“It is very easy and common for facilitators to stay on the surface and do personality profiles, look at teamwork buzzwords and play trust games. All of which can have their place but none that stick with me for very long. That you took us to another level below the surface and exposed some of our team’s very real, personal challenges and barriers and started us on the path to resolving them was unique and very appreciated. It will stick with us in a much more meaningful way. Thank you.”
– Stacey Kerkhoff, Regional Mgr, Transport Canada
“Thank you for controlling and managing our conflicted team very well. No matter what we threw at you, you stood your ground and handled things in a way that allowed everyone to share their feelings and experiences. I am very impressed – this has resulted in a very cohesive team.”
– Manager, Team Cohesion Session, Telus
“Our group of 10 consisted of office/administrative staff and professional facilitators. One of the most important outcomes of the session was that we developed a vision statement, ‘We Bring Life to Learning and Learning to Life’, which we are all thrilled with. Sandy and her co-leader guided us through the difficult process and made it seem easy! We rated the session 91.4%. I would not hesitate to recommend Sandy and her co-leader for any company who is looking for assistance in a strategic planning session, a visioning session or a team building workshop.”
– Leslie Clark, President, 3e Training Inc.
- “Sandy and her co-leader were attentive, open, intelligent, resourceful, compassionate, diplomatic, flexible and on track. The sensitivity and connection to the Hospice was a perfect fit. Thank you for sharing your lives with us in these moments we had together. Welcome to the family.”
– Barb Simpson, Care Aide
- “Great job! Keep doing what you do!”– Danielle Nore, Care Aide
- “Sandy and her co-leader were very intuitive and the content was excellent. Thank you so much.”
– Audrey Bader, Care Aide
– Participants, Prince George Hospice 2009 2-day Team Coaching Retreat
- “The leaders were great. They kept the ideas flowing and were conscious of time. The content was relevant to all of us. As a result of this session I feel empowered to voice my own concerns and needs and I believe our team will be more open to one another’s ideas, feelings, suggestions and alternatives.” – Ian Mauer, LEAP Program Instructor
- “The leaders were well prepared, knowledgeable and authentic. As a result of attending this workshop I will not walk away and pout if there is a conflict – I will persevere and reach solutions or compromises.” – Chris Inouye, LEAP Program Instructor
- “It was clear that the leaders knew about our LEAP program as the content was relevant – especially the exercises in designing a relationship alliance – this was very practical and relevant to our teaching situation. Thanks!” – Kristi Cattanach, LEAP Program
– Participants, “Team Coaching & Communications Skills”, Langara College
“Thank you (both) for designing a workshop that allowed participants to be authentic and brought forth some of the issues that we are dealing with in our workplace in a non-threatening manner. As participants, we were reminded of the complex nature of communication and the importance of being aware of our communication skills in a team teaching environment. The tools we were given to add to our communication toolbox and the practice activities during the workshop have enhanced the team’s awareness of how we interact with each other on a daily basis. In particular the ‘relationship alliances’ you demonstrated are a perfect fit with our team-teaching environment. Instructors related to the role modeling which enabled instructors to identify and reflect on their own communication styles. I am confident that the coaching skills, listening strategies, and role-plays of communication styles and their impact on others will not only strengthen our working relationships but also encourage instructors to verbalize their needs and be aware of other instructors needs in the program. In the end, it’s about building bridges and having open and honest communication!”
– Gillian Berson & Vicki Vogel, LEAP Program Leaders, Langara College
- “Thanks. You both did a great job – keep doing what you do!”
- “Thank you so much for leading our visioning session yesterday. Your delivery was genuine and had integrity. The work that you (and your co-leader) do both excites and inspires me. Everyone had positive things to say about the session. Thanks again!”
- “Sandy and her co-leader were respectful, had good energy and worked well together.”
- “(They) were attentive, open, intelligent, resourceful, compassionate, diplomatic, flexible and on track. “
- “Amazing work, I couldn’t have asked for more.”
- “Really well done. You had a program, but were also able to go with the flow.”
