is followed by an activity that reinforces the principles that were learned and applies them to each participant’s business.

• Closes with commitments of how each participant will apply the topic in their organization over the next month, Q&A, and a preview of the topic for the next meeting.

Preparation & Application

Participants will be assigned videos to watch prior to each session so everyone is familiar with the topic. After learning a topic, participants are expected to apply the principles to their businesses between sessions. Throughout the program, participants will capture the discoveries and decisions made in a Strategy Book that serves as a journal of the program.

ReWild Learning System

The impact of the program is accelerated by the use of the ReWild Learning System. Based on adult learning theory that encourages multi-modal learning techniques, it has the capacity to deliver information that is easily understood, quickly absorbed, and readily implemented.

There are three components to the ReWild Learning System:

Program Topics

At the center of the Exceptional Manager Program is the Management Wheel. The program dedicates a quarter (three months) to each of the quadrants of the Management Wheel, training on skills to help participants effectively manage the Self, Staff, Work, and Workplace.

Program Activities

Each session includes activities that allow participants to apply the concepts they are learning directly to their business or department. Not only does timely application reinforce the concepts to bolster long-term retention of the principles, it also brings immediate benefits to the company. Participants don’t have to wait until the end of the program to see results.

Three types of activities take place in each session corresponding to Ownership Thinking, Management Skills, and Tools. The activities are a variety of individual, small group, and company-wide topics. 

The learning process continues between sessions as participants use the concepts in their everyday work environment, reporting back to the rest of the team in the following session to create an accountability loop. 

Each activity is designed to allow participants to work on themselves as managers and on the business, resulting in clear, incremental improvements throughout the program.

Program Pricing

The investment for participating in the Exceptional Manager Program corresponds to the size of the company. Larger companies have larger management teams, which require more time to complete each session, while smaller companies with smaller management teams require less time.

The program runs for 12 months and includes monthly meetings (between 3-5 hours each) as well as educational resources and activities that are accessible throughout the duration of the program. There is a one-time $250 registration fee per participant for materials and third-party assessments.

Stages 1-2: $18,000

Stages 3-5: $24,000

Stages 6-7: $30,000

Return On Investment (ROI)

Strong managers are essential for a business to sustainably grow. According to Gallup, managers drive employee engagement and productivity, two of the biggest impacts on profitability.

When the leader improves, everyone benefits. The investment in your management team creates positive ripples throughout the organization. When considering the return on your investment, it’s important to consider the impact on the entire organization.

We encourage you to use the ROI Calculator below to see what you can expect in terms of the return on your investment in the Exceptional Manager Program.

Testimonials

After one quarter of EMP, participants experience a 23% reduction
in the frequency of challenges faced.

EMP Advisers

Our ReWilders go through a highly structured training process to earn certification. Below are a few of the Advisers who have been certified in the Strong Management Team element. Visit Our Network page to see a complete list of Advisers.

The Strong Management Team Guidebook