Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

One of the most practical FAQs to start with! 

Our services are usually provided virtually as this is the most convenient and cost-effective option for most of our clients. However, we are also able to also provide in-person services if required in most cases. We can provide you with an individual quote if this is an option you would like to consider.

Another one of the common FAQs – we offer a complimentary initial consultation to all clients, during which we will discuss your current circumstances, goals and what we can offer you.

Mary is always the first point of contact on any initial complimentary consultation so that clients have a personal connection point with her. Mary works with as many clients as possible, but in the event that she is fully booked at the time of your request you will be given the option to either wait until she has space available, or be connected with another consultant or coach with Mary retaining oversight.

Where necessary and agreed with clients, we work with a variety of specialists and advisors to ensure that our clients receive the best service possible from the most experienced and successful people who fit their circumstances and needs.

One of the more practical FAQs but just as important!

Individual consultancy sessions are invoiced and payable in advance of the session. Our ongoing consultancy work is usually invoiced as a series of instalments in advance as each section of work is completed, although depending on the precise nature of the consultancy work other arrangements can also be applied. The best payment arrangements for your particular project will be discussed and agreed with you prior to any work commencing.

Individual coaching sessions are invoiced and payable in advance of the session. Our packaged coaching work is invoiced in advance for a set number of sessions, as discussed and agreed with you prior to any coaching sessions commencing. Where our coaching services are retained on an ongoing basis, we will discuss and agree with you the best payment solutions to meet the circumstances.

Our invoices can be paid either by secure credit or debit card payment or by bank transfer. Please note that we do not accept PayPal or cryptocurrency payments.

This is one of the most important FAQs potential clients have, and rightly so. Although we have never yet had a client report that they were dissatisfied with any of our services, we consider it imperative that all clients have a full service guarantee available to them for peace of mind. 

For our coaching work we only retain fees where clients are satisfied with the services we have provided. If for whatever reason you are not satisfied with our coaching services, you just need to tell us so within 48 hours of completing the session and we will provide you with a full refund for that session.

For our consultancy work, wherever possible we work to specific outcomes agreed with clients at the outset and we only retain our fees where the agreed outcomes have been met or exceeded. Where is it not possible to work to specific outcomes, if for whatever reason you are not satisfied with our consultancy services you just need to tell us so within 48 hours of the completion of a session or piece of work and we will provide you with a full refund for that session or piece of work.

This is one of the most common FAQs we receive – there are indeed a lot of different labels given to various forms of coaching, which is often further complicated by the fact that coaching terms are also often used interchangeably, and the fact that there is frequently considerable overlap between the different types of coaching.

As a general guide, business coaching is usually appropriate for business owners, executive coaching for any level of professional looking to enhance any of their professional capabilities, leadership coaching for those looking specifically to enhance solely leadership skills and CEO coaching does what it says on the tin! 

There are of course a lot of different varieties of coaching labels beyond these fundamentals, such as ‘business transformation coaching’ or ‘executive development coaching’ for example. 

From our perspective, the specific label attached is not really relevant, as we will in any event tailor a coaching program specifically designed for your needs and circumstances. The most important factor by far is that the coaching provides what it needs to, and delivers the results you want it to.

If you are unsure which type of coaching to ask for, or what would be most appropriate for you, please don’t worry! Just tell us what you are aiming for in a free consultation and we will create a bespoke coaching program which precisely meets your requirements. 

One of the most essential FAQs for anyone considering coaching.

Coaching can have a wide variety of benefits depending on the focus and scope of the experience. Our previous clients have benefitted in a range of ways including:

• Better time management
• Providing career path clarity
• Managing stress & emotions effectively
• Creating work-life balance
• Building confidence & finding their voice
• Enhancing communication skills & inter-personal effectiveness
• Improving decision-making
• Developing strategic and big picture thinking abilities
• Managing change, challenges & transitions
• Navigating organisational dynamics & company cultures
• Enhancing entrepreneurial skills
• Building effective leadership skills & executive presence
• Developing holistic business strategies
• Improving resilience, adaptability & effective mindsets
• Creating strategic processes
• Managing & building teams effectively

This is always one of the important FAQs for potential clients. Our coaching is designed to help you create substantial, lasting change and achieve long-term, sustainable growth. The results you achieve depend heavily on your goals, time dedicated to coaching and commitment. However, many of our clients report experiencing significant changes within just the first few sessions. We will work with you from the start to set realistic milestones and help you stay on track.

Another one of the practical and important FAQs – our coaching is designed to fit into your life, not overwhelm it. We will create an actionable plan that complements your schedule and priorities. The time you invest now can save you time in the long run by helping you become more focused and efficient – in fact, having more time is one of the main benefits that the most clients gain from coaching.

Another one of the most common FAQs and understandably so. Consultancy services vary significantly depending on the particular business, market, circumstances and goals, but in essence business and management consultancy work usually involves a comprehensive analysis of the business as it currently is plus recommendations for changes and additions to be made to the business in order to achieve the desired goals and/or solve problems.

Our consultancy services can be engaged just for the analysis of the business and provision of recommendations. In addition, we can also help the business to execute the recommendations if desired.

This is again one of the common FAQs, as there is frequently misunderstanding around exactly what these terms cover and which service is most suitable. 

Business coaching essentially focusses on guiding and empowering business owners through providing new perspectives and ideas, engaging in insightful questioning and challenging assumptions. It focuses mainly on the business owner and their personal goals and capabilities, but within the context of the business and the goals of the business. The aim is to align the business owner’s aspirations with the strategic growth of the business. 

Business consultancy on the other hand, focusses on objectively analysing a business and all of its operations in significant detail, in order to make concrete recommendations as to how to improve all aspects of the business and achieve the desired outcomes. Beyond just this advisory capacity, business consultancy can also involve direct impementation of recommended actions by the consultant. 

Another important one of the FAQs as these terms are often used interchangeably and there is considerable overlap between them. Commonly business consultancy is associated with specific, time-limited projects which analyse and assist a business at a particular stage, management consultancy with a more long-term involvement and a focus on strategic direction and the lifetime of the business, and business advisory with objective advice and guidance relating to a specific problem or aim that a business wants to achieve.

However, from our perspective the distinction between the various terms is not important. We always discuss each business’s particular circumstances and aims and tailor our consultancy plans to be ideally customised to meet these.

One of the most important FAQs! Our previous clients have benefited in a wide range of ways including: 

• Increasing revenue and profits
• Enhancing productivity
• Recruiting and retaining top talent
• Better time management
• Improving company culture
• Rapidly scaling their business
• Building customer loyalty
• Optimising processes
• Enhancing work quality
• Thriving in hard times
• Increasing and diversifying revenue streams
• Enhancing effectiveness
• Reducing expenditure
• Refining and improving business strategies
• Streamlining operations
• Increasing customer satisfaction

Again, one of the most relevant FAQs for clients. The speed depends on the exact circumstances of the business and what the business is aiming to achieve, however our consultancy services are designed for as rapid and impactful effect as possible. We will discuss and agree with you at the outset what we are aiming to achieve and the timescales within which we anticipate to be able to do so.