With The Rumin8 Group's Custom Learning & Development Program
Case Study:
Learning & Development Program
Professional
Services
SEO Brothers is a leading global company in white-label SEO services based in Canada. Brothers Devon and Adam Bate embarked on their entrepreneurial journey in 2018, growing the company to include specialists across the globe and increasing their staff count from 8-10 employees to 60+ in 7 countries.
The Rumin8 Group helped SEO Brothers navigate significant management challenges amid their rapid growth with a custom 6-month Learning and Development program. As a result of the program, SEO Brothers was able to implement strong people management training, establish an effective and scalable performance management and succession planning strategy, and recoup and exceed lost business over a few short months.
Co-Founder, SEO Brothers
Devon Bate
We had no management process or training, and we needed The Rumin8 Group’s help to structure our company while helping us keep our whole team aligned in the process.
Our main goal was to get our team aligned on the processes we needed to implement for proper team management to support our growth.
This growth, while a testament to their success, brought unprecedented management and organizational challenges. As Devon and Adam focused on continuing to build the organization’s revenue, it became apparent that the status quo management system was not going to cut it.
SEO Brothers decided to seek an outside solution, calling on The Rumin8 Group to support the business through an organizational transformation from the inside out.
The post-COVID-19 era marked a period of a 900% rapid expansion rate for SEO Brothers, scaling from 8-10 employees to 60+ in 7 countries.
CO-FOUNDER, SEO BROTHERS
Devon Bate
A clear framework with actual takeaways and space to revisit each meeting. We didn’t have any guidance on how managers should connect and support their team, and we received all of that insight from The Rumin8 Group.
The biggest takeaway for the majority of our people was more effective 1:1 meetings.
SEO Brothers used tactics such as “title bumping” - promoting team members to more senior titles without updated job descriptions or processes to plug the management hole. As a result, it proved impossible to establish a strong organizational structure that actually worked for the business, its clients and its team members.
The company's management system, primarily composed of technical experts, lacked formal experience and structure in handling the complexities of a rapidly expanding business and team. This deficiency led to inefficiencies and major challenges, including high staff turnover and a lack of people management training, and hindered the company's potential for sustainable growth.
Co-Founder, SEO Brothers
Devon Bate
Our main challenge was helping equip our management team with the tools and training to lead effective teams so we could scale our growth.
We were experiencing too many challenges to count!
SEO Brothers were ready for a strong organizational structure and management framework.
Their search led them to The Rumin8 Group, whose custom solutions and industry-agnostic approach, coupled with a deep understanding of their unique business challenges, made them the right consultants for the job.
Acknowledging the need for an improved management framework to keep up with the growth of the business, Devon and Adam needed a solution beyond a copy-paste cookie-cutter business management toolbox.
The solution was implemented in phases, with a focus on communication strategies, performance management, and succession planning.
In order to meet the team’s needs, The Rumin8 Group worked on a World Clock, connecting with leaders and teams in varying time zones.
Co-Founder, SEO Brothers
Devon Bate
The idea of starting 1:1 meetings for each module to gain insight into our team and then coming together as a group after was very effective in engaging our team.
We loved The Rumin8 Group’s process.
The Rumin8 Group's engagement with SEO Brothers began with thorough discovery sessions to identify individual and group needs.
The Rumin8 Group structured its process into four time-bound modules customized to the unique needs of SEO Brothers and their remote team. These modules were characterized by distinct projects, outcomes and key metrics.
This allowed The Rumin8 Group to gain a deep understanding of the specific challenges and nuances related to the focus of each upcoming module.
This insightful engagement ensured that the guidance and strategies provided were finely tuned to the unique needs and circumstances of the SEO Brothers team, laying a solid foundation for the effective implementation of the process and overall strategy.
Co-Founder, SEO Brothers
Devon Bate
Their team supported us based on our unique business needs and not just walking us through standardized material.
Our favourite aspect of working with The Rumin8 Group was that everything felt tailored to our needs and current situation.
The Rumin8 Group engaged in a proactive and tailored approach by directly connecting with key members of the SEO Brothers team.
To culminate the month's efforts, a leadership roundtable was organized, bringing together all owners, leaders, and managers for an hour-long focus group.
This session, facilitated by The Rumin8 Group, encouraged group engagement on key topics, provided deeper insights into the leadership dynamics at SEO Brothers, and identified areas passionate about growth and development.
These sessions were aimed at identifying individual leadership styles, communication processes, motivators, and opportunities for leadership development and performance management. The insights gathered from these meetings were then synthesized and shared with the company's owners, providing a comprehensive understanding of the current status and potential areas for growth and development.
