Speak Up and Step Up 1-1 Programmes

You CAN learn Confident Public Speaking – in as little as six weeks!

Confident Public Speaking, Presentation and Train the Trainer Skills training and coaching in Brighton, Sussex and beyond, with Philippa Hammond

My three step system takes business people struggling with public speaking nerves to freedom from anxiety and fear.

For complete beginners, the nervous speaker and brushing up the basics if it’s been a while

Learn and practice your newly acquired skills in a safe, supportive space

Develop the confidence and skill you need, to:

Feel, look and sound better, when you’re speaking in person and online

Craft and deliver a great message about you and your business

… in as little as six weeks.

All six one-hour 1-1 sessions are delivered via Zoom/Teams. Available as daytime, lunch-and-learn, evening and weekend sessions.

Confident Public Speaking three-step process

🌟Step 1: Feel better about yourself and your public speaking with my nerve-beating confidence-boosting 1-1 coaching

🌟Step 2: Learn the essential insider skills for planning, writing and delivering a memorable message that trainers, public speakers and performers have always used

🌟Step 3: Practice all your new skills in a safe space with my honest, respectful and constructive feedback and guidance.

Confident Public Speaking programme content details

🌟Step 1

Nerves, confidence and personal impact – feel, look and sound better in person and online

Goal setting

Elevator pitch – introducing yourself in a business setting

Nerves

Fight or flight

Think + feel + behave = results

Your audience

Visual impact – Your body language

Vocal impact – Your voice

Zoom – Technical tips on positioning your device and lens for best impact

Zoom – Making your available light work for you

Zoom – How to look your best to your screen audience

Zoom – Actor tips for sounding better on mic

🌟Step 2

Verbal impact – Planning and preparing your content and material, ready to deliver a great message

Audience analysis – their pain, their pleasure, their drivers

Setting aim and objectives, for their new knowledge, skills, attitudes and permanent change in behaviour

Mind mapping, prioritising and structuring your content

Creating PowerPoints

Facilitation skills

Reading aloud

Q&A

Dealing with difficult people and situations

🌟Step 3

Practice and polish

A practical business presentation, with honest, respectful and constructive feedback.

This can be a dress rehearsal of any important upcoming presentation, if required.

Testimonials

My 1-1 coaching clients say:

🗨️ ‘Highly recommended’ 

Issac Theophilos, author of the Amazon bestseller book ‘How To Get Outstanding.’

🗨️‘You were a great help to me’

Elvira Gabos, Southern Water, Water Industry Award winner 2019

🗨️‘A massive confidence boost’

James Clammer, author and Carnegie medal nominee

🗨️‘An experience that just kept giving!’ 

James Stalley, founding director Pure Choice Partnership

🗨️‘Philippa was so easy to work with’

Stephanie Cronin, founder/owner Summers Photography

🗨️‘Philippa offers excellent, practical advice in a friendly manner’

Cathal McCabe, solicitor, Sherrards Employment Law Solicitors 

🗨️‘Equipping you with the necessary skills to conquer public speaking’

Rachel Nicholas, solicitor, Sherrards Employment Law Solicitors

🗨️‘It’s life-changing to have the confidence and know-how to speak well in public’

Corinne Card, co-founder Full Story Media, trainer, speaker, digital PR

Fees

A payment plan of two instalments is available.

Contact

For a free consulting call with me to find out how I can help you feel, project and inspire new confidence.

I’m only enrolling four new clients per month on my Programme – my books are currently open.

Looking forward to working with you!

Philippa Hammond

Confident Public Speaking skills coaching for leadership, training and business

1-1 Zoom Power Hours

From nervous newbie to more confident and positive in just one hour!

Talking Speaking [Confident Public Speaking and Presentation Skills], Trainer Essentials and You Can Learn to Love LinkedIn 1-1 online training

With Philippa Hammond

Brighton, Sussex, UK and beyond

From nervous newbie to more confident and positive in just one hour!

If time’s pressing and you need a quick intensive 1-1 focus on your needs … here it is.

I’m offering my 3-step 1-1 Zoom Power Hours on a range of business and personal skills.

Just click the relevant link to learn more about how I can help you


Talking Speaking

Confident Public Speaking and Presentation Skills for leadership, business and social life



Trainer Essentials

Transforming brilliant SMEs into confident, effective new trainers

You Can Learn to Love LinkedIn

For anyone who’s never used it or would love to get better at it


How it works

Each Power Hour works like this:

Step 1 – we work out where you are now, where you need to be and what we’ll do to get you there

Step 2 – our 1-1 Zoom power hour where I’ll share some insider essentials to boost you to where you want to be

Step 3 – your personalised written session notes, plus my bonus PDF download for your further development

£99

That’s it. No hidden extras.

Looking forward to working with you!

