What is the Business Health Assessment & Why Does it Matter?
By Dr. Denice Ross Haynes, Research & Assessment Manager
Originally published on June 1, 2024 (www.childcareaccelerate.com)
We live in a time where the health and sustainability of a business over time depends on a strong infrastructure. Child Care Accelerate defines business health as the ability to optimize the resources, systems, and operational protocols necessary to run your business at its missional best. It’s about laying a solid foundation upon which the organization can build, target goals for growth and stability, and serve their customer base and community with excellence. Admittedly, it’s a tall order in today’s world and businesses are realizing that they need support. The childcare space is no different. Many owners are challenged to keep staff and resources at the level they need to meet the needs of the communities they serve and to their credit, many have been able to keep the doors open.
“Our latest research…reiterates the degree to which organizational health is not just nice to have; it’s required for sustained performance and organizational success.” McKinsey.com
Childcare providers who enroll into the Child Care Accelerate business support program unlock access to our Business Health Assessment, developed in-house with profound expertise. The assessment contains 80 questions designed to assess business health in the childcare space based on best practices, industry guidelines, interviews with business experts and childcare professionals. It was also peer reviewed and tested by our team of business mentors and advisory board, which includes past and present childcare center directors and leaders.
The Business Health Assessment is introduced in the first coaching meeting with Lead Business Coach, Dr. Adrienne B. Haynes. It takes about one hour to complete and will assess program participants in eight areas of their business. Questions are centered around business foundations; management team and staff; administration and operations; marketing and business development; finance; legal, tax, and regulatory compliance; facilities, equipment and supplies; and center sustainability.
Upon completion, the Business Health Assessment inputs will be used to generate the Development, Improvement and Sustainability Plan (DISP). The DISP is a foundational piece to tailor the business coaching journey to the needs of the provider who is participating. It clearly identifies goals, and outlines business strengths and areas for improvement in easy to read charts with immediate feedback. The DISP enables mentors and providers to partner on strategy and work together toward their center’s success over the remaining weeks in the coaching program.
“When used by an appropriately trained professional, assessments provide deeper insights more quickly than could be achieved without using assessments. I’ve also found the use of assessments to often create epiphanies surprisingly early in the client relationship.” Trov Business Coach
Additionally, the Business Health Assessment includes a set of questions to review the needs of the center’s facility. In the second week of the coaching journey, participants will meet with a Child Care Accelerate team member who will complete a mandatory site visit. This visit will explore the needs of the provider and help set the stage for the Opportunities to Succeed Grant fund planning. Learn more about what to expect at the Child Care Accelerate visit by watching this video.
Child Care Accelerate proudly sets itself apart from other business coaching programs because our Business Health Assessment was designed specifically to speak to the needs of childcare business owners and directors. Additionally, the DISP ensures that we create a partnership where providers drive their coaching focus and are equipped to make well-informed decisions based on insights that reflect their center’s strengths and opportunities.
Child Care Accelerate coaching participants who have completed the Business Health Assessment are able to uncover new insights about themselves and their center and use this tool to reflect on the wins and areas for growth. They welcome the opportunity to work on their business in a way that ultimately benefits the children and staff. Partnering with these hardworking owners and directors is vital to the health and welfare of their students, families and community.
If you’re interested in business coaching and are seeking strategic guidance, apply to our program so we can help you reach your goals.
Sources:
Forbes Assessments In Coaching: Why, And Which Ones? Retrieved May 13,2024
McKinsey.Com Organizational health is (still) the key to long-term performance Retrieved May 13, 2024
About the Author
Dr. Denice Ross Haynes has more than 35 years in business and education from early childhood programs and services, to higher education administration. She’s taught doctoral candidates in program assessment and evaluation design, presented internationally in the PLC community, coached elementary and high school principals around student success outcomes, school culture, STEM and CTE program design.
Child Care Accelerate is an innovative business support program designed to help child care providers optimize their business operations in two months. Our customized coaching journey allows us to partner with providers on their self-identified goals and priorities and share tools to improve their operational efficiency, build financial capacity and sustain a competitive edge. To learn more about Child Care Accelerate, please email info@seedconsults.com.
