How Ask-4-Growth and the Six Pillars of Business Tackle Your Biggest Pain Points

By Eric Giguère, Transforming business chaos into confident execution | Helping leaders find clarity in complexity | Your strategic harmony architect

Running a mid-sized business is no easy feat. From productivity challenges to accessing capital and retaining top talent, the obstacles are many, and they can keep leaders from achieving sustainable growth. That’s where the Ask-4-Growth Methodology and the Six Pillars of Business framework come into play. These two powerful tools help business leaders cut through the noise, identify root causes, and design actionable solutions that align with long-term goals.

In this article, we’ll explore 50 common pain points that businesses face and show how this methodology helps uncover their root causes. But we’ll dive deeper into Strategic Growth Planning—the key to navigating uncertainty, economic shifts, and complex business environments and then look into how it can support Lead Generation.

50 Common Pain Points Mid-sized Businesses Face

Productivity and Operational Efficiency

1. Low employee productivity

2. Inefficient workflows

3. Inadequate training programs

4. Outdated processes

5. Inconsistent KPIs across departments

6. Employee burnout

7. Poor communication channels

8. Time-wasting bottlenecks

9. Underutilized technologies

10. Lack of automation

Marketing, Sales, and Lead Generation

11. Poor brand visibility

12. Weak lead generation

13. Misalignment between sales and marketing

14. Inaccurate targeting of ideal clients

15. Insufficient budget for campaigns

16. Inability to measure ROI

17. High customer acquisition costs

18. Unclear product differentiation

19. Lack of customer loyalty

20. Difficulty retaining clients

Access to Capital and Financial Management

21. Difficulty accessing financing

22. Cash flow problems

23. Poor budgeting practices

24. Unplanned expenses

25. Low credit availability

26. Inadequate risk management

27. Inefficient financial reporting

28. Delayed payments from clients

29. High operating costs

30. Weak investor relations

Talent Management and Retention

31. Talent shortages

32. High turnover rates

33. Limited career growth opportunities

34. Lack of employee engagement

35. Uncompetitive compensation

36. Poor onboarding experiences

37. Leadership development gaps

38. Inconsistent performance reviews

39. Misaligned team goals

40. Lack of succession planning

Technology and Digital Transformation

41. Gaps in digital skills

42. Slow adoption of new technology

43. Integration issues with tech tools

44. Cybersecurity vulnerabilities

45. Inadequate IT infrastructure

46. Limited data insights

47. Poor online customer experience

48. Outdated CRM systems

49. Lack of mobile solutions

50. Resistance to change

The Ask-4-Growth Methodology: Uncover, Plan, and Act

The Ask-4-Growth approach revolves around five core stages:

1. Diagnosis: Identify the root causes of challenges through market research and performance analysis.

2. Design: Tailor solutions that align with the company’s goals and strengths.

3. Agile Planning: Build dynamic, value-driven strategies that adjust based on real-time feedback.

4. Leadership in Delivery: Ensure smooth execution with accountability at every level.

5. Continuous Communication: Keep stakeholders aligned with regular updates and strategic check-ins.

A Focus on Strategic Growth Planning

Strategic Growth Planning is where the Ask-4-Growth Methodology and the Six Pillars of Business truly deliver value. In today’s complex business environment, mid-sized companies face a range of market gaps—from productivity challenges and talent shortages to limited access to capital and digital transformation barriers. With only 16-17%  of mid-market executives expressing confidence in the economy (middlemarketcenter.org), coupled with a fundamental need for closing the productivity gap, which represents an opportunity equivalent to 5.4% of US GDP (mckinsey.com), businesses need more than reactive solutions. Strategic planning helps address these challenges by providing a proactive, structured approach to navigating uncertainty. 

By leveraging key elements such as team alignment, financial stability, robust marketing & sales strategies, and optimized systems and processes, businesses are better equipped to design adaptable growth strategies that foster resilience, unlock opportunities, and drive sustainable success in a rapidly evolving landscape.

The Six Pillars of Business—Team, Product, Marketing & Sales, Processes, Systems, and Finance—provide a framework that supports strategic planning. Thorough consideration for each pillar ensures that your business is aligned and ready to scale while reducing friction.

Tackling Weak Lead Generation with Ask-4-Growth

When it comes to lead generation, many businesses struggle to attract and convert quality prospects. Using the Ask-4-Growth Methodology:

1. Diagnose: Analyze current sales funnels to identify bottlenecks or underperforming channels, ask questions to customers, employees and advisors, validate their pain points and needs and even revisit your ‘Value Prop’ if required.

2. Design: Develop a program to take your best offer directly to your target audience, addressing your ideal client’s pain points and providing the solution they’re looking for.

3. Plan with Agility: Be prepared to adapt on the fly, run A/B tests on lead-generation campaigns, refining them based on data-driven decisions.

4. Deliver with Leadership: Empower marketing and sales teams with the right tools and training. Understand the full scope of the mission and allow an adequate budget for delivery, then let your team go through the process.

5. Track & Communicate Continuously: Track and monitor progress weekly and adjust strategies in real time, as required. Make sure to communicate with key stakeholders at all times, especially if there are substantial adjustments to your campaigns.

This Process is then repeated to form a continuous improvement cycle that we call ‘The Growth Loop’.

This structured approach ensures that your lead generation engine is fine-tuned and aligned with the overall business strategy and can adapt rapidly to changing circumstances.

Real Results: From Complex to Confident

By embracing the Ask-4-Growth Methodology and focusing on the Six Pillars of Business, companies move from reactive problem-solving to proactive growth strategies. With a clear UVP, solid operational systems, and a culture of continuous improvement, your business can thrive—even in uncertain times.

Are you ready to bring harmony to your business initiatives? Let’s transform your pain points into opportunities for sustainable growth.

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