Philippa Hammond

Contact for bookings

Welcome to Speaking Well in Public

Deal with nerves, build confidence, learn a vital business skill

Confident Public Speaking, Presentation and Train the Trainer Skills training and coaching in Brighton, Sussex and beyond, with Philippa Hammond

Scared of public speaking – but you know you have to do it, if you’re going to win those brilliant opportunities?

Needing your teams to speak about your business – but you know they lack the confidence and skills to give a great message about you and what you do?

Ready to deal with nerves and build confidence, enhance personal and professional image and get your message across with style?

Welcome to Speaking Well In Public

Confident public speaking and presentation skills corporate workshops

Train the trainer corporate workshops

Private 1-1 personal development programmes

With Philippa Hammond

Brighton, Sussex, UK and beyond

Philippa Hammond

Whether you need to speak for leadership, training and business, performance and social occasions, education, employability or as a great new life skill, I can help.

The ancient Greeks knew a thing or two about public speaking. They recognised that an audience needs to like, trust and understand you before they’ll start listening to you.

And they knew about ‘glossophobia, or ‘tongue terror’ – the fear of public speaking.

Me too. I’m standing on stage about three quarters of the way through the first ever performance of my first solo show. And then something terrifying happens. A voice in my head starts saying ‘You can’t do this. You don’t know your lines. They don’t like you.’ I freeze, my mind goes blank – and I walk off stage.

That could have been it for me as an actor. But the next night I went on – and I did it. And the audience came back. And the next year we took the show to Edinburgh, to four star reviews.

I beat the fear – and so can you.

Now I combine my pro actor / voice artist skills with my corporate learning and development consultancy experience in my Confident Public Speaking and Train the Trainer events.

I’ll share the secrets actors, speakers and trainers have used for centuries to deal with nerves and develop confidence, feel, look and sound better, and craft and deliver a great message about you and your business to any audience.

Simple, straightforward – anyone can learn, with Speaking Well In Public.

The benefits of Confident Public Speaking skills

  • Deal with nerves and build confidence
  • Enhance your business, social and professional life
  • Improve your personal impact at meetings, conferences and networking events
  • Build your professional brand
  • Create a confident and credible lasting first impression
  • Capture and keep your audience’s attention
  • Get your message across
  • Win your next contract
  • Secure your next role or promotion
  • Deliver training that causes real business change
  • Develop your team
  • Improve internal communications
  • Improve the way the company is perceived by the outside world

Training for leadership, training and business, for education, employability, performance, work and life

What they’re saying

Feel much better about presenting … Fantastic … I can’t wait to put it into practice … Exceeded all expectations … A great day with Philippa @TalkingSpeaking learning something different!’

[Received later:] ‘ My day with you continues to pay off. On Friday I organised a Dispute Resolution Seminar for about 60 lawyers. We had speakers from all over plus some very eminent High Court Judges. I did not even get nervous this time, after all after the National Conference with over 500 delegates, why would I?!?!’

Sharon Kay, Partner Kay & Pascoe LLP @SharonLKay

‘…. I highly recommend Philippa to anyone who would like to speak confidently and well in public.”

Claire Griffin, Claire Griffin Talent Ltd

” … thank you for the help with my recent public speaking foray … I don’t think the speech could have gone better … I had some lovely comments afterwards from people I really respect, who asked how I was so calm”

Joanne Edwards, chair of Resolution
[the national family lawyers association]

More testimonials

Philippa Hammond

Contact

 

Philippa Hammond

Confident Public Speaking, Presentation and Train the Trainer Skills training and coaching in Brighton, Sussex and beyond, with Philippa Hammond

Contact

Corporate Learning & Development Consultant, Trainer  and Actor

Training skills for business

I deliver a unique combination of corporate learning and development experience in tough regulated, commercial and law enforcement fields, plus stage, camera and voice expertise as an actor

Training, writing and inspirational speaking on public speaking, presentation and train the trainer skills

Author of the new book Talking Speaking [currently in production]

Winner of the Plain English Campaign Inside Write Award for the article Public Speaking – Handling Nerves

Corporate in-house workshops

Creating and delivering acclaimed public speaking and train the trainer essentials master-classes, workshops and programmes

Public speaking and presentation skills

Dealing with nerves, developing confidence and building personal brand

Training and facilitation techniques

1-1 training

Inspiring 1-1 programmes for personal development and success

Corporate learning and development short-term contracts

I’m an experienced corporate learning and development consultant, offering a range of services essential for developing business impact.

I’ve had great opportunities to carry out short term (a few weeks to eighteen months) high-impact learning and development contracts with well-known organisations.

If you’re considering developing your corporate learning and development programme at any stage, from first inklings to full implementation – I’d be pleased to talk.

