Ben M. Bartlett is a master strategist, strategic advisor and coach who helps business owners, teams and individuals to to improve the performance of their most valuable investment asset.  Which is? Human Capital.

Human capital defined? Ben’s definition is:

Human capital is an intangible asset that comprises traits, values, skill set and track record.

As an investment asset, human capital has intrinsic value, as well as the ability to generate future financial and qualitative value.  Human capital is the world’s most valuable investment asset.

In Ben’s view, human capital has the potential to outperform all other asset classes.  As such then, the development and execution of a good human capital strategy must be a priority.

Based in his home country of New Zealand, Ben shares his expertise globally.  And he does so with a portfolio of consulting, coaching and education services dedicated to these human capital and strategy domains:

  • Business human capital and development
  • Team human capital and development
  • Personal human capital and development

Here are three keys to Ben’s work. .

1.Master Strategist

In terms of role, Ben is first and foremost a master strategist.

The Collins dictionary defines a strategist as “Someone who is skilled in planning the best way to gain an advantage or to achieve success.”  And, in the Merriam-Webster dictionary we read that a strategist is, “a person skilled in strategy: a person who is skilled in making plans for achieving a goal: someone who is good at forming strategies.”

As a master strategist, Ben’s role includes:

  • Analyzing situations and problems using both traditional and proprietary strategy models such as SmartSWOT and performance scorecards. Applying probability and risk/reward analysis to evaluate strategies. Identifying strategies with the best risk/reward profiles.
  • Designing strategy models such as business models, visual strategic plans and strategy systems.
  • Researching and developing intangible assets including productised IP, strategic brands and integrated marketing systems.
  • Advising business owners and boards on best-practice investment strategies to improve ROI on intangible assets/intellectual property and human capital assets.
  • Coaching business leaders and teams to improve human capital performance
  • Teaching the art and science of human capital strategic management
  • Researching and writing investment reports, position papers, business cases, brand stories and traditional strategic plans.

In his role as a master strategist Ben combines significant commercial experience with a strong theoretical background that includes a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA), specialising in strategic thinking.

Central to Ben’s approach to strategy is his Planning With Pictures system and his use of strategy models.

Strategy models are the tools needed to perform strategic management and include strategy templates, process models, business models and complete strategy systems.

In terms of importance, strategy models are to a strategist, what a hammer and nail is to a builder.  That is, they are essential.

Ben attended his first strategic planning course in 1994, where he learnt strategy modelling techniques used by organisations such as NASA. And, since that time he has been dedicated to strategy model research, design and development.

2.  The Human Capital System

The Human Capital System is Ben’s proprietary system of models, tools and skills needed for human capital development and optimisation.

As you can see, the three core cogs in the system are:

  • Human Capital
  • The Leadership Skill Set
  • Strategy Principles, Rules and Models

These are then applied to the core domains of human capital and strategy.

3. Blended Coaching

When it comes to developing skills and improving performance, there is one approach that stands out as being the fastest and most effective.  It’s called Blended Coaching.

Blended Coaching is used extensively in military training and elite-level sport, and it forms the basis of apprenticeship training programs that are used in trades such as building and plumbing.

Ben’s work applies the blended coaching model.

Three Decades in the Trenches

For three decades Ben has been in the trenches helping business leaders and teams to optimise human capital and to excel at strategy. He has worked with senior executives at large organisations such as Marley, Red Cross, AIG and Honda…managing directors, boards and team members of multi-million dollar a year privately owned companies, government department leaders, and the owners of small businesses.

Ben’s work has been recognised and featured at industry conferences in both New Zealand and Australia, and has been the subject of legal action taken against others who have stolen his – and his clients’ – intellectual property.  He has helped firms in a range of sectors including investment advisory, accounting, fast moving consumer goods, building and construction, food manufacturing, insurance and wellness.

And it’s all a far way from where he began.

Ben grew up poor, the son of a solo mother and a largely absent father who had a love for alcohol, drugs and wild parties. And so, his early life was affected greatly by a dysfunctional environment.

Academically Ben was an average student and actually dropped out of high school, before returning again.

Ben’s improvement process began in earnest when he returned to high school and was introduced to the teachings of the late Paul J. Meyer.  Not well-known to those born after the 1980s, Paul J. Meyer is the world’s largest-selling personal development author (US $3 billion dollars in sales), and a world authority on goal setting, planning and performance.

Ben listened to Paul J. Meyer’s cassette tapes and studied his courses, and this sparked his interest in the science of strategy and performance.  Furthermore,  this was the genesis of the change in his life’s trajectory.

Ben has been married for more than 33 years, and has three sons and a daughter in law. His family has an international mix of ethnicities including Maori, English, Filipino, Indonesian and Spanish.

As a church and community leader Ben has headed small and large teams spanning a diverse range of ethnic, socio-economic, family, religious and occupational backgrounds. And he has served more than 30 years as a youth sports/fitness coach (rugby, cricket, touch rugby), outdoor education instructor and life skills mentor.

Ben is a health and fitness advocate and masters athlete. Leaner and fitter than most men half his age, Ben’s wellness strategy includes adhering to a plant-based diet and intermittent fasting. He also runs 5-6 times a week, has previously run marathons and shorter distance events, works out with weights, and plays the sport of touch rugby to national and international level.