Archive for the ‘Executive Business Coaching’ Category

Whether you are an Executive in Business, Senior Manager, Front Line Manager, Small Business Owner, you will have staff working for you and sometimes are at a loss to know why someone is not performing as you expect them to or know that they can.

These questions will help you to understand your staff better and find out what actually motivates them performance wise, once you know this you can then help them to achieve the goals they want out of working for you. The added benefit is you will really understand and know what makes an individual tick, plus you will know what also motivates them, which is good for both parties.

Start General and get more specific to get them talking openly about their performance.

• What is it you’re trying to achieve?
• What is your goal?
• What is the ultimate intention of achieving that goal?
• How long have you had this goal?
• How important is this goal to you?
• What have you tried previously?
• What was the result of this?
• Tell me about a time when you achieved something that you thought you couldn’t.
• What did you do that made you successful in this?

1. Home in on particular incidents.

Target potential areas for improvement.

• Tell me more about…….
• Give me an example of that.
• What happened when……?
• What was the outcome?
• Tell me about times when you have been successful in this area, what was happening?
• What do you see as being the implications of…..?

1. Identify what is stopping the coachee from performing better.

Get them to talk about barriers and hence possible solutions.

• What stops you from…..?
• What would need to happen for you to be able to……?
• When you tried that in the past, what was missing?
• What else would you need in order to succeed?
• Pose the Suppose – If x was not an issue, would there be anything else stopping you?

1. Work out and agree what the appropriate intervention will be based on the diagnosis result.

Gain commitment to coaching if this is the appropriate intervention. Get the coachee to carry out an action before the first coaching session to test this commitment.

• I am prepared to make this commitment to you, are you prepared to make that same commitment to achieving your goal through coaching?
• I will get you to agree some action plans, are you happy to carry these out?

So all Executives, Managers, Business Owners, if you use the above process and questions you will have staff that want to work for you and also buy into your own goals and objectives at the same time. It is a win win situation for both parties.

What does it take to enjoy your life?

What does it mean to you?

How important is it to you to achieve success?

Unless you know what you want in life, and  how do you intend to achieve success – then you can underachieve your desires which can have a knock on effect.

Which can lead to you feeling at a loss, not knowing what to do or where to go in the future?

Well believe in yourself and what you can actually achieve, then you need to plan your goals and objectives for the future. Set yourself time scales to be able to measure your own success and achievements. Only by taking time out to reflect what you have already achieved and what you still need to achieve to enable you to move forward towards your goals and objectives.

There is no rocket science involved, just using your existing knowledge, skills and attitude can make the difference between success and missed opportunities!

So seek support and help to maximise your full potential via a coach, who will help you to identify  the key issues you need to address.

Firstly you need to know who you are and what you stand for? Also you need to want to make changes to enable you to succeed success!

And this means in all aspects of your life, including your career & your personal relationships, because you may be happy in one area but not all three?

So the key thing is to accept you need to have a balance in your life between your career and your relationships, because if you get the balance wrong then you are likely to head towards problems, which include emotions, your family, your career and finally what it will cost you in financial and personal terms.

So seek support on a regular basis with a coach to avoid the pitfalls that can impact on your life?

Don’t forget they creep up on you without your full knowledge that they are happening to you before it is to late!

There is nothing more important in life than your family & friends, compared to having money and career success, otherwise you will become the richest person in the cemetery!

So believe in the future and that you can make the changes that make a difference to enhance of your life and ambitions for the future.

Only conditioning during our lives makes us think or believe that you can’t do something! When in fact this is not true and you can achieve what ever you want if you really want to!

So always remember you only have one life, so why would you want to waste it? Make the most of your life and yes this will mean at times you need to take chances? Hay this is part of life, and what we need to accept and decide what we want and how we are going to achieve what I want in life.

You can have it all, happiness, success and fulfilment, provided you are adaptable and prepared to adjust to enable you to achieve your desired goals.

And trust me you can, I have worked with lots of people, including clients who have changed they way they do things for the better and achieved the desired results they wanted in like!

 

I cam across this link which I thought you would enjoy and help to build your repertoire of powerful questions to use when you are coaching!

Solution Box has been very kind in allowing this material to be provided to others for free provided the originator is not looking to make money from it!

So I hope you will value these questions as much as I do, and let others know about this article as they are essential for anyone wanting to improve their management skills etc. or to improve your own personal life by asking yourself these questions to help you to achieve your own success.

50powerquestions

 

Firstly I would like to talk briefly about coaching and the attitude a lot of people have formulated towards the term.

