Coaching

“I did not learn how to present, I learned how to communicate. I did not learn presentation skills, I learned life skills.”

PLEASE NOTE: I am happy to offer coaching sessions via video conferencing. Please contact me for further info (leonie@mellinger.co.uk)

Impact Skills Foundation Course

My Impact Skills Foundation Course is specifically designed to give the individual a clear understanding of the necessary skills needed in order to make the desired impact in any given situation and a set of practical tools for immediate use.

Please bear in mind that the course is highly client led and as such the course outline below should only be used as a guide.

Day one - how others perceive us

Showing you how you come across to other people and the messages you give off, for example:
1. Body language
2. Facial expressions
3. Vocal expressions
4. Thoughts around Personal Motivation
Talking you through how to communicate effectively
Practical work in front of the camera
Identifying particular areas of communication that can be improved
Confidence building

The way we think we are, and the reality of how we are being perceived can sometimes be poles apart. As Machiavelli put it “everyone sees what you appear to be, but few experience what you really are”. This part of the course involves work in front of a camera, which is a very effective way to see one’s self from the outside.

The session is highly tailored to the individual by identifying the needs, problems or anxieties in any area of communication.

There will be both theory and practise throughout the session, for confidence is gained through having an intellectual as well as a practical understanding of the skill.

Time is spent explaining what is happening when someone is communicating effectively, paying particular attention to the non-verbal aspects.

This is followed by practical exercises using the camera. Looking in particular, at the most effective way of structuring content, providing the tools to engage an audience.

Day two - engaging the audience

Introduction to effective content structure
Examining your relationship with the audience
A unique and practical process to use when preparing for an event
Putting the lessons into practice
Tips and Tools to engage and connect with people

We analyse the audience, by asking questions about the nature of the audience in order to understand what needs to be done to achieve the desired impact.

Processes are talked through for preparing what you need to say and how you need to say it.

The afternoon consists of putting into practice all the skills and practical tools learned, and working on scenarios relevant to the client.

Understanding the environment one is in, and how to use it plays an important part in the effectiveness of our message. You will be taught techniques that can be applied to “own” your space.

day three - consolidating skills

I throw a huge amount at people during day one and day two and ask everyone to go away with just a couple of things to keep top of mind. I want the coaching to have recognisable and lasting benefits. It takes time for the skills to seep into the unconscious.

Day three comes any time from a couple of weeks later to a few months later and is essential to embed the learnings, check you are on the right track and take you to the next level. We will discuss how you have been getting on and work through different scenarios in order to check how it’s going and reinforce the learnings.

Ongoing Coaching

Having completed the foundation course, ongoing coaching is necessary to consolidate and develop the skills that you have learnt. Sometimes individuals are working towards goals such as promotion, or being seen in a different light within their organisation or industry. Supporting individuals to become CEOs, I will often work on and off over a long period.

refresher days

It is important to check in every once in a while. As with any skill, one needs to practise and make time to focus on progressing. Also life is busy and it’s easy for things to slip away…

Sometimes the ‘Refresher Day’ is exactly that, a reminder of the skills. Other times people use the day, not only to refresh, but also to work on a meeting or talk they have coming up, so they can feel confident and well prepared. I often rehearse people for specific events such as: presenting to the board, conferences, interviews and other significant conversations.

I have many clients I have worked with on and off over a period of many years, and it is extremely rewarding to support them in achieving their ambitions.

Interviews

I have helped people prepare for numerous different types of interviews over the years including for: Jobs of all descriptions, promotional panels, University entrance, judicial appointments etc.

I will help you understand what to do to appear confident and comfortable. Interviews can often make the interviewee feel somewhat powerless. I will help you take the power back, so you have control over how it goes and how you come over.

We will work together to prepare messages and content. We will then role-play the interview, reviewing and repeating so that you can go to the interview ‘match fit’ and completely prepared.

storytelling

Stories can be a wonderful way to ensure messages are understood and remembered. I will work with individuals to help them understand how to craft their stories. We will have a chance to try out different types of stories in different scenarios.

This module is best taken having completed the Impact Skills Foundation Course. It can also be taken as a standalone, in which case some of the time would be taken up talking through the ground rules of ‘personal impact skills’.

Seminars & presentations

I am always happy to give bespoke talks to groups of varying sizes, and have done so on many occasions. I can speak on a variety of subjects from how to find the confidence to speak in front of audiences, to interview preparation and technique. Get in touch to discuss your particular requirements.