Case Study
One of my clients, a business executive who owned several restaurants in the Washington, DC area of the USA, wanted coaching on developing and expanding his marketing strategies, and he wanted coaching for his staff about upgrading the image of the restaurants through all the interactions that staff members had with the customers. I provided a series of workshops to staff members with homework "practices" between sessions that offered them time to implement what was learned in the workshops. In addition, I coached the business executive individually. We covered basic marketing concepts plus an in-depth look at hidden marketing opportunities that encompassed all the details of how a customer experienced the restaurant-from the perception on the street to the telephone impression, to the menus, table advertising, dress, and music to set mood and tone. The sessions focused on understanding their market niche and how to entice that market to increase their visits to the restaurant and how to get new customers. Coaching of the owner included developing his networking skills, creating a higher profile in the community, and effective communication via television interviews.

Testimonials
The July 2005 workshop at the Ayurvedic Spa and Yoga Center on “Secrets of Voice and Effective Communication” was a stellar example of Ellen Kelly’s depth and mastery as a communications expert and Integral Life Coach. As a small business owner, I gained a unique insight into how my business voice impacts the growth and success of my business. In particular, I’m now able to access my voice in the moment in both my personal life and with clients with much greater effectiveness—even bringing more authenticity to my interviews with the media. The quality of my voice now allows me to connect with people at a much deeper level.
Ruth H. Allen, PhD, MPH
President, AEH Institute
http://www.aehinstitute.com

About five years into my business, I was struggling to refine my company’s offer around a particular product. I was stuck. Ellen Kelly effectively coached me to find my authentic voice around that work. I am now clearer about my offer and have increased my revenue in this area!
Clarice Scriber, PCC
Executive Coach
Clarity Consulting
Baltimore, MD

Illustrative case profiles
Client company : Personal Training company
Coaching : Business Owner
Issues
- Market Segmentation
- Understanding identity and motivation of Target Clients
- Taking a Specific business decision which had been pending for 8 weeks and was resolved in 20 mins. of coaching

Client recently won a Rising Star Business Award

Client company : New Business Venture
Coaching : Business Entrepreneur
Issues
- Accelerate understanding of the business opportunity
- Develop clarity of potential business model
- Explore process options and define value add profile
- Diversify thinking over implementation options

Testimonials
CH – Managing Director - Sector Engineering

Areas and issues addressed under coaching :
* Personal motivation
* Consideration of the entrepreneurial nature and character
* Work life balance considerations
* Planning and time management
* Exploration of new opportunities

Client comments
“Coaching helped my focus on distinct goals and begin to plan my time appropriately after a period of drifting. It also helped my come to terms with negative feelings concerned with my ‘survival’ of a difficult business crisis.I have structured my time more appropriately towards achieving solid goals.”

Manufacturing
DM - Senior Production Manager
”my attitude to work has turned round 180 degrees in just a few sessions”

Feedback scores (on an scale of 1-10)
* Attitude around 8 points improvement
* Ability around 5 point improvement
* Confidence improvement around 8 points
* Stress handling around 6 point improvement
* Leadership around 7 point improvement

Case Studies & Testimonials
My client runs a plumbing business employing 20 people. He was finding difficulty in getting the best from his employees. I worked with him and his staff to build rapport, good communication and trust with them and to strengthen the team building.

Karen's help has been pivotal in my developing and improving my managerial skills, staff moral and efficiency has improved dramatically. G Smith

My client was developing a new venture as a sole trader, she as setting up a beauticians business and lacked the knowledge and confidence to forge ahead. She was also finding it difficult to market and present herself to attract new clients.

I benefited so much from Karen's help and support, she always seemed to have the right approach and knowledge to all my problems. Having her work with me has enabled me to develop a successful business and I am now at the point of employing my first staff! Leanne

After building up a successful business dealing with cleansing and waste products, my client wanted to start passing over some of the work and responsibility, moving towards selling the business and starting new ventures. I worked with him while he elected a new MD from within the company and train him up, helping him to take smaller role in the company. He has since sold the company and started new successful projects and also spent time and energy on self- development. I have enjoyed being with him on each step of these changes and am looking forward to continuing to coach him on his new journey.

I have been amazed how Karen has been able to help me on each incremental step of my new life. Karen has such a supportive and understanding way and has adapted her help to meet my changing requirements, she has such a range of skills and knowledge she always has something helpful to pull out of the bag. R. Short

Case Studies
I have mostly worked with sole traders or self-employed individuals. I hope to provide you with a case study in due course. However, I have worked regularly with a team in South Manchester with conflict management and facilitated meetings to help team dynamics. Since I have been doing this, the manager is more on top of her deadlines (she used to be very last minute) and the team is working well together.

Testimonials
"I would like to take this time to 'thank-you' for the sessions so far, which are helping me to overcome negative thinking and reassess my position in life. All positive so far. Thank you." Mary, Swindon

"Ruth gave me the courage and assurance to take what i already knew, but was afraid to use and make it into something I could act on. I now feel empowered, positive and far more confident". H. Tilmouth, Manchester.

"Since being coached by Ruth I am more confident, more in control and more satisfied with my life. I can structure my time better and I am much more positive about my future." Sarah, Manchester

"Working with Ruth really helped me to identify a number of practical strategies for different areas of my life and to turn those ideas into action in a way I wouldn’t have done without the structure of regular sessions." Penny, Manchester.

"Being coached by Ruth gave me the confidence to start looking for work after having spent the last few years bringing up my children." Karen, Manchester.

"I'd been putting off job hunting for ages, even though I hated where I worked. One coaching session with Ruth was enough to give me the motivation and confidence to start looking for a new job straight away!" Stacy, South Manchester.

I coached him through the transition, guided him to identify and solve partnership and staff issues (using the Kolbe profiling system) and had input into negotiations with alliances. I worked with him to identify his needs and values and to appreciate his strengths and weaknesses.

Most importantly, I also helped him with meet and sold the challenges of overwhelm that was causing family and balance problems that were threatening his relationship with his wife.

2. Establishing a holistic health centre in Brisbane. My client had the challenge of drawing together as a team a disparate group of practitioners (from chiropractors to life coaches to weight loss consultants) and administration staff. She also needed to define her relationship and sharing of responsibilities with her business partner. I coached her with communication issues and setting up a context and boundaries for the smooth operation of the centre. We worked on the format of team meetings, ground rules for the practitioners and marketing strategies to get the centre better known. I also coached her to achieve a more relaxed and balanced lifestyle.

Testimonials
"Wendy guided me to turn my dreams of having a niche photography business from procrastination into a reality that is growing steadily. I also feel more "in action" in my life in general"
Kathy Evans, Principal, Lifeforce Photography, NSW

"I know I wouldn't have come this far without your coaching. The you have given me and the insights I have got from you have enabled me to really move forward with my business".
Judy Baker - the Wellness Centre, Indoropilly. Qld

"When I started coaching I felt like I was standing still and the world was passing me by. I was drifting along without any particular direction or chosen goals. Wendy's coaching helped me understand and accept who I am and how I operate. As a result I developed behaviours that supported my success. I am now confident, happier, in charge of my decisions, and achieving my goals."
Jason Whitton, IT Manager, Qld.