Testimonials
Our clients (view list here) are nearly always happy to provide honest feedback and to answer any questions prospective clients may have. From time to time, we'll post some of their comments in the Testimonials/Case Studies category, but here's a selection to peruse in the meantime.
Sales Training, one-to-one Sales Coaching
Colin Woods
UK Sales & Marketing Manager
OTIS Ltd
Executive Playground has provided the sales training and coaching for all of our UK sales consultants since 2005. They have exceeded our expectations in terms of results, and gained a successful reputation amongst sales staff. OTIS are the worlds leading Elevator company with revenues exceeding $10 billion, and we excel in the technological areas of our products. We wanted Executive Playground to understand our business, and design programmes to meet our specific needs. We wanted our sales consultants to develop a more consultative approach to sales, and equip them with new and advanced communication skills to give them the edge in front of prospective customers. Executive Playground have delivered on all these counts, and we have no hesitation in highly recommending them to you.
TeamVention Challenge, Sales Training, Sales Consultancy
Philip Edwards
Managing Director
Stephens Removals
Bishop Move Franchise Partner
Sales are the life blood of any successful company and anyone who can inspire, enthuse and motivate our sales staff in the way that Executive Playground have is good in my book. The excitement has already given us an immediate uplift in sales whilst other improvements and changes that the programme has instigiated will undoubtedly lead to ongoing greater success.
Executive Coaching
by Dr David Gleaves
Chief Executive
MidTECH Innovations West Midlands NHS
The improved skills and confidence of our sales people and the operational staff involved in The TeamVention Challenge 5 star service from Stephens raised awareness of our need to work better as a team and to deliver to customers the customer service promise we make when we win the business. The programme has improved our staff's approachability and communication skills, and whilst better communication can be difficult to quantify immediately, we know it will lead to an improved bottom line.
"The coaching techniques used by Executive Playground played a vital role in the recruitment of key people for senior management positions in our company. The techniques helped to clarify our team capabilities and characteristics, to identify gaps and weaknesses, and so more effectively define new roles and personal profiles to complement and strengthen our service offering. I particularly valued the independence of the techniques and the ability they offer to quantify personal characteristics; these helped challenge and modify some of my strongly-held convictions about the team mix we needed. As a result of using the techniques we went forward knowing more clearly where we were starting from, where we needed to get to and what we should avoid. In summary: coaching techniques gave us informed decision-making. I would therefore thoroughly recommend this approach companies where team mix and capability are crucial to performance."
Sue Yates
Managing Director of Ashfield Personnel
President of Solihull Chamber of Commerce
"Coaching helped me to be in a ‘better and more focused place' than I was. When I took over my business my role changed but I wasn’t fully prepared for the changes. I loved what I was doing before but suddenly I needed to become a strategic planner, talk with the bank manager, carry out staff appraisals, and much. Anne helped me to look at what I had to do, and how the team would grow more if I allowed them to, so then I could get on with my responsibilities.
Over a period of about a year, Anne supported me in the decision making process around changes effecting the business. She let me make the decisions, but made me think more about the results of my decisions."
Phillippa Hart
Managing Director of Hart Recruitment
"As the Managing Director of a Recruitment Agency, I have found Anne’s expertise and support invaluable.
Since engaging Executive Playground, we have completed the following:
- A review of the Company Strategy
- Language & Behavioural Profiling of all staff members as well as candidates applying for recruitment consultant positions with our own business
- Company restructuring programme
- Company training and development programme
- Development of communication styles at all levels
- Launch of the Hart Sales Division
- Review of marketing material and copy writing
Although we have only been working with Anne for six months, the company has improved productivity through the company-restructuring programme, resulting in increased revenue.
Anne’s support and coaching has provided myself as the Managing Director, an objective ‘sounding board’, as well as providing important advice regarding business development and company strategy, whilst focusing upon profitability and productivity at all times."
Zoe Collis
Centre Manager
Rayner House Home for the Elderly
"Anne has helped me develop both professionally and personally through one to one coaching sessions. Anne uses her abilities to create an individual program designed for each client’s own personal areas that need developing. Anne initially creates a very flexible program which is structured around the client’s needs, but during each session any new concerns or situations that have occurred, Anne will look at and give positive solutions and guidance. Anne uses her skills so that you understand yourself as a whole, and others around you in your working environment and in your private life.
Anne has helped me gain confidence in myself, enhanced my communication skills, given me the ability to approach difficult situations with a more positive view, helped develop strategic plans, all of which has benefited myself personally, but also the positive benefits it has produced for the business.
I would recommend Anne as a coach to anyone whether it is to develop in their professional role or to develop areas on a personal basis. Thanks Anne it’s been a great experience."
Nikki Highmore Sims
Author, Consultant and Coach
"Anne’s style is multi-faceted. She brings a highly developed perceptual ability, rafts of powerful tools, the ability to get to the core of an issue and a warm, genuine concern for her clients’ best interests – and around that already highly effective combination she wraps years of business experience at the ‘sharp end’ and a drive for tangible results. I would recommend her to anyone wanting to move forward significantly with their business or life."
Oliver Martin
Team Leader
Key Personnel
"I have learnt to focus on myself and not worry about what everybody else is doing who's not in my team.
My team are on the phone more. Arranging visits - brought on new customer, filled it and visited afterwards. One example only.
I have structure to my team enabling us to work more pro-actively.
Growth of around 2.5 - 3k on average per week on plan.
Hit target nearly all of the time in the past 8 weeks.
Know how to get the best out of my team.
Best results for temps so far w/c 19-3-07.
I believe more about my role and that I can lead a team.
My job role has become more clear in my own head.
PROFIT HIGHER!
PRODUCTIVITY HIGHER!
Thanks Anne"
Richard Creedy
Managing Director
Events Company
"As a new business owner, with no previous sales or marketing experience, I had reached a point where I realised that for my business to move forward I needed to get some help and guidance. Anne gave me the boost that I needed by helping me to focus on the types of potential clients that I needed to attract as well as starting me on the path to develop new marketing materials. Anne’s enthusiasm was infectious and I have found that I am much more motivated following my coaching with her."
