FAQ

A. Our aim is simply to enable people to be better communicators – no matter what communication challenges they are facing. We develop and deliver training and coaching that takes care of both the “HOW” and the “WHAT” of communication. This means working with our clients not only to enhance their interpersonal communication skills (the “soft skills” if you like) but also to develop their understanding of the processes in which these communication skills must be applied to good effect.

A typical example to illustrate this can be taken from the common business scenario of facilitating a meeting. Of course, it is crucial to understand and apply the mechanics of “WHAT” makes a good meeting (i.e. having an agreed agenda, getting commitment to a clear goal, managing the time…). However, successful meeting management is not just about the process or the content. As well as moving everyone forward to the desired outcome, it also requires skill in the “HOW”; the ability to say the right thing at the right time, in the right way in order to manage such things as the dialogue and the relationships effectively.

A. Excellent communicators can be more certain of success because not only do they know what outcome they want to achieve, they also understand that communication is not just about imparting information, it is about exerting influence. The goal of communication is more than simply telling, it is a pro-active process of stimulating change in those around us through what we say to them.

A. We have to actively attend to the messages we send. We have to be aware of the unintentional messages we may give out that perhaps conflict with our conscious aims. Once we begin to manage our communication strategically, we can be more certain that we make the most of the messages we send. Training, coaching and consultancy from The Training Box places this understanding and ability at the heart of such typical communication processes as meetings, negotiations, presentations etc. or into the context of the type of effective communication skills needed in certain workplace functions and tasks e.g. leadership, being a manager AND a coach or building customer relationships. If appropriate, we focus too on the aspects of individual personal impact that may need a little work in order to maximise the impression made on others – body language, voice, tone and expression.

A. The Training Box was established in 2006 in direct response to the growing understanding that excellence, especially in business, is achieved by those who communicate most effectively. As a team of associates we are all credible, proven business experts with solid, international track records. We offer a wide range of professional experience: marketing, sales, media, PR, event organisation, language training, fund-raising, IT, franchising, negotiations, mediation, conflict resolution, contract execution, consultancy, public speaking and acting! We have all worked at senior levels in the international business world and some of us have hands-on experience as entrepreneurs ourselves in the small business environment.

A. Our primary working language is English. For the most part, our experience lies not just in working with native English speakers but also in training and coaching in the international environment where English is being used as the common language. We are very sensitive to the challenge and understand fully what it is like to have to communicate and get your message across in another language. If you wish training in a language other than English, our team of Associates and Cooperation Partners speak numerous languages and we are happy to offer certain programmes as well as coaching in German, Italian or French.

A. There are several ways in which we provide a deeper appreciation of the high standards that we aim to maintain. Firstly, we can arrange for one of our Associates to call on you in person. With bases in London, Geneva and Vienna, we are happy to go where you need us. Alternatively, we can arrange for a virtual meeting using the telephone and internet combined to present ourselves to you and carry out an informal exploration of your needs. More recently, we have introduced our ‘Test Drive’ concept. We come to you at your facilities (at a very reasonable and agreed cost), providing an opportunity for a small group of select colleagues of your choice to try out some of our training modules. Whichever option you choose we are, of course, willing to provide individual referees from our list of blue chip clients.

A. At the outset, we agree with you a set fee for the delivery of an in-house programme with no hidden costs. (This set fee does not include the cost of the training location, accommodation/ travel expenses for the participants or trainers.) We make no charge for the discussion and preparation time we invest in helping you select exactly the right course and content to suit your specific communication needs and challenges. We devise the programme and supply all the material required: individual participant manuals, re-usable Training Box preparation tools, personal filmed sequences (either as DVD’s or directly downloaded onto participants’ laptops at the training). We also provide comprehensive pre- and post-course administrative support (that can save you work), certificates of completion, post- course telephone support for participants for up to three months - and not least a detailed trainer report with consolidated feedback from the participants’ evaluation questionnaires.

A. Our aim is to meet your needs in the most cost effective way for your organisation. We can be flexible in group size and course length by tailoring our approach specifically for you. Consequently typical programmes vary from one-to-one coaching, small group coaching (up to 3 participants), workshops for groups of 6 or less and training programmes for groups of 8-10 or more. We are equipped to handle symposium meetings for much larger groups, providing simultaneous workshops and key-note speakers. The length of the courses can reflect the budget you have to invest in the training, provided of course that we have reached a clear and mutual understanding of the learning outcomes that are achievable in the time set aside for the coaching or training in question. In the past, we have offered a wide variety of flexible solutions responding to the required framework of our clients’ needs.