Colorado Springs veteran-owned business, writer, communication coach, career and business coach, facilitator, public speaker, training
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Looking for an experienced, supportive business, communication or career coach located in Colorado Springs, Colorado?
Hi, I'm Laura Benjamin and I've been coaching individuals, teams, boards and small groups for over three decades in interpersonal communication, career and business skills including...
Executive & Leadership Coaching
Interpersonal communication skills
Business marketing communication
Publc speaking and presentation skills
Internet and online communication
New Media, social networking, blogs, Twitter
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are you a life coach? No, I help people with career decisions, communication, public speaking, leadership and business skills. While life issues certainly impact these areas and we may touch upon them during our sessions, I am not a licensed therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist or counselor.
Are you a certified coach? Did I complete a series of telephone/internet based classes, then receive a certificate saying I am qualified to be a coach? No, my qualifications are based on three decades of coaching individuals through a variety of professional challenges, including and in chronological order:
- Helped military members whose household goods were damaged during change of station (PCS) moves. As a paralegal and claims supervisor, I worked with families where Aunt Essie's fine bone china was broken to smithereens. I met with farmers whose chicken's wouldn't lay eggs because our jets flew too fast and close over their barnyard. I helped widows complete claims paperwork after losing their loved one in an armed conflict.
- Helped deaf and hearing-impaired employees, faculty and staff understand and take full advantage of their employee benefit programs, including healthcare programs, tuition reimbursement, retirement and investment options, paid time off, etc. I presented employee benefit information via outreach programs, seminars and trainings as well as private meetings, over the phone and with the help of sign language interpreters.
- Helped laid off, downsized and reorganized employees as a career marketing coach. I helped them identify and quantify accomplishments, market themselves to prospective employers, prepare for job interviews. It was often necessary to help them face and overcome personal traits and qualities that kept them from being successful, deliver difficult news when necessary and pump them up to put one foot in front of the other no matter what.
- Helped customers deal with incomplete orders, missing products, billing problems, phone rep complaints, etc. As a sales and service team manager, I handled the customer escalation calls, supervised a team of 100+ sales and service phone agents, and managed the Upsell & Cross-sell Relationship Based Sales Program for a 400-person call center. I taught teams how to promote products and services on in-bound calls without alienating customers. Along the way, I also helped employees deal with interpersonal struggles, pay problems, scheduling changes, performance challenges, career decisions and co-worker communication "issues".
- Helped corporate, military, non-profit and government managers, supervisors and employees improve interpersonal communication skills, team dynamics, navigate change, etc. I started my business in 1997, supported three children as a single parent while doing this work and plan to continue in this line of work until the day I drop! (Hopefully later, than sooner!)
So, no. No one's given me a piece of paper yet, but the phone keeps ringing and I continue to work hard helping folks learn how to face challenge, navigate change and reach their goals.
How do you work with your clients? First, please call me at 719-266-8088 to discuss the challenge or changes you face. We'll see if I can help you and we'll strategize some ways to get you started towards achieving your goals. There is no charge for this time.
Next, if we both feel it's a "go", we'll develop a specific plan of action, determine how and when to schedule sessions (virtual/phone or in person) then discuss your financial investment.
Are you expensive? My accountant doesn't think so! I work with clients to make sure their investment is affordable. Those arrangements can include a flat rate for X number of sessions, monthly retainer or an hourly rate. I also accept Visa and MasterCard if that makes it easier for you.
Can I talk to people who have worked with you? Sure. After we chat and depending on your situation, I'll give you the names and contact info of those who I've helped with similar circumstances.
Hope this information is helpful. Looking forward to "meeting" with you when the timing is right!
