With decades of real-world experience, The Collaborative has a long and successful history in helping services and technology firms apply actionable, workable strategies and tactics to increase sales, communicate better with clients and eliminate organizational obstacles to success.

With a proven track record in training, coaching, organizational evaluation and behavioral assessments – we have the expertise to help you meet your goals.

In the News

The Collaborative announces the Collaborating podcast

January, 2012

Our new podcast series focuses on ideas for increasing sales, enhancing marketing and improving organizational effectiveness. Don’t miss a single episode! Click the icon above to go directly to the iTunes podcast subscription page within your iTunes Store, or listen on The Collaborative’s website at http://www.the-collaborative.com/blog/.

What are the Hallmarks of Great Customer Service?

July 20, 2011

Collaborative principal Beverly Flaxington was recently interviewed on New England Cable News (NECN) about the recent survey of the “10 Best & Worst in Customer Service”. View the interview by clicking here.

Is Help Available For Your Business?

Brandmaker News, April 12, 2011; by Tia Jackson

Entrepreneurs responded with a mix of frustration, optimism, and concern when asked about the real state of small business in America. As we inquired about whether help was available for their own businesses, the majority of the entrepreneurs surveyed said, “No.”….. While some entrepreneurs have tapped into resources to help their businesses, so many small businesses are still in need of assistance. Michael Slemmer, CFA of The Collaborative, shares his thoughts on what entrepreneurs should do to make themselves more attractive to investors and lenders… Click here for the rest of the story.

Model Manager: How to motivate your reps by treating them the way they should treat customers

SellingPower Magazine, January 2011; by Kim Wright Wiley

In some ways, being a manager is like being a parent: You can talk about what your sales team should be doing until you’re blue in the face, but if you aren’t modeling the behaviors you expect of the team, then your lectures will likely fall on deaf ears. This is especially true if you urge your salespeople to treat their customers and prospects as individuals but don’t model this behavior when dealing with your own staff.

“I’m not a big fan of the player/coach analogy in sales training,” says Beverly Flaxington, author of Understanding Other People: The Five Secrets to Human Behavior (ATA Press, 2009) and founder of The Collaborative (the-collaborative.com), a firm that helps companies and individuals reach their highest level of effectiveness. Click here for the rest of the story

Ideas for growing revenue and removing organizational obstacles to success

Link to iTunes podcast subscription page for Collaborating

Now Available

NEW New Media Services

Being seen and heard in today’s market is a challenge for even the savviest marketer. We offer audio and video production — including voice over, recording, filming and editing. Not sure of what to say or how to say it? We even offer scripting! Find out more by clicking here.

New Training Programs

We’re known for our Sales training, but we can help your Client Service groups, Marketing, management and other teams, and individuals too! Training on Effective Time and Personal Management, Solidifying Client Relationships, Tips and Tools for Working in Teams are just some of what we offer. Contact us for details.

Personal DISC and PIAV profiles with consultation or audio

These profiles offer you information about your preferred behavioral style (DISC) and communication approach, as well as your values (PIAV). Many people find this information helps them in communicating with others, learn the type of role that’s best for them and generally improve business and personal relationships. Learn more here.