Why Baker Coaching? Our vision is Success though People – making a real difference to organisations.

Jennifer has delivered powerful coaching and training programmes for many organisations as well as 1-1 Executive coaching for:   Barenbrug UK, Cambridge Regional College, Econocom, L-3 Communications, International Flavours and Fragrances, Lucy Cavendish College, The Internet Marketing Company, Denny Bros, Darley, Diabetes UK, Manor Garden Welfare Trust, McCormick (Schwartz Spices), Weston Construction Group and the Lenzing Group. 

Testimonials

P. Watson, Chief Executive, Manor Gardens Welfare Trust. “Jennifer delivered our recent strategic planning day. She made time to understand our unique needs and challenges our organisation is facing and designed the workshop accordingly by honing in on the issues which are relevant. She made every effort to engage each member of the team, providing support whilst challenging them to work to potential solutions.  Her delivery was not theory or off the shelf but practical linking to our day to day work place. It was a pleasure to work with Jennifer for which I highly recommend her.” Oct. 2010.

Estelle Burns, Director of Performance GCDA “Jennifer provided executive coaching for individual members of the Leadership Team, coached and tutored organisational change champions, supported members of other teams through a complex transformational change programme, and designed and delivered a highly successful 'Manager as coach' course. Jennifer is able to respond well to the outline brief and will offer lots of supportive ideas, creative suggestions, and innovative solutions to get the very best from people with diverse requirements. She is quick to grasp the specific culture and needs of an organisation or team, and will offer supportive and constructive inputs to develop people and make change happen. She is very professional and has a fabulous understanding and application of coaching tools and techniques. She stretches people beyond their expectations and supports them on their individual learning journey. I recommend her for her understated approach and tenacity - and the fact that she gets reults and encourages others to achieve even more than they were aiming for!” March 2, 2010

Diana Peeva, CIPD “Jennifer Baker is an executive coach and a consultant that I have worked with in the past 2 years. Her work focus is on greater business performance and she uses her coaching expertise to deliver results and create new dimensions of performance to individuals and teams. Jennifer has a great organisational awareness and strategic focus. Her project proposals are innovative, tailored and based on the latest research. Jennifer is a consultant, which experience and knowledge empowers not only the individuals and teams that she works with, but also offers valuable expertise to the HR team.” May 7, 2010

S Redfearn, Business Owner, “I worked with Jennifer on her executive career programme and also, with her on a management team with a mutual colleague. She is a motivating and inspiring professional coach. She takes time to thoroughly understand a brief and prepares accordingly. Amongst her many professional skills, I have been particularly impressed, on several occasions, with her ability to adapt her approach in a creative way, to new and developing situations. Although she has an excellent and detailed knowledge of her subject matter, she is also very innovative. This, together with her personal warmth and good humour meant that the results she delivered consistently exceeded my expectations. Thanks, Jennifer - thoroughly recommended.” May 8, 2010

Stephen Jarrold, Sales and Marketing Director, Denny Bros Ltd, 2010
We are a specialist manufacturing company, small to medium in size yet with a worldwide presence and reputation. Many things about us are bespoke and niche. Text book training has therefore failed, in the past, to deliver much benefit. Jennifer’s approach was to completely understand who WE were and what the expectations of the company and individual trainee were. That way, all the benefit of the Baker Coaching experience and learning and intuition was precisely channelled into areas of activity that would (and has) improved performance. It will be a long-lasting change because the coaching has been about improving people first so they are empowered to improve much around them long after the training ends. Jennifer Baker will be invited back...so you better book her soon!

P McDonnell, CEO Cordoba Group “Jennifer works as a valued associate for Cordoba. She is a highly skilled sales trainer and coach, with the substance of having had a highly successful sales career; this makes such a difference when delivering messages to sales personnel in the classroom. Sales people want to know the trainer has applied what they teach in the real world and she has. Jennifer has worked at the highest level, she is comfortable operating with 'C' suite, engages well with her audiences, and is undoubtedly one of our most professional associates.” May 20, 2011

Head of Department, FE College, 2010
Having taken on a new role and area of responsibility, Jennifer helped me to focus on clarifying targets, exploring  how best to approach the challenges I was facing and developing strategies for embedding the role in the organisation.

The coaching techniques helped me to focus on my strengths and previous successes in relation to these new challenges. I found Jennifer’s questioning very challenging and development and I appreciated having the time to completely focus on myself and my role.

I now realise that it is possible to prioritise time for yourself without having an adverse impact on the job and subsequent workload. I was surprised to learn how powerful the reflection and planning techniques proved to be and I have already shared some of the strategies with colleagues.

It has been a fantastic experience that I would wholeheartedly recommend to others.

