Overview
A small PR agency (~25 employees) was growing quickly but wanted to retain a tight-knit team culture. They needed help developing a structured career path that would:
- Develop and retain current employees,
- Attract new hires by offering a clear path for growth, and
- Keep the team small while allowing them to scale for opportunity/client growth.
Challenge
The agency’s growth had outpaced their current structure, resulting in confusion and a lack of direction among employees.
Additionally, the agency had several upcoming promotions, but leadership wanted to ensure that job titles, competencies, and career progression were clearly outlined before moving forward. In the past, titles had been assigned without a full vetting (competencies, job descriptions, etc.) to support the title/level, leaving employees uncertain about expectations & next steps.
They needed a growth framework that could be easily communicated, replicated, and supportive to all team members.
VIVO Solution
The company wanted a clear, easily understood framework that would align personal and business growth to individual career paths, helping both managers and employees better understand the direction of the company and the requirements for advancement.
To meet this goal, we developed:
- A matrix outlining core growth areas,
- A performance review structure that could be universally implemented, and
- A development goal tracker to keep managers and reports on the same page.
Result
By aligning business growth with individual career development, the agency was able to attract new hires, retain their current talent, and create opportunities for those employees.
The updated structure provided clarity and direction for the entire organization while minimizing bureaucracy. Ownership reported an increase in both engagement and performance across all departments, and they were able to stay true to their vision of maintaining small yet high-impact teams.
