Leadership Training Boosting Local Businesses

DUBLIN - June 1, 2013 - PRLog -- Dublin - The local shop used to be one of the hubs of community life but these days, like the church, it isn't seeing much traffic. Most people, in an effort to live within their ever decreasing means, are now going in increasing numbers to their 'local' supermarket instead. The large corporate stores have, little by little, started to offer what the local shop did; newspapers, individual small and mid-size mineral drinks and chocolate in smaller quantities. Coupled with the increase in online shopping and delivery such as Littlewoods, local businesses are really starting to hurt.

Paradoxically, it's the threat of lost jobs and lost commerce that is bringing out the community spirit. Organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce are seeing increases in their membership and attendances at their local breakfast meetings where local business and referrals are the order of the week. Attendees are, by and large, self employed or small business owners. Local people promoting their local business.

Good news
One such company is The Path I Choose run by Lucan resident, Howard Hughes. The company offers Life and Business coaching as well as Leadership Training to these businesses. Previously the domain of large corporates that can afford HR departments, The Path I Choose offers personal development courses for individuals looking to expand their business and to people looking to advance their career or even re-engage in the workforce after maternity leave or redundancy.

"You must bear in mind" says Howard "one person in a company of 5 or 6 represents 20 per-cent of your workforce. One unhappy employee or one employee leaving is a seismic event. Coaching can act as a HR service in this case. In fact, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), in a 2009 survey, found that coaching was the most effective talent management activity used by organisations. Also bear in mind that owners in these business owners have not had to think 'outside the box' for the past twenty years when times were better and sales were plentiful." Indeed, many businesses have had to cope with the shift in consumer behaviour which has given rise to an increase of the term 'change management'.

The Masters Advantage
Not to be left behind by this shift in consumer behavious, Howard also provides an online curriculum in Personal Leadership Training. The course has been accredited as one third a part of an internationally recognised Masters Degree in Personal Leadership Training by the University of Chester and has received a prestigious Telly Award for excellence in education beating off 12,000 other entrants. The course is a year-long syllabus divided in to three, four month modules, each building on the next.

So what can it do for you?
Coaching is not the same as counseling or psychotherapy nor is it self help intended to 'fix' people. Rather it is an enhancement to existing abilities or a re-discovery of hidden ones. In a survey carried out by the company owners on students who had completed the course, the following information came to light.

"The 60-question survey was aimed at determining the changes in student’s lives since being introduced to the course. The results are undeniable. Categories that out-performed included an increase in confidence, accomplishing goals, adapting to change, and improvement in self-esteem. But the standout results were an increase of personal responsibility at 92%; enhanced life direction 95%; enrichment of judgement 95%; gain in personal commitment 98% and expansion of resourcefulness where students indicated an amazing increase of 99%.

The company owners worked on this university accredited education product for over two years. Honing the course to be the most innovative, comprehensive, online success education package available.

This course and the company were recipients of the Learning 100 Award for 2012. Learning 100 is an international awards program, honouring organizations by recognizing contributions to learning culture, innovation and organizational performance. Previous winners include American Express, Google, IBM, Adobe and Dell."

Howard recognises that coaching is a new service to the industry but says "For many larger institutions in the city, coaching is not a 'nice to have' it's a must have for it's executives and decision makers. Whether it's for more effective and clearer decision making, better communication or getting that work/life balance, financial and legal companies have been using coaches for years so it's time to bring that level of thinking to the SMEs to increases the chances of their success. Support for local businesses and employment is a key factor in our economic recovery."