 

Senior Commercial Manager “Jennifer was recommended to me by a senior colleague at a time of change in our business, and she turned out to be a rock solid support. It was important for me to feel I could completely trust a coach, as we were talking about situations and people in my workplace as well as my career plans. In my opinion she’s clearly an expert in coaching for development, she got to the bottom of how I think/react/feel, and ‘facilitated’ me finding out (in a cliché) how to be the best I can be… up to me if I make it happen or not! She has worked in industry and therefore can relate to the daily grind, the difficulty of fitting in coaching meetings and the ‘homework’, challenging personalities, and work life balance. I liked her infectious energy, empathy with people, strong personality, her ability to inspire. With or without the support of my business, I am likely to go back to Jennifer to build on what I achieved, with her supporting me. I would certainly recommend at least a consultation with Jennifer if you are considering some support in your work/personal life.” May 9, 2010

Tim Mallender, Business Development Consultant, Denny Bros. “Came into this bespoke coaching programme at Denny Bros, prepared by Jennifer, looking to build on confidence and to look at time management so as to work smarter, not harder!
What has worked well – coaching has enhanced the skills that effectively were within me. To look at ways of managing objections, to read body language and interpret F2F meetings has led me to become a more confident ambassador for DB.  Preparing and planning has greatly improved my time management. Listening and asking more open ended questions has led to some very productive meets with clients. This has led onto rapport building with clients, gaining their trust, respect and them having confidence in our ability to meet or exceed their business needs. An excellent and well executed programme specifically tailored to meet my needs.” 2010

James Ingles, Barenbrug UK  My coaching sessions over the last few months have enabled me to become totally effective as the sales manager, in project managing and a leader within the company management team. Jennifer has teased out prejudices and gremlins and enabled me to see them for what they are. Supreme confidence in own judgement procedures. Just having the ability to do it! Whole work/life balance is key.

Director, Health Care, Diabetes UK I have worked with Jennifer both individually and with my team. Her very practical coaching, helping people to really develop their own stills and solutions, improved our effectiveness as a team - agreeing shared problems and developing departmental solutions - which helped us shape a set of shared departmental objectives.

In personal coaching, Jennifer challenges me to consider my strengths and weaknesses and to develop strategies to develop my skills and effectiveness. Her encouragement and challenging approach really make me feel that I am the one developing the solutions and taking them forward, whether on a very specific issue or developing myself as an individual as well as a senior manager.

Jennifer has also run a course for my staff on time management skills. Again, the course was followed up by personal target setting and support - and all the staff that I have spoken to who attended have really felt that this has benefitted them and made them more productive. 

Corporate Relations Executive, Charity Sector Having just a few coaching sessions with Jennifer was a really worthwhile experience to help me improve my self esteem and help me build my relationships personally and professionally. 

Business Owner, IT I would strongly recommend Jennifer's one to one coaching to other business owners. She was always very supportive and the coaching sessions were both fun and inspirational. Her ability to get straight to the core issues to unlock potential is a rare talent.

Senior Manager, Charity Sector My six sessions of one to coaching have made a tangible, positive difference to the way I approach challenges both at work and in my personal life. Coaching has been a very valuable experience which has helped me to grow and develop essential life skills and I plan to carry the lessons I have learnt with me as I progress. 

Head of Team, Corporate Fund Raiser, Diabetes UK Coaching has helped me to retain the techniques versus training, applying techniques into everyday work. Follow up ensures the actions have been done!

Self Motivation:

• Using leadership skills to gain motivation and establish direction. Unless I had a clear vision and purpose and one which creates energy, the time pressure and problems will easily prevent me reaching the set goal. Coaching facilitated the building of that vision, e.g. income = fuel in the tank. Since shared with the team.
• Coaching looked at setting priorities, knowing what needs to be done.

Better communications makes for stronger relationships:

• Coaching in a team has the benefit of each team member learning different elements and sharing with each other (the synergic effect). Each member then uses a common language (inclusive communication)
• Being aware that new staff bring along different cultures which may promote change in the team. Identifying techniques which may need to deal with more direct styles.

·         H Jeanes, Director PurpleLine Consulting Jennifer coached me for several months whilst I was launching my business.  Through working with her I have reconnected with my values - essential for enjoying and getting the most from the work that I do.  At each session she homed in on the key issues and worked with me to identify and gain commitment to a course of action.  I found her extremely supportive and in particular greatly appreciated the enthusiasm and belief that she demonstrated in my business and in me.

Director,  I feel that I personally and the team as a whole have been very effective in terms of our goals. We have clarified those over the coaching programme and, having identified them, have come up with concrete plans to take them forward - all of which we have achieved.

We are much stronger as a team - and it is great to see different [members] interacting outside our meetings with each other, working together. There was a challenge for me, to some degree, in motivating my team to work on this - but that was soon relieved as we started to see the outputs of the coaching.