Planning, design, delivery and evaluation of powerful corporate learning and development events

Leading and directing projects with major organisational development impact

Philippa Hammond CV Summer 2024

The ADDIE training cycle

Analyse – Learning/performance needs analysis, audience and business needs

Design – Aim, objectives, required outcomes, blueprint for client sign off

Develop – Content creation including course agendas, trainer scripts, PowerPoints, practical exercises, scenarios, delegate manuals, roleplays etc

Implement – Delivering and facilitating classroom and online events, roleplay, video and audio, workshops, development programmes, 1-1  training, feedback and continuing professional development

Evaluate – Kirkpatrick four stage training impact evaluation process

SAM [Successive Approximation Model]
Prepare – Design – Develop

Acting, voice over and role-play

Actor and voiceover skills for drama, corporate video and audio presentations

Role-play skills for recruitment, training, development and assessment events

A network of video, audio and IT technical experts, actors and voice artists

Professional Memberships

Spotlight

 

Qualifications

BA Honours English Literature

Certificate in Training Practice


Philippa Hammond

Corporate Learning & Development Consultant, Trainer, Actor
You can be sure you’ll always speak with, meet with and work with me
Your message will always be clear

Clients include

Grace Eyre Foundation

Gene Commerce

 


RoleplayUK Logo

Public speaking and Presentation Skills

Speaking Well in Public presents:

Confident Public Speaking, Presentation and Train the Trainer Skills training and coaching in Brighton, Sussex and beyond, with Philippa Hammond

Corporate in-house events at your venue

Beginners: Confident Public Speaking

Improvers: Practical Public Speaking

Experienced speakers: Professional Public Speaking

Train the Trainer programmes for subject matter experts looking to get into training

Bespoke live online group programmes are available for your teams – contact to discuss

Live online 1-1 coaching programmes

Power HoursTalking Speaking, LinkedIn and Employability

Coaching programmesSpeak Up and Step Up six week programmes

I’ve delivered my public speaking, presentation and training skills events in Brighton and Sussex, in London, all over the UK, in the Channel Islands, Istanbul [Turkey], Sana’a [Yemen], Kyiv [Ukraine], Johannesburg [South Africa], Libreville [Gabon], Dallas [USA], Toronto [Canada], Brunei and Cologne [Germany].

Wherever you and your business may be – I can help.

Do contact me if you’d like to discuss booking a live or online event, as you prefer.

Philippa Hammond

Speaking Well In Public is based in Brighton, East Sussex, UK

Confident Public Speaking [beginners] Brighton & beyond

About our one-day in-house Confident Public Speaking beginners’ course

Confident Public Speaking, Presentation and Train the Trainer Skills training and coaching in Brighton, Sussex and beyond, with Philippa Hammond

Classroom-based in-house corporate group workshops and development programmes

Contact

Philippa Hammond

Level 1 – Confident Public Speaking – new skills for beginners

‘ … It’s been a really empowering, supportive & confidence building session. It was engaging & I’m so glad we’ve done it … ‘ The Student Room Delegate

Speaking well in public is a vital personal and professional skill.

You can book this in-house course as part of your

  • conference programme
  • training and development programme
  • management and leadership development programme
  • team-building activities
  • outplacement support for your people who will be leaving you soon

Length: One day 10-4

Audience: Beginner

About the course

Our Confident Public Speaking course introduces the skills needed to plan, prepare, deliver and evaluate a successful business presentation for all occasions.

The ideal course for complete beginners, for the nervous speaker and for those who would like to brush up their skills and build confidence.

Delegates discover why we get nervous, what nerves do to us and how we can deal with them, and explore techniques for developing a strong, confident voice and effective body language to support the message.

This course features lots of practical speaking experience, useful exercises and helpful feedback in an enjoyable, safe environment. You will also receive valuable guidance for the future from the tutor, Philippa Hammond.

Our courses can be tailored to your business requirements – see our menu for details

Course programme

Confident Public Speaking:

Skills for Beginners

10.00 Welcome and introductions

  • The “Elevator Pitch”

Dealing with nerves

  • Why we get nervous and what nerves do us when speaking in public
  • Confidence-building techniques

Refreshments

Speaking well in public – techniques used by performers, politicians and broadcasters for personal impact

  • Controlling relaxation, posture and breathing
  • Developing a strong and interesting voice
  • Using body language, non-verbal communication and eye contact

Lunch

How to plan for success

  • Your audience and their needs
  • Setting aim and objectives

How to prepare for success

  • Material, structure and methods of delivery
  • Speaking notes
  • Visual aids
  • Dealing with Q &A , getting your message across, finishing with style

Practical exercises and feedback throughout the day

Q & A, Notes handout

16.00 Close

Fees

For further information, discussions and bookings:

Contact

Philippa Hammond

Practical Public Speaking [improvers] Brighton & beyond

About our Practical Public Speaking course: a concentrated practical public speaking workout for those with a little experience

Confident Public Speaking, Presentation and Train the Trainer Skills training and coaching in Brighton, Sussex and beyond, with Philippa Hammond

Classroom-based in-house corporate group workshops and development programmes

Contact

Philippa Hammond

Level 2: Practical Public Speaking – Skills for improvers

A one-day course 10 – 4

Audience: Improver

The course is delivered to a small group of six delegates to allow maximum time for practical experience and effective feedback.

