The Blanchard® Authorized Partner Experience: Q&A with Lee Sheldon

What does it look like to grow your leadership development business as a Blanchard Authorized Partner? We asked Lee Sheldon, co-founder of Mastering Multi-Units (MMU) based in the UK, to share his firsthand experience. Keep reading to learn about the client wins, operational advantages, and professional growth made possible through this powerful partnership.

What initially drew you to being a Blanchard partner? 

The credibility of Blanchard programmes (particularly Blanchard Management Essentials® and SLII®, both of which I’d known and used for years) was a huge draw. The alignment with The One Minute Manager added familiarity and impact, and the opportunity to access the full suite of Blanchard tools and resources elevated what my business could offer far beyond what we could have developed independently.

In what ways has partnering with Blanchard exceeded your expectations?

The personal support—especially from Claire Bodle and the team—has been outstanding and a true highlight of the partnership. They’re always available and quick to respond. The quality of the materials is consistently high, and the regular updates, community events, and learning opportunities make it easy to stay current. 

A great example is the recent SLII® relaunch, which was handled exceptionally well. I genuinely can’t fault the support or the thoughtful approach Blanchard brings to updating and enhancing their content.

Can you share a client success story made possible through Blanchard content?

At Noble Foods, a leading UK poultry and egg producer, we used Blanchard Management Essentials as the foundation for their Managers’ Pathway programme. Every newly promoted manager completes this core module to embed essential skills and key conversations, which we then reference in follow-up programmes. 

By 2025, we’re introducing SLII, which will build on this foundation. Over 150 managers have completed Blanchard Management Essentials in the past two years, and the feedback has been consistently positive. We also extended access to aspiring managers, ensuring they’re not thrown into the deep end of leadership without prior development.

What specific tools, trainings, or resources from Blanchard have been most impactful for your business?

SLII—alongside Self Leadership—has been the most impactful. The clarity and practicality of the SLII framework makes it ideal for busy operational leaders who need tools that are actionable, not overly theoretical. The recent updates to the SLII app have also been well received, especially the video demonstrations of matching conversations. 

We’d love to see even more international versions of these videos to broaden accessibility, though most of our clients are perfectly happy with the current materials.

Can you speak to the value of having a dedicated community and support team?

Absolutely. Claire Bodle and the UK team have been brilliant. When the new E-Store launched, I had several questions around bundled purchases and programme access (particularly when buying multiple programmes for individuals via the bundle deal) and the team resolved these quickly. 

Even when I’ve made mistakes, such as ordering the wrong credits, the team has corrected things with no fuss. Having UK-based support has made a huge difference, and every interaction I’ve had with Claire has been both insightful and supportive.

How does Blanchard’s content complement or enhance the services you already provide?

Our business focuses on developing multi-unit managers, or as we call them, the leaders of managers, who oversee 8 to 15 geographically dispersed sites. Tools like SLII are invaluable here. They help leaders avoid the common mistake of assuming someone’s performance in one role automatically translates to another. For example, a previously high-performing manager moving into a more complex site might struggle, not because they’re no longer capable, but because they’re at a different development level for that specific challenge. SLII helps diagnose that and adapt the leadership style accordingly.

Blanchard’s programmes allow us to offer world-class development content without having to build everything ourselves. This not only saves time but raises the quality of our offering. One request I continue to make is for a Blanchard programme focused on time management and personal productivity; a critical area that would strongly complement the current suite.

How has leveraging Blanchard methodologies influenced your own approach to leadership development?

SLII has fundamentally changed how I coach multi-unit managers. I now spend more time exploring a person’s competence and commitment before jumping to conclusions about their development level. I also feel validated in recognising the value of directive behaviour—particularly when someone is at D1 or D2. 

While coaching and empowerment are essential, sometimes clear direction is exactly what’s needed, and SLII gives leaders the permission and framework to do that well.

How does Blanchard’s program compare to others you’ve used or explored?

I’ve also worked with [another partner organization] and respect their content and thought leadership, but in terms of partner support, they’re not in the same league. They don’t have a channel partner structure like Blanchard’s, and their pricing and logistics can be challenging. I also continue to hope that Blanchard will develop a time management/productivity programme; an area [the other partner organization] addresses [with one of their courses] although that content now feels a little dated.

What truly sets Blanchard apart is the level of support—through webinars, communities, and personal guidance from people like Claire. It makes working with them not only more effective but also far more enjoyable.

How has partnering with a global leadership training organization helped you expand or gain credibility in your local market?

Blanchard enables us to offer premium content—like SLII, Blanchard Management Essentials, Self Leadership, and Building Trust—that carry credibility and quality we simply couldn’t replicate ourselves. While not every client recognises the Blanchard name immediately, mention The One Minute Manager or SLII and they nearly always respond positively. 

Using the official materials and videos, alongside assessments like LBAII, elevates our programmes above those that simply mimic the Blanchard approach without the same rigour or tools.

What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a Blanchard partner?

Start by identifying where Blanchard’s programmes will add the most value to your current offerings. For us, that was SLII and Blanchard Management Essentials. Once established, we expanded into Self Leadership and Building Trust. I’d recommend beginning with one or two programmes you feel confident promoting and delivering, rather than trying to offer the entire catalogue immediately.

Also, consider how to embed Blanchard’s content into your existing learning journeys. We’ve done this with our Leader of Managers programme, which now includes a one-day SLII module. Not only does this boost the programme’s impact, it also enhances its reputation thanks to the strength and credibility of the Blanchard brand.

Lee Sheldon is co-founder and director of Mastering Multi-Units (MMU), a Blanchard authorized partner delivering practical training and coaching to help companies develop outstanding managers. Learn more about Lee Sheldon and MMU’s work with Blanchard here.