We are working as a more effective team - and we are seen to be a more effective team. Our efforts haven't gone unnoticed. Our first project - a staff directory - has got the attention of other directors and it isn't really up and running yet. Our planning process has been seen as very successful - and, on a personal note, other Directors have been asking me how I have been doing what I've been doing.

I had been reluctant to use a coach, as I wasn't really sure what they would be able to do for me personally or for a team that were slightly cynical and felt too busy to give time to this sort of work. Having worked with Jennifer, I wish that I had taken on that challenge sooner as the results have been so dramatic. Jennifer has worked at a pace and a level of challenge that has motivated and encouraged myself and the team - but has helped us get real tangible successes from day one. This has kept the motivation going.

She has always been there when needed, and kept us involved and working, but without it becoming too dominant or in the way of the day to day work we all have to do.

I have totally changed the way I manage my work - and, as a result, have more time to develop my vision for the team. I am becoming the leader I want to be as a result of this -and I can see working with Jennifer to recharge the batteries every so often, to ensure I don't become complacent but keep looking for the next challenge.

My biggest compliment to Jennifer must be that two of my team, who were very cynical about coaching, are now working with her on a one-to-one basis because they have seen the benefits coaching can bring. Not to mention that my colleagues, at all levels, keep asking me how I have made such a difference. 

Senior Manager, Policy Implementation  The support and coaching provided by Jennifer has enabled me to develop as a manager. She has helped me to work through difficult management issues and to and develop the confidence to know now that I can deal appropriately with conflict, underperformance as well as the visionary elements of developing and supporting a new team.

Jennifer is very calm, non judgemental and does not give the answers - but forced me to find them myself, drawing on the skills and knowledge that I already possessed. She is fantastic at developing a person's belief in them and identifying options that can be taken to move forward.

Over the last few months I have been given the opportunity, through coaching, to step back from the day to day and think through my work - life balance generally. It has forced me to tackle those challenging decisions that I have been putting off, or ignoring for many years. Although I have not found the time to act on these decisions - I have at least made them.

If anyone needs time to think, to be given an impetus to think and plan for the longer term, I recommend the support and coaching skills of Jennifer. She is easy going, friendly and possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience about dealing with those day to day problems that face all managers.

Corporate Relations Executive Having just a few coaching sessions with Jennifer was a really worthwhile experience to help me improve my self esteem and help me build my relationships personally and professionally.

The sessions themselves (as well as the preparation and reflection outside of the sessions) gave me the opportunity to really think deeply about my core values and beliefs and to commit to them in meaningful ways.

Coaching was also key in helping me see that I deserve to take some time out now and again to treat myself and celebrate my achievements which I did not ever do before - so that's also a great thing that I have taken from the experience. I think coaching has also helped me to learn and practise ongoing tools to think, behave and live my life the way I want to live it!

Senior Manager Coaching has unlocked my true strengths, brought out the best in me and has enabled me to achieve goals I previously only hoped to make a reality. Coaching has provided me with simple and effective techniques for managing all aspects of my life with excellence and reduced stress.

Manager Jennifer helped the team take action to win more recognition from our colleagues in the organisation and also to get clearer about our aims and procedures.

The coaching helped the team to believe they have the power to overcome some of the challenge we're facing and stick their neck out to get results. The sessions were upbeat and non-judgemental!

 

Workshops - Time Management

I liked the coaching approach and not being 'trained' that worked for me, I felt engaged and that I was being worked with rather than talked at.

A well paced and clearly explained course which I think has made a difference to the way I work already.

Thanks very much, it was a very useful course and reminded me of a lot of things I used to do that have fallen by the wayside.

I've certainly noticed I feel more positive when I have completed tasks or tackled things I've been putting off - rather than berating myself for the 10 other things I didn't do on my unreasonably long to do list!

Learning how to prioritise has helped enormously; learning to self manage, as the key to time management I have found my self discipline is a lot better. Particularly facing tasks that I had been avoiding.

I'm using the tool on how to approach big projects or tasks which means I'm finding I get more done, more than I thought possible.

I've also noticed I'm more receptive to receiving more work instead of trying to avoid 'extra' things to do.

I found your approach, tactful and respectful especially as originally I didn't want to be there.

I'm a lot more satisfied with myself; a lot more organised and feel a lot calmer, less stressed.

Presentation Skills

Diabetes UK

I started with an overall sense of dread at the mention of the word presentation. I now know exactly what aspects of planning and delivery a presentation make me nervous and what I need to do to combat those fears. There are also things I can now recognise I am already good at and enjoy.

This course was excellent and has certainly developed my confidence and reduced my worries no end.