Building Success Through Relationships
Hello, everyone! I’m Clay Hicks, and I’m thrilled to introduce you to Tom Vander Well, a remarkable leader who understands that the foundation of success lies in nurturing relationships rather than solely focusing on outcomes. Tom is a newly appointed Alpha Team Lead from Iowa (for a brand new H7 Iowa Group he’s forming), and his journey and insights are both inspiring and enlightening.
Tom’s career in market research and quality assessment spans back to the early ’90s. If you’ve ever heard, “your call may be monitored for quality and training purposes,” then you’ve encountered his work. From focus groups to customer research, and certified Enneagram business coaching, Tom has indeed covered a wide range. His connection to H7 was serendipitous, stemming from a recommendation by someone who worked for his daughter, and he found it to be a perfect match.
But what truly highlights Tom’s expertise is his work with a manufacturing company that specializes in electronic harnesses for vehicles. This company was apprehensive about Amazon entering their domain. They approached Tom for strategic positioning surveys, which revealed that the feared competition was not a threat. However, they uncovered significant dissatisfaction with their customer service, which sparked the transformative journey of improving their communication methods. This solution not only increased their client satisfaction but cultivated deeper relationships with their customers.
When asked about his decision to lead as an H7 Alpha Team in Iowa, Tom reflected on his desire for meaningful connections—a yearning that wasn’t satisfied by other networking groups he had tried. His experience with H7 was profoundly different. In just one guest visit, he scheduled five (5) one-on-ones. This kind of immediate connection was unprecedented and proved the power of genuine relationship building. With Iowa’s thriving economy, he saw the enormous potential for meaningful collaborations that led him to swiftly embrace this opportunity.
For anyone watching or listening, Tom offers words of encouragement. In the tightly-knit communities of the Midwest, forming connections is vital. Even if you’re not based in Iowa but do business there, joining the local initiatives could be incredibly beneficial. Tom emphasizes the importance of proactive networking to support and grow alongside one another.
If you want to connect with Tom, you can find him on LinkedIn or through his company, Intelligence. Visit his website at www.intelligentics.com, or contact him via email at Tom@intelligentics.com. He is eager to engage and collaborate through H7’s Town Square as well.
I’m grateful to Tom for reminding us that relationships are the heartbeat of any successful endeavor. Here’s to a promising future with his new group, and to making the coming year the best one yet. Thank you, Tom, for your inspiring presence!
It’s been a pleasure, Clay, thank you for the opportunity to share.