C0aching is not something new, it has been around for a long time and mainly associated with sports, so why do people think it is normal to have and pay for a sports coach? Because they want to achieve success, they want to be the best at what they do. And it has long been established that behind every successful sports person, there is a very successful coach!

Check by talking to someone who has used a professional coach for life, business, relationship, career or performance coaching needs. They will confirm that it is not myth, it works it enables and empowers them as an individual to work out for themselves, what needs to happen next.

Coaching puts structure into what you want to achieve, it also enables you to remove obstacles or barriers that have been getting in your way. You will discover things about yourself that you did not know, coaches do not have all the answers, but they able to coach you to find the answers for yourself.

A good coach will be able to understand you as a person, how you process things and how to show you ways to maximise the processes that you use to your advantage when dealing with others. They will know your VAK’s (modalities), Metaprogams (filters), and will look at a basic ladder of happiness / Wheel of Life – Employment, Money, Personal Development, Relationships, Health, Social Life and Freedom.

Coaching in simple terms allows you to know yourself and enable you to control what you want out of life. Knowing what you want and being able to achieve your desire and dreams, is so powerful and motivational, you want know yourself.

So why is it that generally we shun coaching in other areas of our lives?

Why do many people avoid success in there daily lives and struggle on hoping things will improve for the better? And again why do people plod on every day in work, watching the clock waiting for home time to come around, what impact is that having on you and your health.

Why is it? we are prepared to pay lots of money on commodities and consumer goods and expect quality. We will also beg still or borrow to make sure our children achieve or able to have the best start in life. Yet when it comes down to the individual, we don’t have the same desire or passion to do it for ourselves.

You carry on doing the same things day in day out and week in week out!

The main reason why people don’t consider coaching as a viable source is that firstly they are not sure what or how it can actually help them and secondly in their eyes it costs quite a lot.

Well I hope I have answered the first point or at least enough for you to give me a call and check it out for yourself.

The second point, what price do you put on happiness and fulfilment?

Would you buy a house or do anything legal without a solicitor, you might if you could avoid paying fees and also to save money. What happens thought, if something goes wrong, how much extra is it going to cost you.

Another couple of examples, of where people have wanted to avoid paying the fees for professional services .i.e. Accountants, where would you be if you avoided an accountant and then had to deal with the inland revenue because your accounts are incorrect or wrong?

Professional Financial Advise, Again without professional financial advice, would you have enough life cover for you and your family, or maybe not enough monies to live on when you retire or not enough to retire when you wanted to.

What you are paying for is the expertise the training that they all have had to undergo to provide you with knowledge, skills and knowhow as well as the best information possible available.

But without professional help and support in life, we would experience all kinds of potential problems costing far more that the original fees.

Take control of your life, seek the changes you want, because they won’t automatically come to you, you have to be proactive and go and get them yourself.

Pretty basic language I know, but it is true you get what you are prepared to focus on in life as well what you are prepared to pay. So let tomorrow be the first day of the rest of your new life, you can make changes, you can achieve what you want.

Turn those dreams and desires into reality, take the first step get yourself a coach, if you have been following my blogs for a while, you will know how passionate I am about coaching and what it do for you.

 

Question 1) who would I like to be stuck in a lift with and why?

By choice it would be someone like the singer Duffy, but to keep it clean and meaningful I will choose the singer known to everyone as Little Stevie Wonder.

The reason I choose a singer is because I have a passion for music which stems right back to my youth (and that is a long time ago). I grew up in the sixties which produced some of the very best sounds.

I can remember thinking how can someone who is blind, be able to write lyrics and music with such quality and passion. Plus he was able to play various instruments as well. What a talented person.

So to be stuck in a lift with someone who you could pass the time away with finding out about this person’s life and background, you know what makes them tick etc.

And the added advantage would be to sing along with the maestro to his songs, just imagine me singing songs like – My Sherrie is no more and I just called to say I stuck in a lift, and perhaps the most classic one would be, For once in my life I’m going to open up a savings account.

Joking aside the guy is a musical genius and for me speaking as a trained life coach he is living proof that you can achieve anything in life if you want it bad enough.

So set yourself goals to help motivate, develop and move you through life towards your own desires.

Be happy and that is what Little Stevie Wonder does for me, when I listen to his music.

Question 2 – When I was young I wanted to be? “A lead singer and guitarist in a rock band.”  Why?

And the type band would have had to been something like – Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Yes, or Geneses.

I think inside me there is a hidden showman waiting to come out!!!

