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 Why
do I need a contract?
Humans don’t really WANT to change and most will take the path of
least resistance. But humans CHOOSE to change in order to survive.
Contracts support us in keeping agreements, setting timetables and
providing structure. About half way through, the mind starts to kick
up and create obstacles. Meetings start to interfere,
procrastination may set in, and outside interferences may strike
temporarily. It’s the coach’s job to keep clients on track, moving
through resistance, meeting deadlines and staying focused. A
contract with a financial obligation tied to it is a motivating
tool.
Why would a client hire a coach and then resist?
The human mind is idealistic, but when the reality of the
commitment sets in, the mind doesn’t really want to change. Many
people try to change everyone else around them without going through
the discomfort of transition for themselves.
Change is difficult because it involves developing new thoughts and
behaviors. It challenges one’s perceptions, beliefs and memories,
and requires going through a transition period. Coaches are a big
help in this area. Thinking about the development of top-performing
athletes, one can see the valuable role of a coach.
How long will my sessions be?
That is truly
an individual matter. Phone sessions usually run 30 minutes.
In-person sessions usually run from 1-2 hours – depending on
personal need and speed of change desired. I usually take
calls, faxes, and emails between sessions, when time allows. Most of
my clients are creating results during the week and may require pep
talks, strategy consultations, and the opportunity to report their
good news. I welcome that!
I'm a busy person. How flexible are you?
Guess who else is busy; it’s important to call your coach on
time. If it becomes necessary to change an appointment, requests
should be made in advance so your coach’s schedule is honored.
Whenever possible, flexibility with scheduling and fees will be
available.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CONSULTANTS
 Why
should I hire a consultant?
Competition is
tougher than ever. Only flexible companies - whether big or small,
emerging or established - will be players in tomorrow's marketplace.
And flexibility means obtaining expertise when you need it. Get the
right consultant and you can achieve great things - improve
productivity, reduce product cycle time, increase market share, or
build customer loyalty. In short, you can learn how to create a
true sustainable, competitive advantage in your
marketplace.
How do I
choose the right consultant?
If you're looking
for a consultant, it's because you realize that you can't do
everything, and that's a great place to start. But if you're like
most people, you probably have questions on how to find the right
person, and then how to manage the relationship for fullest value.
But before getting down to the nitty-gritty, you owe it to yourself
to answer some fundamental questions.
-
Are you
ready to work with a consultant? You got where you are because
you're smart, tenacious, and competitive. But are you willing to
listen to someone who can help, even though he or she will never
know as much about your company as you?
-
If so, you
are ready to hire a consultant, someone who will provide what you
want, while guiding you to what you need. Do you know what you
want to accomplish?
-
For example,
are you looking for someone to fix a narrowly focused problem, or
do you need someone to help sort out larger business issues? A
contractor or a temp does the former, while a consultant does the
latter. A contractor will run your accounting software on Tuesdays
while a consultant will advise you on how to do your accounting
better, cheaper, faster. Consultants have a broader perspective
and a larger mandate. (They do handle implementation, and often it
makes sense to get them involved, but their primary purpose is to
advise on solving a problem.)
-
Are you
looking for an order taker or an adviser? If you are fairly
certain you know what needs to be done, but only need the right
person to do it, you need a contractor. If you generally know what
needs doing, and realize you will benefit from working with
someone who will help you think outside the box, you want a
consultant. Consultants help figure out what to do and how to do
it; tacticians focus on the doing.
OK, I
need a consultant. Now what do I do?
First, look
for competence. Do the candidates have the skills you need?
Can they transfer their experience from other engagements to your
case? Do they communicate effectively?
Then look for
credibility. Do they have the right background? Can they
effectively challenge others without alienating them? Do they have
the charisma to influence people within your company?
Look for
learners. Good consultants constantly learn and are enthusiastic
about their work. They're also confident enough to admit when they
don't know something.
Finally, look
for chemistry. Do you believe you'll get along? Are you
willing to believe enough in them to give them a chance? Will you be
willing to be challenged by the candidates you're considering?
What is my
first step?
Pick up the
phone or email now and contact Saralyn and The Training Bridge. Set
up a preliminary discussion session. You both need a little time to
ask questions and get to know each other. Then you both decide if
it will be mutually beneficial to work together. If you decide to
continue with the relationship, Saralyn will give you some forms and
ideas to begin your work. If you decide not to continue, you both
will have met a new colleague and added another professional to your
growth list.
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TRAINING
How do I
select a good trainer?
In times of
rapid change, both small and large businesses today are increasingly
viewing training as an investment, not a cost. If your business uses
outside training consultants, you will want to maximize your return
on this training investment. Use the following as a guide in
selection. Qualified training consultants and seminar leaders will
have these characteristics:
·
Training consultants will help you determine your specific training
needs.
·
Training
consultants will tailor training programs to address your specific
training needs.
· Training
consultants will continuously improve their own training delivery
skills.
·
Training
consultants will evaluate training programs to show their
effectiveness.
·
Training consultants will have references available to prove their
track record.
Trainers
should have practical experience in the industries where they have
expertise.
What type of
experience does Saralyn Collins have in the training field?
 Saralyn
is a Certified Executive Trainer based on over 25 years experience.
Her knowledge is varied in both content and methods. She has spoken
in front of groups as small as 3-4 people and as large as 15,000.
She is also a proponent of Accelerated Learning, the most advanced
method of whole brain, whole body learning. Saralyn has the unique
ability to combine enthusiasm with an energetic speaking style. With
her experience in public speaking, management, marketing, training,
and theatre, she creates a dynamic spark of audience participation
wherever she speaks. Audiences and students describe Saralyn’s
presentations as exuberant, creative, motivational, and
inspirational. Her unique combination of business background and
education, along with her theatrical experience, help make her
programs "info-taining."
What is the
purpose or value of training?
The purpose of
training is to produce results back on the job. It is not to cover
content. It is not to teach skills. It is not to entertain. It is to
get results back on the job. Applying these concepts is one very
significant way of moving from where we are to where we want to be.
But it takes work. For some people it will be a process of learning
and relearning things they've always known, but have stopped using.
For others these concepts will be fresh and new. There is one thing
that is sure, however. Applying the concepts you will gain from
Saralyn to every facet of your organization is one of the surest
ways to accelerate growth and results.
What changes
can I expect after training?
Prior to the
training, you and Saralyn need to sit and determine the types of
outcomes that will let you know how successful the training has
been. Then the sessions will be designed around making sure the
participants generate the knowledge and passion to follow-through
with appropriate actions to attain those results.
Action
planning is key. If participants do not develop an action plan for
how they will transfer the skills/knowledge to the job when the
training process is completed, the chances are they won't have that
opportunity when they get back on the job. Part of Saralyn’s
uniqueness as a trainer is that every participant leaves with a plan
of action and the knowledge to implement that plan. In addition, she
works very diligently to translate her high energy and enthusiasm
over to the students and helps them understand they now have the
knowledge and ability to implement their plan.
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