You may have attended our Confident Public Speaking course, have begun to address those public speaking nerves and are looking for more practice.

You may already have some public speaking experience and feel you would now benefit from a concentrated day of practical presentation experience, plus feedback to help you develop to a higher level and improve performance.

You may wish your team members to acquire further professional gloss and style when representing you and your organisation to colleagues, clients and the press.

About the course

Practical Public Speaking offers a concentrated practical workout, a public speaking boot camp that will have you on your feet and speaking to a small group, observing your peers delivering their prepared presentations and sharing honest, respectful and constructive feedback throughout the day. You will also receive valuable guidance for the future from the tutor, Philippa Hammond.

Pre-course preparation

Each delegate prepares two presentations to deliver on the day:

  • Elevator Pitch – a short one minute speech that answers the question “And what do you do?”
  • Business Presentation – a fifteen – twenty minute presentation on a business relevant topic

Any other exercises will be set on the day

Course Programme

Gather for coffee and networking

10.00 Morning session Including refreshments break

  • Welcome and introductions
  • The Elevator Pitch
  • Discussion and feedback after each pitch
  • Presentations
  • Discussion and feedback after each presentation

Lunch

Afternoon session including refreshments break

  • Presentations continued
  • Discussion and feedback after each presentation
  • Evaluation, Q and A

16.00 Close

Notes

Do feel free to bring examples, handouts and anything else that will enhance your presentation.

Practical exercises and feedback throughout

Fees

Contact

Professional Public Speaking [experienced] Brighton & beyond

If it’s worth presenting, it’s worth polishing first. A pitching and presenting masterclass.

Confident Public Speaking and Confident Public Speaking, Presentation and Train the Trainer Skills training and coaching in Brighton, Sussex and beyond, with Philippa Hammond

Classroom-based in-house corporate group workshops and development programmes

Contact

Philippa Hammond

Professional Public Speaking

A presentation skills masterclass

Professional, experienced speakers preparing to deliver:

High-stakes presentations and keynote speeches

Pitches for business, funding, contracts and clients

Yes, great content is vital – you may have prepared a slick PowerPoint, beautiful brochures and all your facts and figures neatly presented – but have you considered your delivery style?

People buy from people – not from PowerPoints or pretty pictures.

The way you present your material, how you look and how you sound, will affect and influence their response to your message.

Your masterclass includes:

A dress rehearsal, a practical dry run of your prepared presentation, pitch or workshop material to an independent impartial consultant

Honest, respectful, constructive feedback on how your material and your team will look and sound to your prospective client

The chance to identify any snags while there’s still time to fine tune, polish and enhance your material and professional, credible delivery style.

If it’s worth presenting – it’s worth polishing first.

Fees

Contact

To discuss your needs or make a booking

Philippa Hammond

Testimonials: You Can Learn to Love LinkedIn

My 1-1 online You Can Learn to Love LinkedIn Power Hour will help you polish your profile, build your network and join a global conversation.

My 1-1 online You Can Learn to Love LinkedIn Power Hour will help you polish your profile, build your network and join a global conversation.

“Thankyou so much for the advice you have given me.

It has really helped and given me a broader understanding of how the corporate world may work.

Philippa provided an engaging and thought-provoking session around the professional use of LinkedIn.

The session gave relevant insight into the business and corporate environment.

Would highly recommend the training.”

Sophie Methuen-Turner, Actor/Agent, The Working Actor Agency

“An extremely helpful session. I found your direction insightful, particularly notes on gearing my profile towards one goal / industry / focus.

I really appreciated your calm and authoritative manner, and the mention of the fence post as it was something I didn’t know.

Writing the profile for the reader and not myself was a take I hadn’t considered and useful to keep in mind.

I didn’t know the recommendations tab existed before and now I have a list of contacts to ask to recommend me.

You also brought to my attention that the LinkedIn algorithm work is the same as Meta in terms of regular posting, and videos increasing my reach.

My mind works better with a given structure so it’s useful to be given clear instructions and aims by a professional who knows what they’re doing.

I appreciated the advice of going online to interact with other accounts before posting.

I now have a clear set of aims to work towards and the tools to do so.”

Eva Marie Wilshere, Script Writer, Editor, Director, Video Editor

“Having someone go through LinkedIn ins and outs in a way that makes it relevant to you is time well spent.

Philippa was able to cut through the noise and guide me clearly through the bits that were applicable to my business.

I now have action steps to take and feel confident that I can start using LinkedIn as an effective marketing tool and lead generator for my business.”