In the initial month of the program, The Rumin8 Group conducted one-on-one meetings and focus groups with every owner, leader, and manager at SEO Brothers to link what the Owners are saying to what the employees are saying to find common ground. The importance of this process is knowing that when you always lead with just the owner's perspective, it can be dangerous because it could be wrong.
Month 1:
1
2
Alongside these modules, individual coaching sessions were conducted with each participant, designed to help integrate the learnings from the modules into their respective teams, ensuring practical application of the strategies and techniques taught.
This module was aimed at fostering growth through enhanced performance management. Leaders were shown how to drive top-level performance across industries by fostering stronger accountability and linking team members' actions to measurable outcomes.
There was a breakthrough moment when the team realized how important measurement is and what KPIs matter. Most of the leaders didn't know what their core success metrics were. When The Rumin8 Group connected the theory of measurement and how it could apply to SEO Brothers, you could see a shift in visibility and influence through a better scoreboard.
This module involved teaching leaders various strategies to effectively lead through communication and connection, covering the how, why, and when of impactful communication. This module showed how SEO Brothers could get a high level of engagement and involvement with senior leaders. They were 100% engaged and impacted by the materials and saw an immediate application to their roles and divisions.
Months 2 & 3:
3
Alongside these modules, The Rumin8 Group continued to provide individualized coaching sessions, ensuring that the participants could effectively apply the new strategies and models within their teams.
Module 4 presented a comprehensive process for coaching and influencing personal growth among team members.
This module included a unique five-stage model designed to revolutionize the way leaders connect with their team members on a one-on-one basis, fostering a coaching environment that yields world-class results.
This module focused on succession planning, and educated leaders on strategies to effectively train their replacements, aiming to create clear pathways for each team member’s succession and future growth.
This module emphasized linking individual roles to the broader organizational structure, thereby enhancing leadership development and preparing for future leadership roles.
Months 4 & 5:
4
As part of the project wrap-up, The Rumin8 Group provided a comprehensive report offering insights and recommendations for investment in leadership development.
This report included specific areas where each leader could improve both personally and within their teams, along with guidance on strategies for long-term leadership growth and effective scaling of the company.
This final stage was instrumental in solidifying the gains from the program and setting a course for sustained leadership excellence at SEO Brothers.
In the final phase of the program, The Rumin8 Group focused on executive coaching and the project wrap-up.
This stage involved close collaboration with the owners of SEO Brothers to identify and establish long-term leadership development programs tailored for each individual.
Throughout the last month, each owner was engaged in two sessions dedicated to growth mapping and strategies for long-term success.
Month 6:
The company quickly rebounded from the post-COVID downturn, surpassing its previous revenue levels significantly
The company quickly rebounded from the post-COVID downturn, surpassing its previous revenue levels significantly
Team morale improved, leading to increased productivity and better customer outcomes
A structured succession planning was introduced, which led to lower employee churn rates, saving substantial costs related to staff turnover
A clear performance management system was established
Internal communication became more effective
Co-Founder, SEO Brothers
Devon Bate
This avoids that feeling of starting from scratch every time someone starts a new position. Also, when you go on vacation, try having a direct report filled in for you instead of a colleague or manager; it gives them valuable exposure.
We have much more effective communication across the company, and things go from idea to execution with a lot more clarity now.
The biggest ah-ha moment was obtaining a better understanding of succession planning; we can help support people to grow and prepare for a new role before one may even be available to them.
This case study illustrates the transformative impact of targeted management and operational strategies on a rapidly growing company.
SEO Brothers' partnership with The Rumin8 Group not only resolved immediate management challenges but also set the foundation for sustainable growth and market leadership.
Co-Founder, SEO Brothers
Devon Bate
The biggest transformation was in performance management and the implementation of new processes and techniques to help people stay on track and improve over time and adding clarity to our compensation process.
Co-Founder, SEO Brothers
Devon Bate
The communication was clear and concise every step of the way.
We were able to involve a large group from our fully remote team, which helped ensure everyone was on the same page and we were aligned on new goals and expectations throughout the project and afterwards.
Would highly recommend The Rumin8 Group to anyone looking to level up their business and ensure proper leadership and management structures are in place!
We had a great experience working with The Rumin8 Group over a 6-month span.
Fill out the form to get in touch. You can expect a response within 24-48 business hours. Would you like to connect with us directly? Click here to email The Rumin8 Group.