COACHING

Clients can benefit greatly from one-to-one coaching, developing their individual narrative and the skill to articulate it well in specific situations – pitching, networking, speeches or interviews.

CASE STUDY – RICHARD’S STORY

A young executive, temporarily unemployed, joined a public speaking group run by Andrew in Manchester. Richard was keen to develop his speaking skills but his challenge was a speech impediment which often affected his performance in interviews or other stressful situations.

In his first workshop, Richard presented a 5-minute talk and mentioned his fund-raising work in aid of a national charity. He had cycled from Manchester to Paris (dressed as a butler) and secured support from coffee chain Costa Coffee on the way.

Andrew encouraged him to use stories like this in interviews and as a result Richard secured employment. Some weeks later he spoke at another event organised by Andrew – with virtually no evidence of his stutter.

CASE STUDY – GEOFF’S STORY

Andrew had a request from a professional services firm to help one of their young executives (let’s call him Geoff) with his presentation skills. At their first meeting Andrew realised the young man actually had a different problem – Geoff didn’t think he was interesting and therefore struggled with small talk during dinners and networking events.

With a bit of coaxing Geoff revealed he’d been looking after his 2-year old niece but couldn’t see how that might interest anyone. But a nugget emerged when he talked about being a fast eater, in contrast to the toddler. Apparently, at mealtimes she stopped eating when he finished his food and the only way he could get her to have a decent meal was to slow down the pace of his own eating. “Do you mean you’ve been taught a lesson in how to eat properly by a two-year old?” asked Andrew.

Geoff liked that story, began to use it in small talk situations and won people over. Quite unexpectedly, his story also touched a very shy woman in his office who subsequently opened up and became Geoff’s new girlfriend!