I can see myself strutting my stuff on stage, with all those women throwing their undies at me and trying to clamber onto the stage to get to me!!!  At least that’s what happens in my dreams and then I wake up and I am in Barclays banking hall with a customer saying oh young man (again I wish) are you the manager?

Again joking aside I have always thought how great it must be to be able to play a musical instrument of some kind, I have experimented with drums, guitar, keyboards and bongo’s so far. But as they say I am a jack of all trades and a master of none, in fact not even one.

Question 3 – About my role?

I am a life, business, executive, career & relationship coach. I also provide diagnostics for SME’s and help to put there business back on track, which may include training, coaching, observation and feedback?

Question 4) Roles I have done previously?

Where do I begin? At 56 I have undertaken quite a few positions over the years, so rather than bore with great detail here is a bullet point summary.

Paper boy (school) (London)

Messenger (London)

Postman (London)

Trainee butcher (Wallis Supermarkets) (London)

Butcher (Mac Markets, Safeway Supermarkets) (London)

Butchery Manager (various companies) (London)

Life Guard (London)

Life Saving Teacher (London)

ASA Swimming Instructor & Examiner (London)

STA Swimming Instructor & Examiner (London)

Disabled Swimming Support Teacher (London)

Leisure Centre Assistant Manager (Plus Swimming Teacher) (Gainsborough Lincs)

Overhead Crane Driver (Steel Works – Scunthorpe)

Postman (Gainsborough Lincs & then moved / transferred to Cardiff)

Postman Higher Grade (Code sort operator) (Cardiff)

Business Partner in Power Financial Services (Cardiff)

Financial Advisor – Colonial Mutual (Cardiff)

Will Drafter – Tregarons Will Writing Service (Cardiff)

Customer Service Advisor – TSB Telephone Banking (Newport)

Customer Service Advisor – Admiral Motor Insurance (Cardiff)

Salesman – Tandy’s Electrical – (Newport)

Manager – Tandy’s Electrical – (Newport)

Life & Pensions Advisor – Standard Life Insurance (Cardiff)

Customer Service Advisor – British Gas

Customer Sales Advisor – British Gas

Local Sales Coach – British Gas

National Sales Coach – British Gas (Travelling all UK, Inc Wales, Scotland, and Ireland)

Sales Coach – Barclays Bank (SE Wales & Herefordshire)

Performance Coach – Barclays Bank (SE Wales & Herefordshire Glou & Worc)

So quite a lot of experience has been gained in various sales / management roles, but the most valuable skills and training I have gained is whilst I was with British Gas as they trained me as a fully qualified sales, business and life coach with professional qualifications.

So if you need a Life Coach you no ware I am.

Question 5) My biggest success to date and why?

The Goal and aim of everyone involved in the project was to double the value of the turnover and increase the overall productivity across the site, from £38k per week to £80k.

The key was to appoint key personal to be accountable and responsible for the day to day running to each process, and to have built in contingency to cover when staff are off due to holidays or sickness.

This entailed reviewing processes.

I am please to say with the help of every team member at the branch we managed to achieve the desired result, it was a very successful project and I am grateful to have been part of it

Question 6) What are my top three tips?

Now that would be telling wouldn’t it, well I love sharing and I want everyone to be as successful.

Before I give you my three top tips, I believe that everyone needs to understand the importance working as a team.

Because without teamwork it would be difficult for business to function effectively, and this would have a knock on effect to other parts of the business.

So it is vital for a business and for their customers, to maximise any opportunities to help improve and provide better customers service and then you will see the profits rise as well.

We need to look at the bigger picture, job security is also important and in these uncertain times we need to do what is best for the customer first, which in turn is best for the business and also it helps us as employees.

So in effect we are in control of our own destinies, it just depends on how each individual interprets it.

Which is where the managers come in, they provide the coaching, feedback and direction to enable everyone to have their own success stories.

Tip 1)

Set up an effective buddy system – Work in set teams, to include all staff, to help support and develop each other.

Each team to talk to each other on a daily basis to set the scene i.e. for example tell your buddy what you require for that day and vice versa.

To provide regular and valuable feedback on what is working and if you come across any areas which need to be developed to provide a structured feedback which will give the person the right amount of development that they require, plus making sure they feel motivated afterwards to continue seeking support.

Rather than that was crap or something on those lines which does not help anyone.

To get the same value and productivity via any other form of contact, and to achieve the desired amount of business would involve a greater amount of time and effort, than working with your buddies.

Tip 2)

Have effective processes in place and make sure they are managed properly and have contingency built into to cover holidays and sickness. My above notes in the Gloucester project provide further detail.

Tip 3)

Effective planning and organisation.

