If you’ve ever worked on a really high performing team, it’s just awesome. Everything seems easy. It’s easier to come to work. Challenges seem easier. You’re in a better mood when you go home.” –Caleb Mancuso

Caleb Mancuso is a Founding Partner at Ayres Advisory Partners, a strategic business consultancy that specializes in helping mid-size and privately-held companies build organizational success.  Caleb’s diverse professional experience spans roles in military intelligence, plant management, logistics, and operations leadership. As a former U.S. Army officer with over five years of service, Caleb held various leadership roles, including Intelligence Program Officer and Program Director.  Caleb’s mission is to assist business owners in achieving new levels of success by identifying employee talents, setting clear goals, fine tuning business strategy, and fostering team engagement. His unique blend of military discipline and business acumen makes him a valuable asset in guiding high-caliber teams and driving organizational success. Caleb is currently writing a book about building high-performing teams.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Caleb leveraged his experience from the Army to create his company Ayres Advisory Partners, which specializes in building high-performing teams.

• HIs experience serving as a Fire Detection Officer in the United Arab Emirates when ISIS took over a large portion of Iraq and Syria.

• The importance of role fit, as illustrated by the story of an E7 NCO who flourished in a new position during deployment.

• How he uses the Judgment Index™ tool to assess decision-making abilities and improve team performance and how it can be used by private equity and VC firms to screen potential investments and avoid “red flags” with founders.

• How to reduce employee turnover as exemplified by a health insurance company’s success story.

• The value of partnerships and networking in business growth, particularly through programs like 10X Vets.

• Insights into writing a book, including setting a consistent writing schedule and knowing when to stop.

• Caleb’s approach to goal-setting and his shot- and long-term visions for Ayres Advisory Partners.

• The challenges and opportunities of working with mid-sized, privately held companies

In this episode, we sit down with Caleb Mancuso, Founding Partner at Ayres Advisory Partners, a strategic business consultancy that specializes in helping mid-size and privately-held companies build organizational success. A former Army officer and West Point graduate, Caleb shares how an experience while serving in the United Arab Emirates when ISIS took over a large portion of Iraq and Syria taught him about the importance of role fit for team success. We delve into Caleb’s use of the Judgment Index™ tool to assess decision-making abilities and improve team performance, exploring real-world examples of how this approach has dramatically reduced employee turnover. Caleb also offers valuable insights on the challenges and opportunities of working with mid-sized companies and how VC and private equity firms can use these methods to screen potential investments. As he works on his upcoming book about building high-performing teams, Caleb shares tips on consistent writing and goal-setting. This episode is a must-listen for business owners, managers, and anyone interested in organizational success and team building.

Connect with Caleb

• LinkedIn

• caleb@ayresap.com

• Ayres Advisory Partners

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Special thanks to Caleb for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01