Jad Orlinska, EFT Health and Wellbeing Coach

Testimonials: Leigh Crabtree

“I have had the extreme pleasure of managing and working alongside Philippa for over a year.

She was initially contracted to support and upskill our existing department trainers. However, it was quickly identified that she was able to exceed this initial requirement and deliver far more for our department. Throughout her contract she has taken on many varied tasks to help introduce more consistency and integrity to our team’s function.

I have been constantly pleased with her delivery and contribution to my team. She has upskilled our entire department and we continue to reap the benefits of her employment long after her contract ended.

Philippa introduced and delivered many training and upskilling sessions for our Customer Support Team as well as training for the Trainers.

Deliverables included: Introducing a Learning Agreement for Trainees, introducing QA ‘Golden Thread’ to our Training plans, created and delivered Coaching and Feedback sessions (Pitched from Entry Level to Senior Management), Scams Session, Peer Review, Presentation skills and Personal Brand training, Department Inductions – to name a few!

Feedback from those she has worked with or trained across the business has always been outstanding. Here are just a few samples of the feedback received:

– ‘Philippa’s delivery and enthusiasm is excellent, clear and concise, which helps promote a good understanding of how these models fit into TPR, our TPR behaviours, KPI’s and key drivers to obtain Results’

– ‘I just want to say thank you for all the training you have provided, I am finding it extremely useful and I am learning a lot about how I can change my approach to my thinking and doing in my role’

– ‘I was really impressed with the delivery of the training today. If I didn’t know Philippa hadn’t worked the CST phone lines, I wouldn’t have guessed from that training. I’m honestly always a bit sceptical of getting process information from anyone who doesn’t have first-hand knowledge of actually working our processes. That was a really good piece of training. Really engaging and interesting, very well delivered. Two thumbs up!’

– I was instantly captivated by Philippa’s ability to hold attention and deliver training in such a clear, concise and considered manner.

Philippa has been a true asset for our Customer Support Team and the business as a whole. My only sadness is I didn’t have a permanent role for her when her contract ended. She’s an excellent addition to any team seeking a consummate Training Professional and I would highly recommend and endorse her to any business.”

Leigh Crabtree, Service Delivery Manager, The Pensions Regulator

Trainer Essentials 1 day workshop

A one day Train the Trainer in person in house event at your venue

Confident Public Speaking, Presentation and Train the Trainer skills training and coaching in Brighton, Sussex and beyond, with Philippa Hammond

A one day in-person Train the Trainer in-house event at your venue

Transforming brilliant subject matter experts into confident, effective new trainers

Audience

First steps for aspiring, new and developing trainers

A taster for Subject Matter Experts interested in the training role

Style and requirements

Practical and interactive one-day exploration of the essentials, with discussion, practice and feedback throughout the day

Breaks and lunch as appropriate

Requires flip chart stand and plenty of paper

No PowerPoint required

Aim

To introduce and explore a range of key essentials for the aspiring new and developing trainer

Objectives

By the end of this one day event, learners will be able to –

*Describe how to deal with public speaking nerves and build confidence when delivering training, in person and online

*Demonstrate ways to enhance how they look and sound to any learner audience, in person and online

*Describe the practical ADDIE training cycle and how they will begin to apply it

Programme

Pre course preparation

All learners prepare their Elevator Pitch – their short answer to ‘who are you, what do you do – and what makes you great at it?’ – ready to stand up and say it.

Welcome and introductions

The Elevator Pitch exercise – introductions with personal reflection, group feedback and tutor guidance for further professional development

Feel, look and sound better

Nerves – why we get nervous, what nerves do to us and how to build confidence, in person and online

How to make a great visual impression, in person and online – mastering posture and body language

How to speak so people want to listen to you in person and online – using your voice for personal and professional impact

What’s the point of training?

Why organisations train – the drivers

The barriers to training

Why we learn

How adults learn

Conscious competence cycle

Experiential learning

See, hear, do

70 2010

Putting it all together

Practical group exercises

The ADDIE training cycle

Analyse

Establishing stakeholder, audience and learning needs

Design

Setting aim, objectives and the high-level training agenda for sign off and the green light

Develop

Gathering content

Session structure

Writing and PowerPoint tips

Implement

Facilitation skills toolkit

Question and answer techniques

Dealing with difficult situations

Evaluate

Kirkpatrick’s four levels of evaluation: Reaction / Learning / Behaviour / Results

Conclusion

Summary, call to action, learner undertakings, commitment and further development

Post course

PDF covering the day’s topics

Testimonials: Trainer Essentials 1-day workshop

Contact

To discuss your requirements and booking

Philippa Hammond

Let the croak go

Vocal fry is that creaky croaky sound

Vocal fry is that creaky croaky sound.

Why let it go?

It’s hard for you to project with impact and volume, so in a bigger space they may simply not hear you.

But it’s also hard to listen to – so they may just switch off and stop listening.