The key to success can be measured by three core things which are:-

1)     Activity

2)     Productivity

3)     Value

If you get any one of the above out of sink you will not achieve your desired outcome.

i.e.

Your activity is fairly good, productivity is pretty good to but the overall value is poor.

What do you need to do?

Your activity is pretty good, your productivity ok ‘ish , and your value is pretty good

What do you need to do?

Your activity is good, your productivity is great, but the value is only pretty good.

What do you need to do?

Your activity is really good and your productivity is where is should be or even higher and the end result value is also really good or excellent.

Which would you settle for?

I could give loads of examples and different formula’s but unless you have the correct amount of activity which in turn will produce the right amount of productivity and thus give you the desired amount of income.

Without an effective plan of action, which provides you with a structure to follow and enables you to set up contingency plan to cover for things that don’t quite go the way you planned, You are domed to fail.

And nobody plans to fail they just fail to plan!!!

Question 7) What are my current challenges?

My main areas are to help install motivation via regular feedback and to then provide where required to develop and build on to existing skill sets of individuals and they will be different dependant on the person as we are all different.

By regular feedback and coaching I will help to enhance the skills sets of individuals as well as their motivation, which in turn will have the natural effect of increasing a person’s confidence. Because confidence is the end result which is achieved from previous and present experiences and the learns gained from them.

I want the individuals to have the confidence and ability to be able to approach every customer. To engage in a conversation, which will help to establish any concerns they may have about the current climate.

They will also be able to identify any needs or requirements that they may and be able to help them by either saving or making them money from  products and services.

Only by staff having belief in products and having the skills and confidence to approach customers will we achieve our desired outcomes. The two other vital ingredients which need to be considered which are ownership and responsibility.

So investment in people to build their confidence will produce the desired outcomes we all require.

Question 8 – Funny Stories

Story no 1 – Chipolatas

When I was young and in my youth I became an apprentice butcher and one day whilst merrily boning away, that is a term for removing the meat from the bones and leaving the bones nice and clean,  and I hasten to add not something you were all thinking about.

Let me set the scene I am working in a supermarket, which has open planned counter prior to the pre packed counters of today. So my colleagues would be busy either cutting or preparing meat and roast joins etc or serving customers.

So I being a trainee was given the job of boning a side of beef, which meant removing the bones whilst making sure they were clean and no meat left on the bones. I was given a very thin boning knife and a leather apron to wear in from of my vitals.

But being a trendy young youth who had an image to keep, decide to leave the apron off as it didn’t look cool.

Well back to my story I was merrily working away with my little boning “knife,” when suddenly the knife bounced off the bone and into my groin. Well you can imagine my reaction. The strange thing is that I felt no pain, in fact the groin area was quite num, just lots of blood coming from the area.

Well being a teenager and having only one thing on my mind which was another form of boning, panicked and decided to drop my trousers to make sure my vitals were still intact, well to my astonishment apart from the blood element i.e. it was going everywhere all else seemed to be in one piece.

I breathed a sigh of relieve to know that all was well in the vital regions, but suddenly, I heard above the commotion around me. The sound of lots of laughter and I turned to face the direction of the laughter, which came from to this woman, who was pointing to my private parts and shouting out aloud, oh that reminds me I need a pound of chipolatas.!!!

Story no 2 – Nearly prosecuted for not flashing at night

I am a bit of budding photographer and over the years I have undertaken lots of different projects to do with photography.

Well many years ago I agreed to spend an evening with a mate from work, who was also keen on photography.

We decide to do some night time photo’s using black and white film The film we used was a special film Ilford xp1 that would allow you to use it in without flashgun and in very low light conditions.

So we set off taking pictures using a tripod of cars driving down llandough hill, which is you leave the camera shutter open for a longer period of time you get an image of streaks of light and no image of a car at all. Which if done well is quite an effective picture.

Well as time went on, we decided to make are last shoot of the evening at a small old church and its cemetery. I thought it would make for a very granny image of a tomb stone which was tilted over and was against the entrance of the church yard with a small street light which was giving us just enough light to take the picture.

I was just about to take the picture, when I ask my friend to shine a small touch, you know the type you can carry on a key ring, so not very bright. I ask him to shine it onto the name of the person that was engraved upon the tomb stone. This was to give it more impact in the final picture.

I took the picture and suddenly without any warning a voice could be heard from behind the tomb stones a few yards away. Well I thought it was time to meet my maker, it was a good job I was wearing brown trousers at the time!!!

