#TheTPMAway

TPMA’s Cultural Statement “The TPMA Way”

At TPMA, our strength lies in the collective expertise of our team, not just in the experience of one individual. From our founder and president, Tom Miller, to our youngest consultants, each member of our team brings unique skills and perspectives that contribute to what we call the TPMA Way.

We’re a 35-year-old firm with the heart of a start-up, which means we approach every engagement with curiosity and enthusiasm. We strive to balance what works—the best practices we’ve gathered from our clients across the country—with the unique elements of each community we support. We don’t shy away from a mess or a challenge, and we know how to get the right people into the right rooms to answer the right questions.

Behaviors That Guide Our Interactions

Values and Integrity

  • We aim to build mutual trust and respect in all our interactions.
  • We recognize that mutual trust and respect are the foundation of strong relationships and effective collaboration.
  • We’re comfortable being our authentic selves with our colleagues and our clients.
  • We’re honest with our colleagues and clients, no matter how hard that truth may be.

Expertise and Specialization

  • We’re not just consultants; we’re practitioners, analysts, writers, facilitators, strategists, thought leaders, and subject matter experts.
  • We’re committed to the pursuit of knowledge and to sharing that expertise with our colleagues and clients.
  • We have the ability to analyze complex information and data and can translate it into clear and accessible information.
  • We love a good ‘rabbit hole’ and immersing ourselves in new subjects.

Client Relationship Management

  • We love meeting new people (and gosh darn it, people love meeting us, too).
  • We know our clients are busy, and we know how to add capacity to their teams.
  • We listen for challenges and opportunities, even in casual conversations.
  • Flexibility is our forte; we aren’t afraid to pivot or change course to meet our clients’ needs.

Business Development

  • We’re not afraid to make a sale because we understand that we bring real value to our clients.
  • We have a competitive spirit, and we know that when TPMA wins our clients win, too.
  • We’re persistent without being pushy.
  • We believe this is a relationship-based business, and we enjoy fostering strong personal and professional networks.

Leadership and Management

  • Our leadership ethos emphasizes leading with humility, acknowledging that we don’t always have all the answers, but are committed to trying and learning together.
  • We foster a culture of mentorship and continuous improvement
  • We empower our team members to develop their individual leadership skills so they can grow and contribute to the growth and success of our firm.
  • We demonstrate empathy, provide support, and offer guidance to our colleagues and clients.

Problem Solving and Analytical Thinking

  • We’re not intimidated by complicated problems; instead, we see them as opportunities for growth and innovation.
  • We enjoy unraveling complex situations.
  • We provide solutions for our clients that are complete and long-lasting
  • We absorb new information quickly, but don’t rush to judgement.

Industry Knowledge

  • We’re news junkies, always reading and absorbing new information to stay informed of the world around us.
  • Our curiosity extends beyond the familiar, we actively seek to explore new markets and uncover fresh opportunities.
  • Sharing knowledge is not just our job, its our passion.
  • We love talking about our work, even if our loved ones are tired of hearing about it

Project Management

  • We show up, we work hard, and we ask our clients and colleagues to do the same
  • We’re confident that nobody crafts a better to-do list than us.
  • We know how to make the most of our team’s strengths and weaknesses to get things done.
  • We recognize that our work requires us to be mindful of budgets and timelines, and we hold ourselves accountable to our clients and colleagues.

Communication Skills

  • We’re confident communicators because we’re prepared, knowledgeable, and committed to our craft.
  • We send emails that could be mistaken for haikus (clear, concise, and thoughtful)
  • We listen to understand, not respond.
  • We harness the power of non-verbal cues and emotional intelligence to convey empathy, understanding, and credibility in our interactions, even in a virtual environment.

Adaptability

  • We’re willing to embrace new ideas, even if it challenges us.
  • We’re not afraid to make small mistakes, and we’re always willing to admit when something isn’t working.
  • When the situation requires it, we’re willing to scrap the plan and improvise.

Collaboration

  • We believe in the potential of great teams, understanding that diverse perspective, skills, and experiences drive innovation and success.
  • We join our clients as thought partners, sounding boards, implementers, and an extension of their team.
  • We take pride in the project teams we put together – leveraging the right mix of experience, expertise, curiosity, and creativity.

Results-Oriented

  • We’re committed to delivering work that drives meaningful change.
  • We have relentless determination and grit, and we refuse to be deterred by obstacles or setbacks.
  • We deliver reports that are easy to understand, practical, actionable, and error-free.
  • We know our clients won’t have to buy new shelves, because our plans won’t sit on them.