Business Coaching
Unique Small Business Coaching Service
As a former commercial solicitor working in London, before I made the transition into the helping professions first as a social worker and then as a life and business coach for individuals and companies, I offer a unique background and complement of skills for services for self employed people and business owners who are struggling with the demands and stresses of running their own small businesses in the UK.
I have in the past done business-related work for large corporate clients such as British Airways and for charitable organisations such as Age Concern as well as having a wealth of experience in techniques for creating effective change and managing stresses for individuals. My business coaching services now focus mainly on helping small businesses to achieve better results.
My professional experience and skills can help you to:
- Increase the Profits of your business by Analysing Income and Expenditure and introducing Effective Strategies to maximise your resources
- Sustain Motivation and focus your efforts most productively, through simple-to-learn motivational techniques and tools
- Deal with the Stresses that come from running a one or two person business in the UK, providing effective tools, techniques and services for Managing Stresses and Making Effective Decisions
- Think in a Business-Like Manner, if you find yourself disorganised or diverted by personal or emotional concerns
- Receive Independent Feedback for your ideas and dilemmas.
Testimonials from Small Business Clients
You can see below a selection of quotes from people who have experienced the benefits of the coaching that I provide for those who are running their own small business. Where requested, pseudonyms have been used to protect client confidentiality:
"Business is really booming..."
"Dear David
Business is really booming. I can't tell you how different things are now. This time last year it was pretty hard going and now I am so busy I can hardly think. I just finished three great days at the Specialty Fine Food Fair at Olympia. Everyone loved the tea and I got lots of interest from shops, deli's, restaurants, distributors and department stores.
I did some newspaper interviews and it felt great to be part of a good news story.
All in all, things are excellent. It's all thanks to you, of course!
Best wishes
Henrietta"
Note: Henrietta Lovell is a UK business entrepreneur (website: www.rareteacompany.com) based in London who gave up a professional career in order to follow her dream and start her own business. She now runs a successful and innovative company providing specialist fine teas available through the internet and she has featured in national media.
"I now see business coaching as a vital part of business development..."
"I started having business coaching sessions because I wanted to get an overview of my business from an external point of view. I have never used external help before, but I now see business coaching as a vital part of business development.
The coaching was helpful to me in helping me to:
- Introduce management systems to track income and expenditure by customer
- Highlighting areas of skills training that needed to be addressed
- Helping focus my thoughts on exactly what I need to do to achieve my goals." - Martin, Bath, UK
"David sees to the heart of the matter, is supportive and encouraging..."
"Since working with David I have been able to take the time to define my goals and start to work towards them. I really needed to talk things through with someone else and he has been great. Breaking things down into achievable steps has been very useful. In all areas things have improved. I've designed my website, obtained some work, started socializing more, am now exercising and am generally more hopeful and focused.
David sees to the heart of the matter, is supportive and encouraging. His patience, his willingness to help me stick with the programme and his ability to help me progress have been really helpful. His background as a social worker and lawyer is a great combination because he has great listening skills and compassion, allied with an understanding of how it is to make one's way in the world of business." Maria, East Coast, USA
Note: Maria [pseudonym used at request of client] runs a business as an ordained interfaith minister providing bespoke ceremonies including baby blessing, funeral and memorial services for people from different religious traditions or none. She sought help from coaching to grow and develop her business in a proactive and structured way.
"I feel lighter and more in control..."
"Since starting the coaching, I feel lighter and more in control. In a better position to make choices... I feel I'm offering my clients a good service...I enjoy life more. I worry less." Claire, London, UK
Note: Claire Lakey runs a unique business providing high quality landscaping and garden design solutions within urban environments. She sought help from coaching to improve her organisational time management skills and business analysis, as well as to reinforce her motivation and achieve life balance.
"David's coaching has given me tools with which to take control of my life and move forward..."
"Before the coaching sessions I had far too much work to deal with and consequently turned off and couldn't cope...I was just 'fire fighting' from one day to the next...Now I am a lot more in control of my life and have started to enjoy everyday things which I have ignored for so long. Other people have noticed a change in me and I can see that I am valued by my clients. With a reduced workload I am able also to enjoy completing existing work.
Through the controlled coaching sessions I have been able to say 'no' to any future work and gradually reduce my workload. At the same time, the introduction of an action programme to help balance the work has given me a better lifestyle which is much healthier all round...David's coaching has given me tools with which to take control of my life and move forward. By using his constructive exercises I have been suprised and then delighted by how much difference they have made. Ideas, thoughts and feelings which had been suppressed have gradually come back and given me confidence that I can achieve my dreams." Sylvia, Home Counties, UK
Note: Sylvia Kus is a successful architect who prior to coaching sessions was already running a business as a self employed architect but was experiencing high pressures in work and wanting to branch out into more innovative developmental ambitious architectural projects meeting her own creative needs. The coaching sessions gave her techniques, tools and the confidence and belief in her own ability to start the transition.
"David's recommendations were realistic and balanced"
"David's recommendations were realistic and balanced, providing encouragement where appropriate and highlighting issues of importance to me. His analysis and observations were perceptive and he was thoroughly professional." Anna, Surrey, UK
Note: Anna [pseudonym used at request of client] is a self-employed lawyer who took advantage of a special offer of a one-off assessment session to provide the impetus for future personal and professional development.
Business Coaching Sessions
Business coaching sessions are conducted on the telephone with clients phoning me at an agreed time when I guarantee to make myself available. For clients living or working in Bristol or Bath or South Gloucestershire, face to face sessions may be possible by arrangement.
Sessions usually last for 1 hour although a different time frame can be agreed where appropriate. We use the coaching sessions to discuss the issues with which you want help, agree a way forward to tackle any difficulties and set and implement goals. In most cases we draw up a Project Plan to address the particular issues that are important to you.
Before most sessions I will give you exercises to help you tackle the particular issues that are most important to you and to focus your insight on where you need to go. At the end of each coaching session we will agree specific actions for you to take before the next session, to implement any plans you have made. The focus of the sessions is very practical.
If you are interested in arranging business coaching, call 0117 904 2908 for further information or send an email to me at dbc@davidbonham-carter.com.