If you’re not sure what it sounds like …. hear it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8mcBdBL-t0]

Whatever your age, sex or stage, you have something to say.

Say it with impact – and help them hear, listen to and understand you.

Being able to adapt, flex and evolve is an essential life skill. And that goes for speaking well in public, too.

Philippa Hammond

Do you always sound like you’re questioning?

Let your statements be statements, not questions

Let your statements be statements, not questions

If it isn’t a question, stop sounding like you’re asking a question, in education, work and private life.

You know what you mean and you mean what you say.

Time to let your statements, opinions, advice, boundary-setting etc sound like you do.

Philippa Hammond

Three top tips for speaking well in public

GCSEs/A Levels/Degree done? Three things to raise your personal speaking impact for your next steps

GCSEs/A Levels/Degree done? Three things to raise your personal speaking impact for your next steps.

You’re new out here – and some will find that hard to accept.

You have a voice and the right to use it and to be heard.

But if you have a collection of fashionable speaking habits that make it harder for others to listen to you – they’ll stop.

You want a different outcome? You control that.

Time to sound like a person who has something to say

I’ve changed how I speak for more impact. I’ve slowed down. I’ve learned how to project for volume and resonance. And I’ve learned to use my voice as a personal and professional asset.

So here’s a top tip for polishing your personal speaking impact:

Stop saying ‘like’

It gets in the way of them hearing and understanding you.

‘I like that …. it’s just like one I used to have …’ here, ‘like’ has meanings.

But when it’s used in the same way as ‘um’ and ‘er’ it becomes a meaningless thinking noise.

‘I like, like that … it’s like, like one I like, used to have …’ here, ‘like’ has also become confusing clutter.

Use ‘like’ mindfully and meaningfully, so they can follow your meaning.

And allow the pause instead of that meaningless ‘like’. They’ll find it easier to listen.

Philippa Hammond

Testimonials: My Coaching and Feedback Skills Programme 2022-24

During my FTC at The Pensions Regulator 2022-24, in addition to my Train the Trainer programme, I was tasked with creating and delivering a three-level Coaching and Feedback and skills programme for several Teams.

In response, I devised and rolled out the Gold, Silver and Bronze level programme for staff at all levels, depending on responsibilities.

Gold – for all team members required to deliver coaching services | to prepare and deliver feedback | to seek out, accept and act on feedback

Silver – for all team members required to prepare and deliver feedback | to seek out, accept and act on feedback

Bronze – for all team members required to seek out, accept and act on feedback

Results and Behaviour: Management and trainer overview

“Since the training, there have been some really good examples! There are different dynamics, they are now more comfortable giving feedback as well as receiving it … they are talking about how feedback is changing in their team … definitely more talk about it and how and when we could give feedback, including where something positive happens … the training has helped to promote that … they enjoyed it, were really complimentary about it … you can see where it made a difference. Really positive about it.” Mike, Head of Team

“There has been a discernible difference in the way feedback is used. It has moved away from just being a process. There is more of a desire to receive the correct type of feedback now since the training. I think the training has reinforced that feedback is a positive thing and helps us all improve. Team members are engaged in this process and have had positive comments around the training and how it can be implemented.” Carol, Management Principal

“I enjoyed this and learned even from the approach that you adopted – the tiered ‘gold/silver/bronze’ approach… I think your experience really did come through and this is why it was shared more widely … I felt that we are on safer ground than we were previously before you arrived and delivered the training … Part of this success was bringing everyone on the journey … really embraced fully adopting a ‘coaching culture’… has elevated coaching to a frequent topic of conversation and one which we all now have a vested interest in! … I also feel confident from the specific T/T/T session on Coaching & Feedback, to now deliver this where required… change in behaviour here I would say; directly as a result of your influence!” John, Development Team

Learning and Reaction: Feedback Skills responses from the teams

Participants were asked to reflect on their perceptions pre and post course about:

  • Their knowledge, skills and ability to prepare, deliver, seek out, receive and act on feedback – putting what they’d learned into practice
  • Motivations and intentions around applying their new skills
  • Thoughts on delivery, trainer and content

Coaching and Feedback Skills – Gold

“Very motivated as I can see the benefit application of the model can bring… The combination of theory followed by practice sessions I fond very effective and a great way to reinforce the learning… Very effective delivery by Philippa… [I will] Differentiate more effectively between training and coaching, and look to apply the new skills as and where possible.” DW

“I feel more confident after the practical session … This is a useful skill and will suit the people I line manage … A proactive and chatty group for the first session which made it very enjoyable… Coaching style will enable me to put back the responsibility to my direct line reports. They are so knowledgeable but lack confidence. Coaching will enable me to tickle out their own knowledge to build that confidence.” TO

“The training came at a timely moment where I was struggling with the number of daily queries I was getting from the team where I believe they had the skills to make their own decision rather than me telling them what to do! … I enjoyed the practical session where we practised coaching others. This has given me the confidence to put this into practice. The feedback from the exercise has also give me confidence that I know how to approach coaching and improve my technique… This training has given me the tools and techniques to coach the team, so they have the confidence to use their existing skills… Great pace and some useful tips, tricks and techniques presented that has given me the confidence to use in my day to day work… Breaking it up into two sessions was really helpful particularly during a busy working day… A really good pace and was able to give some alternative solutions to problems and how best to approach different scenarios when it comes to coaching others… Delivered exactly what I needed.” SH

Feedback skills – Silver

Perceptions: Before you began the session, how did you feel about your knowledge, skills and ability to seek out, receive and act on feedback?