- “Very well done. Just what we needed.”
- “I think Sandy and her co-leader did an exceptional job.”
- “It is a challenge to get buy-in sometimes with mature/seasoned individuals. The ‘I have seen it all, done it all, you can’t impress or influence me’ attitude is not unusual. I am delighted to say that this attitude was not present in any members of our team that attended the session and that each participant seemed to get something out of it. The team members were engaged. Excellent Job!”
- “Thanks. You both did a great job!! You were right there with us from the very start. You had done your research and the content was 100% relevant.”
- “Thank you! I enjoyed it and appreciated your enthusiasm and commitment to our group.”
- “Thank you – your energy and professionalism were wonderful – well done.”
– Various Participants, Team Coaching Sessions
- “This session was perfect for an aspiring rock band. It was fun and I was impressed by the visioning segment and how our band is on the same page. We now have a greater understanding and appreciation of one another, improved goal focus and a clear vision of the future as a result of this session. Sandy and her co-leader complimented each other very well. Both were very effective at drawing information out of the band members and channelling it in a positive light.”
– Alex Whitcombe, Lead Guitarist
- “It was great to see the common ground in the band. We now have a better understanding of each other’s priorities and a future vision. Focus will be improved. More drive to succeed. A more solid foundation in which to build a better understanding of the band members and their personal goals. I have more clarity on the common threads that I didn’t know were there. Sandy and her co-leader had a great rapport with each other and a common passion for what they were doing.”
– JB Mason, Lead Singer
- “The stand out of the session was the brainstorming and realization of all our strengths and commonalities in ideas. We will have improved communication and greater teamwork to reach our common goals as a result of this session. The co-leaders had a good balance between personalities – seemingly more psychological analysis mixed with a more spiritual outlook.”
– Dave, Bass Guitarist
– Band Members, Dreams of Treason
- “Very good, brought people together
- “This program is great – we leaped over some hurdles as a team.”
- “We were able to speak our minds – safe space.”
- “A lot to take away – a lot of the team cohesive issues were addressed; time well spent for our group.”
- “I felt I was able to communicate something that I felt needed to be said; has changed how I see things from other’s eyes.”
- “Very enthusiastic. Positive. Fun 8 hours. Realistic. I will be more open minded.”
- “I appreciate how everyone was able to express themselves and their concerns without judgment; a lot better than other courses…because more participation among everyone and freedom to express but also the freedom not to express.”
- “Fantastic! – we need more of this! It has eased my personal tension that I have felt in the office as well as given me the opportunity to meet.”
- “Most other courses I’ve been to have not been as “comfortable” and “safe” as this one – really interactive; absolutely changed my views
- Enlightening. A lot better than other courses because there’s a lot more discussion and group participation.”
- “Great program, The speaker was well versed in her field re behavior, conflict resolution, assertion, and was pleasant and open/receptive. A lot better than other courses – I felt more engaged, and could identify with the content more so than other corporate meetings.”
- “This was the most effective program I have had the pleasure to attend in all the years of workshops I have “suffered” through; great to learn how to open doors and seek accountability.”
- “Productive; Sandy did an excellent job – very nice manner – non-confrontational; course made me stop and re-think my usual ways of dealing with issues.”
- “Entertaining; made you think; kept me interested.”
- “Excellent experience, learned so much, Sandy you were so informative and this training program was never boring – thank you; I feel welcome in the team now!”
- “It was enlightening; Sandy was an excellent person to listen to; learned how one individual can impact a whole room
- “This course was engaging, illuminating; it was an opportunity to get to know co-workers a lot better; it has revitalized some of my focus.”
- “Very good, I liked Sandy’s insightfulness and presence; best idea – to focus on inner thoughts/consciousness.”
- “I thought it was positive; constructive and well thought out; speaker was in control without being pushy and was willing to tailor her day to our expectations.”
- “This is by far the best training seminar I’ve participated in; changed my views that universal cooperation can start next door and at work.”
– Various Participants, Team Cohesion Sessions