Laura Benjamin, 719-266-8088
RECENT COACHING CLIENTS INCLUDE:
-
USOC Paralympic Athletes on public speaking and presentation skills
-
Director-level program manager on leadership skills
-
Caroline Waters, international singer, actor, entertainer on business marketing strategies
-
Mid-level manager struggling to meet organizational performance expectations
-
Compliance trainer on how to organize content and present with confidence
-
Non-profit CFO on whether to pursue a CEO position
-
Independent Virtual Assistant on blog content, business positioning
-
Branding experts on blog use and website search positioning
-
Contract technician/craftsman on how to market himself to a new job
-
Technology Global Sales Manager on career and communication skills
-
Fort Carson CO Morale, Welfare & Recreation Quality Advisor Team on how to facilitate Town Hall meetings
-
Military Officers on how to transition into the civilian job market
-
Wells Fargo frontline supervisors to improve interpersonal influence, supervisory and leadership skills
SELECTED TESTIMONIALS
Dear Laura, When I moved to a new position with Wells Fargo, it was interesting to note that no matter what the industry, we rely on the same set of core management skills to be profitable and productive. Since my new role was not only to drive business results, but also develop my people, who better than you to partner with again! Skills transfer between organizations...what you brought to us in the technology industry is equally as effective and as needed in the banking industry.
I appreciate the structured approach to your services, and the cooperative partnership and clear communication that's developed between us as you've coached each of my supervisors. You've not only given my people the tools and encouragement they need to grow, but you've also helped me understand how critical my role is in facilitating their development.
The investment Wells Fargo has made in your services is more than worth it and you've made my job much easier because I get results! My people now know how to deliver a message in a way that their "audience" is able to receive. They have a better understanding of why they do the things they do, and they accept responsibility for flexing their leadership style to meet employee needs. As they apply what they've learned from your sessions, they are getting better results and their confidence has increased exponentially.
Thank you again for continuing to be my "right hand" in management development. We look forward to keeping you very busy as the word spreads and more managers like myself take advantage of your valuable services! Denise Quinn, Vice President, Consumer Credit Group & Equity Direct, Wells Fargo
Dear Laura, It was a pleasure to work with you...I feel exptremely privileged that FrontRange Solutions would allow me the opportunity to work with you and as a result I have grown a great deal thanks to your help. I also would like to express my sincere gratitude for the way you were able to help me see how I can utilize the skills we worked on for professional growth and personal growth as well. The results you helped me achieve include: I have improved my ability to appreciate differences within my team as well as better understand and appreciate the talent I contribute. I have become much more comfortable dealing with conflict and as a result, my team also has been able to grow, express and resolve conflict at the lowest levels. I have been able to manage my team through several difficult transitions in a short period of time and still maintain positive morale and willingness to be flexible. In July we moved facilities, lost a team member in a RIF and lost our director who was transferred to another department. Other than the RIF, we have had 0 attrition on the team and are still improving our performance each month. Kellie Whitney, Director, Support Service, FrontRange Solutions
I am writing to explain the benefits I have personally gained from my interaction with Laura Benjamin. Laura met with me several times to discover my strengths and areas of opportunity...she helped me strengthen my leadership skills, realize what I am good at and what I bring to my job, understand the importance of body language and improve strategic thinking. I now understand there are different ways to be "strategic". Laura has been a wonderful person to work with and is someone I still look to for advice or assistance (with leadership issues). I utilize her website for helpful tips...she's helped me improve how I feel about being a leader and how to overcome obstacles. She is truly amazing to work with. Bernadette Carbajal, Supervisor, Consumer Credit Group, Wells Fargo
Working with Laura has enlightened me! I had the opportunity to learn more about myself, which allows me to interact better with others. This was an amazing experience! Michelle R. Nelson, Work Director, Consumer Credit Group, Wells Fargo
Tell Laura that the coaching was awesome. There was always a current scenario I could apply it to. Her sessions were better than therapy! Barb Lancaster, Supervisor, Consumer Credit Group, Wells Fargo
Copyright © 2001-2008 by Laura Benjamin and Pinehurst Press Ltd. All rights reserved.