When we looked up and realised where and who the voice was coming from, it was a local farmer who had a small farm next to the church yard. He was not very happy and no matter how much we tried to tell him we meant no harm and that all we were doing was taking a photo in the dark without a flashgun, using special film. Well even as I was saying it, I thought to myself, even I don’t believe this story.

The farmer unbeknown to us had telephoned the police stating we were up to no good.

Then suddenly I heard another voice not far away from the farmer and I looked at my mate and we both looked in the direction of the voice to see a young woman trying to adjust her clothing and asking the farmer how long was he going to be.?

Well it appears the farmer was more worried that we had taken a picture of his activity with this young lady, than what we were up to.

You will be pleased to know I have stopped doing night time photography, unless within my four walls!!!!!

Story no 3 – Don’t do it on an air bed

I will let you use your on imagination for this one, all I will say that one night I was entertaining with a very nice lady (and not  a lady of the nights in case you are wondering).

We wined and dined and cook a meal and set the mood and everything was going to plan.

At the time I was living on my own and had just gone through a divorce and reduced to a bed-sit.

Not the biggest of places, well the moment arrived I could hardly control myself with excitement, when to my horror the lady said oh I sorry I am not used to a single bed!!

Well the brain was working overtime and the pulse was racing, just then I had a brain wave

(Not politically correct I no).

Well I said that is no problem I have a double air bed, oh ok lets use it she said,

(Obviously a lady of class).

The rest I will leave to you, except for the fact that right at the key moment passion, the bung came out of the air bed and if you can imagine an air bed which is leaking air and with the weight in the middle it behaves like a see saw with both ends going up at the same time and both ends also going down at the same time, it so of deflates the situation some what.

Plus this lady let it be known in my local pub.!!!

Well that’s it from me folks, I look forward to sharing ideas and best practices with everyone.

Until we speak again

You might be wondering what does this have to do with life, work or if you run your own business, business. Well without enjoyment, fun, laughter, feel good factor, etc. you will become an unhappy bunny very quickly. Which can lead to a downward spiral and make every day seem to be a chore or a daily slog to even attend?

It does not matter whether you are an individual, family person, employed or are self employed and run your own business. The message is still the same, you need happiness in your life to make you feel good and be positive in everything you do!

And the more responsibility you have the more important it is for you to have happiness in your life and work, take Executives, Directors etc. etc. you will burn out and get stressed out which if avoided or ignored with lead to health problems.

Happiness is very therapeutic and enables you and your body to heal and feel good.

So I thought I would start by introducing a song I love, which is simple in concept and design and musically made you feel good from within and had you either humming or singing along to, lyrically it is about just being happy and how happiness makes the world go around!

Happiness song by Ken Dodd!

Happiness by Ken Dodd

What does it mean to you?

What does it mean to those around you?

How do you generate and provide happiness for those around you and how do those around you generate happiness for you?

Lets explore what is happiness and what impacts does it have on our lives? Would you agree that happiness is something that brings pleasure or humour into your life.  Whether it is a joke or a situation that makes you laugh or bring a smile to your face, happiness is a very pleasurable experience. And one that we all want to experience every day, if possible every hour of everyday. Allows you to experience pleasure from various angles, which allow you to relax, enjoy and remove any stress within your life at that moment in time!

Sometimes happiness comes from our various senses, i.e. visual, auditory (hearing) or Kinaesthetic (emotions / feelings) or a combination of any of them. So visual could be just seeing something you love and like that makes you happy, a child, a loved one, a sea view, a country view, a painting etc. etc. and the same with all of your senses. So we experience lots of situations that generate stimulation to the brain and hence which in tern enable our senses to be activated and enable you  to experience pleasure from so many sources.

Happiness is also effected by our values and beliefs and are then translated into various forms within your daily lives, that enable us to develop a personality which helps us to develop as a person and interact with those around us.

So the better we are at understanding those around us enable you to adjust and handle differences between every person we interact with. Thus enabling us to adapt and adjust to those around us and make allowances for there reduced understanding, making you a better individual because you have understanding and are able to strive to achieve happiness in what every you want in life.

Happiness is the greatest gift you possess and if you can pass it on to those around you make you a better person for the experience and you have the added benefit of transferring happiness to those around you.

Enjoy the experience of being happy and passing it on to those around you.

Happiness is the “Greatest Gift” you can give someone, whether in your daily life, work place or in your business world. Happiness helps make the world a better place to be in for everyone!

 

Where do I start? I was a very good life, business, executive, relationship and career coach,  although I say so myself, the feedback and recognition was very positive.  When the world was hit by incompetent control of the worlds finances, which lead to a world recession, well that also lead to my demise in the employment world as my skills were deemed as a luxury skills that could be removed.!

