When a 6Bridges consultant reviews any organization, be it a school, a sole trader or a large company, we assess three essential elements. Knowledge, People and Structures. We examine these three elements for positive connections - bridges. If there are only three elements, why are there six bridges? Well – it’s simple. Each element has an internal bridge, and an external bridge and at times there will be some overlap.

Under the knowledge element, we have acquired knowledge and the knowledge we need to transfer to our clients. Generally, we acquire far more knowledge than it would be sensible to transfer, so we need to be selective about what we present to our audience. Surely a car retailer would never try to educate the public on every advantage of each model. We simply transfer sufficient information to achieve our goal – building a positive connection.

Under the people element, we have those within the organization who help deliver the products or services – the staff. We also have those who influence what is delivered from outside the organisation. In business, this might be your suppliers, unions or industry organizations. In teaching, this might include parents, employers or universities.

Under the structural element, we have the systems within a business that help provide independence from human error. Staff can come and go, but the organization will survive change with good systems in place. The final bridge relates to compliance with legal, ethical and social expectations – the external factors over which businesses have little control. Sometimes, it is a social norm that constraints our industry. Industries with a public perception of stretching the truth - real estate & used cars come to mind - sometimes make it difficult for honest business people to operate without scepticism.