I have not actively sought feedback within my role and will try to develop in that area. TT

This is always an awkward one to ask for feedback on yourself, however have been starting to do this in 121s with my direct reports and my own line manager SH

Perceptions: Before you began the session, how did you feel about your knowledge, skills and ability to deliver honest, respectful and helpful feedback?

I have managed a team of 5 people before, when I did start doing this I unaware of how my feedback could affect a person’s mood. I learnt after a few times on how to effectively give feedback but as stated in our workshop today you do need to know your person and what works for that person specifically. TT

Any extra tools and tips can only round and finesse the feedback given and open a conversation if receiving TO

Perceptions: How able do you now feel to put what you’ve learned about seeking out, receiving and acting on feedback into practice?

I feel more confident in being able to take negative feedback and turning it into something positive. ES

I now feel like I have a starting point which will hopefully start open conversations with colleagues. Ls

Perceptions: How able do you now feel to put what you’ve learned about delivering honest, respectful and helpful feedback into practice?

I would be able to provide feedback both negative and positive while being able to give a good understanding to the person receiving the feedback. ES

Motivations: How motivated will you be to use all these skills in your work?

Very motivated, as I believe it is a great part of developing your own skills and others around. Picking up on areas that you are doing well in and areas that need more work. CS

I put this into effect during my 1 to 1 straight after the workshop. RS

I will make this one of my highest priorities when I get back to my day to day job as this will be beneficial to check my own progress. AF

This is a really important area of the business. To help develop your staff by the giving and receiving of FB is essential to a happy and engaged team

Two of my main role responsibilities is to ensure the team produce and disseminate quality products and to support the development of my direct reports. Feedback will be key in support of this. I am also reasonably new to line management and this role and therefore feedback will be key in my own development. SH

What aspects of the training were most effective for you – or should be added, discarded or improved?

Explained very well and in detail. Giving examples of real life situations and how to apply them was very useful. ES

Very good workshop and good to listen to others raising the same issues that you face as well – Also helps us to question feedback more effectively. TT

Enjoyed the training session as it built upon courses and modules I have completed in the past. The format and group size was great, it helped to promote discussion amongst the group to learn from each other’s experiences. SH

The delivery of your session by your trainer?

Very well delivered, engaged with everyone very well. Made it very interactive and interesting. ES

Workshop was free flowing and allowed us to talk as a group and understand the subject matter. TT

I thought Pippa was really knowledgeable and really approachable allowing for everyone to feel comfortable. Thank you Pippa, very useful! LS

The learning outcomes of the course? [See aim and objectives]

I feel this is something that needs to be provided for continual development across the team CS

The outcome has I believe improved the way i will now look at the feedback I receive and how to seek it out better as well. TT

Intentions: What will you be doing differently as a result of this training programme as you apply your skills to your day to day practice?

I will take more time to digest things before responding back or providing feedback. CS

I will be taking on board feedback and using it to effectively change my working and develop my skills ES

I will implement the skills and techniques highlighted in the training in my feedback sessions. Honestly the training package was excellent and kinda activated memories of roles and skills that have been dormant for quite some time. PW

I’m feeling more comfortable in discussing feedback with my LA. RS

Will be seeking more feedback in future, before 1-2-1s so I can try and understand if I need to improve in areas. TT

I’ll be asking for regular feedback and keep a check point on things I could do to improve on and self-reflect on areas I’m not doing so well in. AF

I will be asking colleagues for feedback and will aim to have more of a structure in my 121 LS

I will listen to learn rather than to reply SH

I’ll be aiming to have a rough plan before I deliver any feedback and actively seek out feedback on myself to support my own development. I’ll be more conscious of my language … to help my direct reports to be more reflective on their performance. SH

Anything else on reflection?

It helped me to solidify what I already knew, but it also showed me where TPR stands on feedback and development … Philippa has done a great job keeping us engaged and presenting the values of feedback VR

Feedback Skills – Bronze

Perceptions: Before you began the session, how did you feel about your knowledge, skills and ability to seek out, receive and act on feedback?