Well I had been a professional coach on a local &  national basis within the British Gas Corporation i.e. Centrica, then I was head hunted to work for Barclays Bank Retail as a Sales performance coach & the after reorganisation as a Regional Performance Coach across two Areas SE Wales & Hereford plus Worcestershire & Gloucestershire. Then only to be offered redundancy  without the redundancy package, i.e. offered another role / position, to avoid paying out any redundancy!  Well I took another role as an assistant manager of  city centre branch, better than being on the dole! But not based around my skills and knowledge. I stuck it for nine months and the called it a day and left to start my own business.

Well I have the qualifications & I have obtained over the years the position to put me in a good position and I decided to start my own business, and put the skills, knowledge and my positive attitude to good use and start my own coaching practice. Alongside my expertise within the training world, I have also diversified into the diagnostic world of business & how to implement change to increase business and profits within an actual business, which may have stagnated in time & needed an injection of positive energy to move them forward & upward towards success.

Starting a business can be a scary thing to do at first impressions, and you need to seek as much advice, guidance and support to get you from the idea stage to actual launch day! But trust me if you have a good idea, and you put the right amount of work and effort into what is required to convert the idea into a reality. You will enjoy the experience and gain valuable knowledge at the same time.

Areas to consider :-  Research, Marketing, Sales, Branding, Type of company i.e. Sole Trader or Ltd Co.?  Business Plan, Business Name,

Product or Service or Both,  Premises, Equipment Required,  Web Site,  Promotional Material etc. etc.

Having your own business can be so rewarding, but you do have to do your homework to avoid having any business problems later. The better prepared you are and the more time you send in marketing your business in readiness prior to selling yourself, the easier it becomes. Because you want your audience out there to be interested in what you do or have and whether they have a need for what you are marketing. To many people try to sell a product or service before they have actually marketed it first. Once your audience show’s any interest and starts to become inquisitive and starts to ask questions then you switch into sales mode!

Your target market is potentially everybody out there that has a cash surplus every week or month?  Its who markets and gains the interest of that person the best that is likely to be the winner and get part of this surplus cash? So always think bigger picture market wise rather that just what you thought was your target market.

Also advertise wisely, why spend your budget on flyers and then distribute them through every letter box in your area or on every car in your local supermarket.

For example if you had a mobile car valeting service the above would be a total waste of time and the return would be very low for your investment. So rather that random cars in a car park or through letter box’s, why not go into a supermarket with one flyer and speak to the management and offer a set day and perhaps a discount to do all the staff’s car’s. How many staff have car’s that work there, baring in mind the large super markets are open 24 -7?  So you have a captive audience x how many work there, from one flyer. Rather than post  hundreds of flyers with a 0.62% return from every 100 delivered!!

Think of all free options, via email, web site, blogs, social media channels, free directories etc. Look to attend regular networking events to enable you to get noticed and for other businesses to find out about you, your company and your products or services.

The more you use the above the better and faster you will grow your business.

Always remember starting a new business should be exciting and enjoyable, if not, you are either doing something wrong or have not researched and marketing yourself properly.  So if you are not happy why are you doing it?

Being your own boss is fabulous, you are actually in control and can change things as and when you want to, you also need to be able to control the work life balance otherwise you will burn yourself out. Making the decisions about you, the business and where you want it to be in the future, is so rewarding.

Yes there are risks attached to being self employed, if you get it wrong you will have cash flow problems and possibly go out of business because of it. You don’t get any sick pay, holiday pay or pension unless you make provisions for them yourself.

But the up side is that if you have a successful business you with make money and you will have a nice life style because of increased income, which is not tied to company pay freezes in the public sector. So on that note, if you have a good business idea, then go for it, and as …………………………………………..

My brother always used to say to me when I was a young boy, Hay Marty boy, Nothing ventured nothing gained, so never look back and wished “if only”

 

My Previous Experience

My experience prior to my career in life coaching has seen me have roles at all levels and in many different business sectors and this enables me to relate to many different people, their backgrounds and their personalities. I have worked as a front line staff member, as well as in both sales and supervisory capacities.

I also have a wealth of experience in management and teaching roles and as an examiner, demonstrating my strength in having an eye for detail. Latterly I have had roles as a local sales coach, area sales/performance coach and national sales coach as well as a business partner.

The knowledge and experience gained during my career to date. When I left school I started a messenger for the Royal Mail at the age of 15, based in Central London. At the age of eighteen, I progressed up and into the role of Postman also for the Royal Mail. I enjoyed meeting people and getting to know my local community at the same time.

