“To be honest, when it was suggested by my senior management to attend this leadership coaching session, I was very reluctant. I thought I had had “sufficient training” on leadership as I had previously attended the comprehensive Leader-for-the-Future Program over two years. However, this coaching was very different. It was on a one-on-one basis, and thus very specific and practical.

The coaching started with a Life Styles Inventory (LSI) and provided me with an opportunity to look at my thinking and behaviour. A comparison of the style plots of the Self Description and the Description by Others on the LSI Circumplex enabled me to take a revealing look at myself and to increase what I know about how others perceive my behaviour along the 12 thinking and behaviour styles. It is valuable to know that no matter how well I think I know myself, other people may see me quite differently. The styles identified with significant differences were the main focus during the coaching.

The LIS Combined Self-Development Guide (LIS Guide) provides the theoretical knowledge on the 12 styles which is applicable to situations at work and life. Through the coaching, I think I am getting “smarter” for taking on various roles as leader, manager, teacher, mentor, co-worker and friend.

At the first look at my LSI 2 results, I was thinking that some styles and behaviours perceived by others were not like me. After reading the LSI Guide and discussion with the Coach, I gradually understood why people viewed me like this. I have also been so impressed that people could view me so very differently from how I view myself in many aspects. This really helped me understand my strengths and areas in which I need to improve.

I really appreciate the coach’s expert knowledge and rich experience in leadership and management. She provided me with very practical guidance and advice specifically on the problems I was facing. I could feel that my confidence and skills in dealing with challenges and difficult issues at work have gradually improved with the coaching, and thus my stress level has reduced. Furthermore, my communication styles have also improved, particularly to senior management for the purpose of efficiency and effectiveness.
Another benefit to me was that I have obtained the additional theoretical knowledge of leadership and management from the Coach which is not in the LSI Guide.

Examples are:
• Transactional versus Transformational Leadership
• Situational Leadership: Directing, Coaching, Supporting, Delegating

From these theories, I understand that my role as a manager is to motivate and influence my co-workers, and I can do that better by paying more attention to their preferred style of communicating or their preferred leadership style.

For a technical and professional person like me with the highly technical responsibilities, this coaching is particularly valuable, especially on the human management and communication side.

In summary, this leadership coaching was very good and a pleasant experience. I really enjoyed it later even with reluctance at the beginning. The coach’s expert advice and suggestions benefit and affect me not only in my work but also in my life. I really appreciate this opportunity from our senior management and strongly recommend it to my colleagues and the other government officers.”

“When I agreed to undertake Executive Coaching with Annette I thought it would be helpful for me in looking at a few areas for improvement around my career development. It turned out to be so much more. This coaching experience has transformed me. Not only has it positively impacted me at work and helped me achieve things I didn’t think I was capable of, it has transformed my life outside of work. I am a better father to my children, better husband and also a better basketball coach, a personal interest of mine. I am so thankful and appreciative for my time with Annette and I could not recommend her more highly. She is highly skilled in cutting through to what really matters and helping you take strides forward. ”

“Working with Annette has been refreshing, confronting and personally challenging. It’s what I’ve needed to take me to the next stage of my leadership journey. I thoroughly recommend her approach and her methods to challenge and nurture your future leaders.
”

“I approached Annette Walker of Enterprise Insights because of her extensive experience in Executive career counselling, combined with her high-level exposure to the commercial world. Annette has been highly valuable in helping to refocus my career, taking the time to understand my key skill sets and strengths. She took the time to encourage me to find my own path back to the start-up world that is my passion, with invaluable support and counsel. I would not be where I am now without her counsel and can highly recommend her services, it’s been a great outcome. ”

“After a somewhat reluctant mind set at having been sent by my employer to Annette Walker of Enterprise insights, I can 100% recommend Annette if you are looking for a greater insight of how you are perceived by others and how you perceive yourself. I have been attending regular coaching sessions with Annette over the last 6 months which has had a major positive shift change in my mindset and attitude towards not only my working life but my personal life too. I now understand myself better and understand the way others perceived me and with Annette’s support and encouragement have made significant progress in improving my overall wellbeing. Annette has helped me put strategies in place to assist in dealing with issues that I once would have dealt with in a rather aggressive or dismissive manner.

Thanks to Annette, I am now more empowered and confident in my role as a manager both at work and at home.
”

““Over the past few months I have had regular coaching sessions with Annette Walker from Enterprise Insights.  In that time, we have worked through a number of structured sessions that have assisted me in expanding my capabilities and a manager and leader.  My peers and team have commented on changes that they have observed in my confidence and ability that I attribute directly to these coaching sessions.  I would thoroughly recommend these coaching opportunities to anyone that seeks to develop professionally.””

“I have been working in senior finance roles for many years and had grown increasingly dissatisfied with many areas of my work and taken to contracting for variety.  I am not ready to retire and did not want to spend the rest of my work life doing what I was doing but was unsure what to do.  A colleague who I respect suggested I contact Annette.

I phoned Annette and decided to invest in her Career Management transition program.  This was a series of eight meetings however Annette was often in contact outside of those meetings via email and phone.

At our first meeting Annette had me recount my work life history from my first job to the current day.  Annette asked questions why had I left each job, and then arranged for me to complete an online psychometric assessment. I had completed them before, for recruiters and never been given the results, this time the results were for my use.  Annette was already gaining an understanding of me and I had just begun quite a journey.

 I met with Annette again who had printed the Briggs Myer results and had printed out my personality type together with suggested career types.   Further drilling down with many questionnaires provided by Annette gave me deeper insight into why I really like some parts of my roles and not others.  My personality type is not ideally suited to a career in finance.  More importantly the results guided me to what I am suited to, work type, work style, etc.  I also looked at my interests outside work.

 Guided by Annette and the results I drilled down to core values and enjoyed work/career types and decided to start business on my own doing what I really like and am good at.  Whilst I was considering options I was guided by the results of my analysis to avoid doing what I do not enjoy and am not suited to.

There is much involved in setting up a new business and along with being encouraging Annette has provided valuable independent advice on the various steps, this has been and continues to be particularly helpful with sales and marketing.  I reduced my paid employment hours to part time so I could spend the time needed on my new venture.  I am close now, about to make those first steps of making contact with potential clients via an email or sales call. Annette has coached me on those first emails and calls, invaluable help for someone extremely technical and a little insular like me.

 I feel confident that my business will be a success.  If I had not invested in the services Annette offers and attended our regular meetings putting in the time and thought I doubt I would have made the big steps and decisions I have to date.
 I would recommend Annette to anyone looking for career planning assistance, whatever age and part of their career path they may be. Together with being very professional, organised and pleasant to work with, Annette has an excellent understanding of human nature and behaviour and how business works.  ”