Three engagements
Each engagement is designed for a specific kind of question
Not every owner needs the same kind of consulting. The three engagements here address distinct situations — and knowing which one fits is part of the first conversation.
Back to HomeHow the work is approached
Every engagement at Pennyroyal Counsel begins with a scoping conversation — usually thirty to forty-five minutes — in which the situation is described and the appropriate engagement type is identified. No preparation is required for this conversation; the description alone is enough.
What follows depends on the engagement type. Time-bound engagements (Succession Thinking and Values Articulation) move through a structured series of sessions, each building on what the previous one established. The Thinking Partner arrangement is less structured: we meet, and the leader brings what is on their mind.
Across all three engagement types, the approach prioritises honest observation over comfortable conclusions. The aim is not to tell clients what they want to hear; it is to help them see clearly what is there and decide what to do about it.
Scoping conversation
Understand the situation, identify the right engagement type, agree terms
The engagement
Structured sessions as specified for the engagement type, at the agreed pace
Output and review
Written summary (where applicable) and a closing review conversation
Six-week engagement
Succession Thinking Engagement
For business owners who have begun thinking about what comes next — whether that involves family members, internal leaders, an external buyer, or simply the owner's own evolving role. This engagement provides structured space to explore the considerations honestly, without commitment to any particular path.
We examine financial, relational, operational, and personal dimensions across several conversations, producing a written summary of the thinking that emerges. The engagement typically spans six weeks and remains entirely confidential.
This engagement is well-suited to
- Owners approaching retirement or a significant life transition
- Founders considering whether to bring in external management
- Family business owners beginning succession conversations
- Owners who want to think clearly before committing to any direction
What the engagement produces
Scoping session: context, key relationships, what the owner is hoping to understand
Three to four working sessions examining the financial, relational, operational, and personal dimensions in sequence
A written summary document: what was explored, what emerged, what remains open
Closing review: how the engagement landed and what, if anything, might follow
Engagement details
Typically six weeks
Four to five sessions total
Written summary included
Entirely confidential
In person or remote
Four-week engagement
Values Articulation Work
An engagement for organisations wanting to articulate what they genuinely value in their work — not aspirational statements for marketing, but honest descriptions that can inform actual decisions. We interview people across the organisation, observe working patterns, and identify the values that show up in practice.
The resulting document describes these values with clarity and offers thoughts on how the organisation might hold to them more consistently. Engagements run approximately four weeks.
This engagement is well-suited to
- Organisations that feel their stated values and their actual behaviour have drifted apart
- Founders who want to make explicit what has previously been implicit in how the organisation works
- Leadership teams preparing for a period of growth or change
- Owners who want a reference document for use in hiring and decision-making
What the engagement produces
Scoping session with the owner or senior leader: what the organisation does, how it works, what prompted the engagement
Interviews with individuals across the organisation and observation of working patterns
Draft values document: what was found, described honestly and without aspiration
Review and finalisation of the document, with thoughts on practical application
Engagement details
Approximately four weeks
Interviews across the organisation
Written values document included
All interviews confidential
Primarily in person for interviews
Ongoing arrangement
Thinking Partner Arrangement
A quiet, ongoing arrangement for owners or leaders who value having a consistent, confidential person to think with. We meet monthly for two-hour conversations, either in person or remotely. There is no agenda beyond what the leader brings; topics move as the work of leading requires.
Notes are kept only if the leader requests them. The arrangement is month-to-month after an initial three-month period.
This arrangement is well-suited to
- Leaders who find that most of their conversations are functional, not reflective
- Owners who benefit from speaking with someone outside the business
- Leaders carrying a significant decision or transition over an extended period
- Those who value a relationship that continues to develop rather than starting fresh each time
How the arrangement works
Initial three-month commitment: gives the arrangement time to develop its own rhythm
Monthly two-hour sessions: unstructured, led entirely by what the leader brings
After three months: month-to-month, one month's notice to end
Arrangement details
Monthly two-hour sessions
Initial 3-month term, then month-to-month
Notes only if requested by the leader
Fully confidential
In person or remote
Which engagement is right?
A first conversation will usually clarify this. The following comparison is a starting point.
| Consideration | Succession Thinking | Values Articulation | Thinking Partner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | Defined (succession) | Defined (values) | Open (whatever arises) |
| Duration | Six weeks | Four weeks | Ongoing (monthly) |
| Written output | On request only | ||
| Involves others in organisation | |||
| Fee | $880 total | $460 total | $280/month |
Consistent across all engagements
Confidentiality
Nothing discussed in any engagement is shared outside it. This applies to all parties involved in a Values Articulation engagement, not only the commissioning leader.
Written agreement
Every engagement begins with a short, plain-language written agreement. It describes what will be done, what the fee is, and how confidentiality applies.
No conflicts of interest
Pennyroyal Counsel does not receive referral fees or any remuneration connected to client decisions. The only financial relationship is the engagement fee.
Data handling
Client materials are handled with care. Notes and documents are not stored in third-party cloud services without the client's knowledge and agreement.
Closing review
Time-bound engagements close with a short review conversation. This is not a formality; it is a genuine check on whether the work produced what it was intended to.
Right to withdraw
Either party may end an engagement if circumstances change. The terms for doing so are described in the written agreement and are designed to be fair to both parties.
Clear, fixed fees
Specimen No. 1
Succession Thinking
$880Total fee, paid at engagement start
- Four to five sessions
- Six-week span
- Written summary included
- Closing review session
Specimen No. 2
Values Articulation
$460Total fee, paid at engagement start
- Interviews across the organisation
- Four-week span
- Values document included
- Review and finalisation session
Specimen No. 3
Thinking Partner
$280Per month, billed monthly
- Monthly two-hour session
- Initial 3-month commitment
- Month-to-month thereafter
- One month's notice to end
Not sure which engagement fits?
A first conversation — without obligation — will usually answer that question. You describe the situation; we identify what might be useful. Nothing is committed at that stage.
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