I decided to get a trade and left to undertake a position of trainee butcher, for Wallis Supermarkets, once I became qualified I move on into Mac Markets as a butcher and became after a short period of time a manager for the butchery department. This role helps me to develop my skills with how to display and attract customers to buy existing and new cuts of meat. I had to learn stock control and to order the correct amount of stock, especially because they are perishable goods, so it was very important to get it right to avoid making potentially large losses.

Unfortunately I develop a blood disorder, which meant I have had to give up long term work within the butchery trade.  I decided to use my natural abilities of being a very keen sports person and became a life guard at my local swimming pool and after a short period of time I was offered the opportunity to become a swimming teacher, coach and examiner for all age groups and also support and taught various types of disabled people. I really enjoyed this role this was the beginning of knowing that I wanted to work within the training, development and coaching market.

At this stage of my career, I got married and moved from London to Gainsborough in Lincolnshire. Which meant a change in direction due to limited sports centres etc within the area, so undertook a job laboring at the British Steel Works, again I was interested to learn another skill, so started training as an over head crane driver, which was a very challenging and skillful job. Because you were responsible for moving tons of sinter from stock yard onto trainings who delivered the sinter to the furriness.

After three years, I decided to move from Gainsborough to Cardiff, which is where my parents came from originally. I rejoined the Royal Mail as Postman Higher grade, and learnt how to touch type and spent a number of years typing postcodes onto letters. I spent ten years with the post office.

I then became restless and wanted to find work that would satisfy my thirst for work that was challenging and stimulating at the same time.

I entered a very mixed and crazy period of my career, working within financial services as a sales person either face to face then via the telephone as an inbound advisor then outbound advisor and finally as a field sales agent, for Legal & General, Colonial Mutual, Standard Life, Lloyds TSB, had a period of as a salesman and then store manager for Tandy’s (Intertan UK). Before putting all these skills together and was successful in becoming a sales advisor in all three areas i.e. inbound, outbound & field sales. After a few years I was asked if I would like to apply for a position of sales trainer and coach. I applied and was successful, British Gas provided and also paid for external training around train the trainer, coaching and feedback.

I was then successful in becoming a local sales coach for Cardiff providing training and coaching to all call centre managers and team managers. I had to design training material and programs around how to build upon your customer / client base, also developed a sales process that was effective yet reasonably simple to use. This was followed by in the work place observations and feedback on overall performance.

The results lead to British Gas deciding on taking this from local based project to a national scheme and I was promoted to become one of the national team, which lead to rolling out the Cardiff project to all call centre’s throughout the UK. I found a position that I absolutely loved and I was also able to travel and work with so many different types of people and this enable me to develop my interpersonal skills to a higher level. I spent the next couple of years traveling around the UK, until I was approached by Barclay Bank to become an area performance coach and trainer, covering SE Wales, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire.

The role with Barclays Bank, was really challenging role and I worked with all levels of staff from cashiers, personal bankers, assistant branch managers, branch managers and area directors on how to change behaviors / attitudes, increase sales, improve overall performance via training, coaching and feedback.

And then after nearly four years, due to the financial climate of 2008 and the impact that had on the business world. Meant that training and coaching is deemed to be a luxury, so when cut backs are to be made, businesses decide to reduce in areas which they think are not going to effect day to day business.

I lost my position as area performance coach, but was offered an alternative position as a branch manager, which I agreed to take rather then be unemployed. I continued in this role for approximately nine months. I did not enjoy this role and found that there were to many limitations, which went against my beliefs. So I decided to leave and start my own training and coaching business, which I started in March 2010 and has taken time to get up and running and I am happy I made this decision as it is a job I love, but find it frustrating times having to stop training or coaching to do marketing and networking to find new business etc. but hay that is what business is about, it is made up of marketing, sales and customer service / focus.

The reason being a coach and trainer is so rewarding, is because I am able to support and help people and businesses to handle day to day life and overcome obstacles / barriers that may get in there way alone life’s path.

You need to work out your journey’s end before beginning your journey in life, this will help you to avoid certain pitfalls along the way, also by knowing what to focus on, you know what it is you aiming to achieve, this helps when it comes to the end results and whether you are going to be successful?

Success comes in many forms and is not just about money and how much of it you currently have, don’t get me wrong money is important but money should not be your only motivator, otherwise you will have  gaps in other areas of your life that money can’t fill.

My work and life experience journey has taken 40 years so far, I have hopefully many more years to go, which I hope to continue developing my skills even further. I am currently giving talks, seminars and presentations to people based on my own work and life experiences, which is something I love doing, because by sharing knowledge aids increased awareness.

