As I return to work after a short summer break – UK based of course – I wanted to share an update on a new aspect to my coaching focussed on SME clients.
Bespoke response to the Covid-19 pandemic
Much has been written about the Coronavirus pandemic, and the resultant change that has occurred in every aspect of life. As a coach, I was compelled to assess my own ability to decide where I could best apply my experience. In order to keep the corporate show on the road and restore some sense of equilibrium as the situation evolved.
SME Reboot
I was asked to work with the Sales Director of an online business who had lost his mojo as a result of remote working, Zoom Fatigue and a general feeling of disconnectedness to the outside world. He’d been employed at the beginning of 2019 by a small online business which went under in March. Six weeks later he was re-hired when it was brought out of receivership by new management. His experience, knowledge of the sector and passion to help make things work allowed him to exceed the expectations of ‘New Co’ until the autumn, when the approach of winter triggered extreme fatigue. Working from a small spare room in a South London flat, having had no contact with his new employers was beginning to take its toll. By the time I met him, he was so overwhelmed by the situation that his performance, ability and self-confidence had fallen off a cliff.
I devised a coaching program that would de-construct his situation, inject acceptance of the exceptional circumstances in which he found himself, help him to re-identify with his ability and self-worth, whilst creating coping strategies to address the idea of working in isolation. Within weeks we begun to turn things around, and the project went to phase 2. His employers had brought me in because they clearly believed in his ability, but didn’t have the time to afford him the nurture and management needed to bring things back on track. As many small businesses will attest, senior management have little time at the moment to focus on anything apart from keeping the business afloat.
My work with the company therefore evolved into a mentoring and management relationship of the wider sales team until a Partnerships Director was hired. This was a three-month project which has led to a variety of other engagements with similar sized businesses.
About Me
Pragmatic, down to earth and approachable. I am partially sighted, a former Paralympic skier, and have a keen interest in people, and optimizing their potential. In my spare time I am a trustee of Child Welfare Charity ACE Africa and volunteer for The Listening Place. I have 30 years commercial work experience in recruitment and Executive Search. Engaging at Partner- level across Professional Services to deliver creative technology and human capital solutions has helped me to establish a reputation as trusted advisor, solution architect and team development specialist in a variety of sectors, in particular, Oil & Gas, Life Sciences, Retail and Public Sector, including charities. I qualified as a Business Coach through Meyler Campbell in 2010 in order to validate my solution focused approach and in 2016 I established CCS, my own coaching brand.
Context
If you are an employer of up to 30 people, and believe that your ‘worker bees’ have been struggling with the concept of remote working and need mentoring and management on a short-term basis whilst you find a permanent solution, I would love to meet with you to discuss how I could help.