How can you do yourself justice when you’re being interviewed for your own job? This was the question facing people in a local authority service area that was undergoing reorganisation. VOX helped them find answers and grow in confidence.
Challenge
A group of senior council managers and some of their less highly-ranked colleagues were caught up in a major reorganisation and downsizing. This meant they had to apply for their own jobs, in competition with people from outside the organisation. As part of the process, they were required to make presentations and attend job interviews.
Clearly, the stakes were high– much higher than for applicants who are just looking to move from one job to another. These people were well used to handling tough situations in their day-to-day work, but this was different: the context, the process and at least one of the potential outcomes were deeply troubling. In view of this, and with so much to lose, how could they gear up for the challenge, perform to the best of their ability and win through?
Solution
VOX was asked to design and deliver four days of group and individual training that would enable each applicant to do themselves justice. The sessions focused on developing the participants’ confidence, helping them to recognise that the selectors’ perceptions of them would be governed by how they spoke as well as what they said, and equipping them with practical techniques for making a positive impact.
As well as exploring a range of specific topics – managing nerves, speaking with energy and passion, handling interview questions and so forth – the coaching was intended to:
- Provide the participants with skills that would also be useful in other contexts
- Help them recognise that they were still valued as professionals
- Help them stay motivated in spite of the circumstances
- Provide a safe environment for open communication
Results
These were talented and committed people; VOX’s job was to enhance their ability to demonstrate this through the way they communicated.
Virtually all of them succeeded in retaining their jobs. They went into the presentations and interviews with their heads held high, engaged the audience and earned respect and trust. They demonstrated that they still had passion for the work and were prepared to embrace change.
As in so many cases, VOX has been invited back to deliver a different kind of coaching now that the organisation has undergone further reorganisation and is keen to regroup and look to the future. VOX looks forward to running both team days and one-to-one coaching sessions for such outstanding members of staff.
What our clients say
I have been pleased to work with VOX Coaching since 2007 … Pete Bailie and his colleagues work very professionally and have engaged wholeheartedly in meeting our needs and designing material to our briefs.
[The] interpretation of the brief, tailoring of content and varied delivery made for a productive and enjoyable event … I wouldn’t hesitate to use Pete or VOX again.
… an inspiring coach who makes an enduring difference to the way people communicate, lead and manage.
Participants find the sessions great fun, and at the same time are amazed at how blind they might have been to their own and others’ behaviours, be it in a meeting, or relationships with junior or senior colleagues.
On the day of the interview I was barely nervous (which is very unusual for me), very confident and performed very well…in fact I would say ended up enjoying it. They have awarded me a fellowship, so it must have worked!
I had a fantastic experience with VOX Coaching … in preparation for interviews for large grants from research councils. In simple words, without [their] help, it would have been very challenging to perform well at the interview.
I attended a one-day group session … in preparation for a funding interview. Pete has a great understanding of the academic funding landscape, which helped demystify the process for me and my fellow attendees. I would highly recommend.
Transformational, inspiring and fun … Liberating that inner voice, being able to ‘read’ body language and vary styles of communication are the secrets this course unlocked for me.
… the single best presentation & communication skills trainer I have ever worked with. Deeply knowledgeable, personable, adaptable, and infectiously enthusiastic about his subject.
Six months after my last coaching session with Pete I am still applying what I learnt. Pete is a creative coach with an inspiring array of tools and experience to call upon when coaching clients. Our sessions were focussed, creative and challenging, helping me to target those areas of my professional life I want to develop further.