I will continue to write articles and I am also planning to write a book and a series of CD’s & DVD’s about Coaching,Training and Mentoring people and the benefits of doing so!

The next stage of my work and life experience, will be to help schools, collages and universities with preparing them for the big wide world of business and how to enhance there chances by being focused and fully prepared to enable them to hit the ground running!

Just over eighteen months ago I bought a convert camper van, to enable me to travel and explore our beautiful countryside and coastal areas and to take my trusted camera to capture images to enhance my memories.  The feeling of knowing I have another set of wheels available, which will allow me to travel and sleep in, is wonderful. I also love cooking, so I aim to be like the hairy bikers on TV and travel in my camper van and buying local ingredients on my travels and cooking them whilst I am out and about.

 

The 3 Saints Business Club

Ever wanted a business club that is not just about networking, one, which provides so much more?

Well I have some great news; here is a club that has been designed by businesses for businesses!

Since November 2010 we have been looking at how businesses can help each other to grow in more ways then one.

That is when I met Onkar Singh from The Three Saints Hotel and Conference Centre, and along with team of various business owners, came together with a shared goal, which was to support and promote local business via a Business Fayre. Hence the South Wales Business Fayre was born and took place on the 20^th May 2011.

The Fayre provided local businesses with the opportunity to display their wares and services at the event, and thirty-eight businesses took up the challenge. Plus we had numerous special speakers who gave up their time to provide local businesses with useful information that they could use back in the work place.

After the event we requested all visitors, exhibitors and speakers to provide feedback about what they expected to get out of the day and how could we improve any future events for local businesses.

We received lots of feedback, which were positive and very constructive, which we replied to and have now incorporated into any future events.

From the feedback came three clear messages: -

1. To have a regular meeting which would include a special speaker.
2. To have a mix and mingle period to relax and discuss business with fellow other businesses over refreshments and snacks.
3. And finally to have a place for local business to have and to use on a regular basis.

Taking this feedback on board and after lots of meetings and discussions, it was agreed to set up the 3 Saints Business Club.

It is a Club with a difference, in fact two key differences. Firstly there are no membership fees and secondly you and your business have a range of great facilities that will be available to members at discounted prices.

Facilities

This is great location for businesses to use for range of functions and a number of reasons. It not only boasts a large upstairs conference hall (The Diamond Suite) capable of holding up to 500 delegates.

There is also has a downstairs conference room (The Warren Room) with full audio, visual, and w.fi equipment, this room holds up to sixty delegates in a cinema format. But can be laid in any format you require.

So no matter what occasion your business has, i.e. Conferences, Seminars, Award Ceremonies, Meetings or Training, 3 Saints Business Club can support you by providing the facilities and a friendly environment to meet and have a chat with prospective clients.

There no membership fees, you will have a membership card that entitles businesses to use the Centre and Conference Facilities at Special Rates, purely for your own business purposes.

And should your want to entertain any clients or for staff who require accommodation for a night or two. There are 35 Bedrooms available at the centre.

Accommodation

The Three Saints Hotel has 37 en-suite bedrooms. We have a choice of Single, Twin, Double and Family rooms. All rooms come with tea and coffee making facilities, colour television and comfortable beds.

Breakfast consists of a Full English breakfast or a range of healthy cereals. We cater for individuals, groups and corporate bookings.

Plus to make your visit even more enjoyable there is The Red Mint Restaurant (which caters for Indian & English) a traditional Pub.

It is also conveniently located off junction 34 (M4).

Membership

Your membership will entitle you to discounts at the centre’s facilities and there will be a special business event every 5 – 6 weeks, where there will be a special speaker for up to an hour followed by a mix and mingle for an hour and get to know and collaborate with local businesses.

At these special events there will be a small charge £5 for the early booking or £10 per head on the door.

The Three Saints Hotel & Conference Centre also has a restaurant & bar, which is perfect for relaxing between meetings, and ample parking is also available directly outside the venue. It is also conveniently located off junction 34 (M4).

The first event takes place on 20th July between 6pm – 8pm.  The First Special Speaker is Mo Mastafa, subject will be about Internet Marketing, further details to follow regarding full contact of talk.

Venue is at The Three Saints Hotel & Conference Centre, based opposite the Royal Mint in Llantrisant. CF72 8YT.

New web site and payment system for special meetings to be confirmed, no fees for membership!

Look forward to seeing you all there on the day.

Martin Biginelli (Coaching Four Success & Pure Creative Media).