Operational Reality Check

A paid diagnostic to establish a clear, shared view of what is actually happening inside your operation.

What This Is

The Operational Reality Check is a short, paid diagnostic designed to help establish a clear, shared view of what is actually happening inside an operation.

It exists to answer a simple question:

Is execution genuinely broken — or does it just feel that way?

This is a way to look at reality together before deciding whether anything needs to change.

What Happens

The Reality Check consists of:

  • •One focused working session with Shank Strategy Ops
  • •A narrow examination of a single execution pattern, not the entire business

During the session, we look at:

  • —How decisions actually move through the organization
  • —Where work slows down, escalates, or depends on specific people
  • —Which signals matter and which ones create noise

There is no preparation required. There are no decks, audits, or solution proposals.

After the session, we provide a short written synthesis that clearly states:

  • •Whether the execution pattern is present
  • •What constraint or decision is driving the issue
  • •What is likely to happen if nothing changes

What You Walk Away With

Every Reality Check ends with one of three outcomes:

  • 1.Confirmation that a real execution issue exists
  • 2.Clarity that the problem has been misidentified
  • 3.Confidence that outside intervention is not necessary

All three outcomes are considered productive.

What This Is Not

The Operational Reality Check is not:

  • —A transformation plan
  • —A proposal for additional services
  • —A commitment to future work

If further action makes sense, that conversation happens only after reality is clear.

Who This Is For

The Operational Reality Check is useful when:

  • •Execution feels harder than it should
  • •Decisions stall or repeatedly resurface
  • •Teams are busy but progress doesn't stick
  • •Effort and outcomes feel misaligned

It is not intended for curiosity, validation, or abstract discussion.

Ready to Assess Reality?

If any of the above resonates, let's talk about whether an Operational Reality Check makes sense for your situation.