This was a really good session which help put some context to seeking feedback. DH

I found this was a really good solid refresher (habits do slip!) posing the difficult qu’s that accompany feedback. KO

I find both giving and receiving negative feedback difficult so the discussion around the good aspects of negative feedback – i.e. the base of respect necessary and the capacity for growth and further understanding- helps with the anxiety I feel. ME

I recently had to give feedback to a manager and was extremely nervous about it, I think having had this workshop before that would have given me confidence in tackling that situation the right way. I think I always thought feedback was likely to bad or only listened to the perceive bad feedback so this workshop highlighted that I need to listen to all the feedback. LH

Your comments: How able do you now feel to put what you’ve learned into practice?

I think I would feel more confident in seeking feedback and even having a conversation about feedback that is provided to me in the future. DH

The Boost methodology will help with delivering feedback and I now know more about the essential reasons for providing and engaging with feedback. KL

I’ve got more confidence in how to go about it KH

I really liked the structure of Stop, continue and start so will definitely use this. Also to seek more feedback, I feel confident that I will now be able to achieve these things. LH

Your comments: How motivated will you be to use these skills in your work, and why?

I am very motivated to include this in my day to day work as I think through feedback you can improve your professional skills etc. DH

I have already popped a post it note in front of me with the BOOST acronym so that I can be aware when I give feedback that that is what I aspire to. But it will also remind me of the session generally when receiving feedback to not take things personally … and ensure I can start changing behaviour via thoughts and feelings. KO

I think it would really help me to start thinking more about how to use the skills in my day to day role. KH

It’s so good to receive feedback and to be able to act on it. LH

My performance can be improved be seeking out feedback so I will do so. PJ

Your comments on the content – What aspects of the training were most effective for you – or should be added, discarded or improved?

It was a very effective session which I learnt a lot from, it was pitched at the right level and was very interactive which was good. It was also good to hear from others in terms of what feedback they had received. DH

I thought that the session was very useful and well delivered. The Boost methodology was useful to learn about, as was the discussion regarding how messages are delivered

The part where people were asked to share good and bad experience they had on receiving feedback – It’s helped me to realise I’m not alone. The workshop is nicely structured and very well thought through. The handout is really helpful too. I wish I’d been told about the BOOST technique earlier on in my career. ZX

It was all pitched just right. Philippa, the size and participants of the group all made me feel comfortable to speak up when necessary. KR

It was well delivered, it invited discussion and I found it extremely useful LH

The BOOST acronym and Stop/Start/Continue are useful guides. The content was well-judged and focussed. PJ

How satisfied were you with the delivery of your session by your trainer?

Phillipa kept everyone engaged throughout the training session and made everyone feel comfortable in sharing their experiences. AM

Very clear, inclusive and insightful. KO

Very well delivered and kept everyone on the call very much engaged. KL

Allowed for plenty of time for discussion in the group and made sure to discuss each person’s point. ME

Phillipa was friendly polite and led the session well. I thought she listened to what we were saying and made reference to it later in the session which I appreciated. KH

Relaxed environment with no pressure to participate but given ample opportunity to engage if I wished. I felt comfortable talking to Philippa and the group. KR

Phillipa was brilliant. Really good at inviting discussion and making the session a safe space to share. LH

Knowledgeable and regularly invited contributions from the participants PJ

Intentions: What will you be doing differently as a result of this training programme as you apply your skills to your day to day practice?

Use of Stop, Start and Continue. AM

Seeking more feedback, so I can improve but also providing more feedback in a constructive, empathetic way. DH

Thinking of previous feedback and what I have done to use that positively. (have I shown in my work or behaviour any improvements – and if so is this noted?) Thinking about when I get future feedback and preparing myself to receive it and perhaps – prompting to get more feedback. Checking myself that I am not unconsciously biased to those whom I ask for feedback from – challenging myself to get wider feedback and perhaps from someone that I haven’t done so before. KO

Consider the Boost methodology when providing feedback and also taking time to really engage with the feedback I receive. KL

I will attempt to call out the successes of others more frequently in a method that allows them to use this feedback for evidence. ME

Use the BOOST technique. Take feedback away and mull over it instead of just react. XZ

I will try and seek feedback more regularly and consider my approach to providing feedback and the how this might be perceived by the recipient. JS

Apply the what can I stop, what can I start, what can I continue. KH

I will be more aware of how I give feedback and plan my delivery more than perhaps I would have before. KR

I will be seeking more feedback and will have a think about my mindset before I receive feedback to make sure I am going in calm and ready to be able to act on any feedback I receive. Thanks for the workshop this morning. It really made me think and I will definitely be implementing some of the ideas in to my daily working life. LH

Actively searching for opportunities to give and receive feedback PJ

Any further comments after reflecting on the course?

‘The course has helped me feel more comfortable asking for feedback as I feel like I can structure it and can ask for something specific, therefore getting something constructive out of it rather than asking for the sake of it.’ KH

‘I found the training very useful and think it would be beneficial to revisit every year or two as a reminder.’ KL