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Frequently Asked Questions

about Sylvain Dubois Small Business Solutions

Business Coaching
Executive Roundtable

BUSINESS COACHING

What is business coaching?
Business Coaching is a professional service providing clients with feedback, insights, and guidance from an outside vantage point. The profession of coaching is somewhat similar to the practice of a physician, attorney, or psychologist in the sense of applying specialized training to solving a perceived problem. But it is also very different.

Business Coaching is a vital part of growing your business as you grow yourself. Engaging a coach enables you to look at your current belief systems, business challenges and patterns that can either enhance or limit your ability to scale your company to greater success. Coaching is not therapy, because it deals with today and tomorrow -- and only addresses the past if it is relevant to a current issue. Its not consulting, because it's a collaborative partnership with accountability built in.

In this powerful alliance, clients find themselves:

Doing more than they would on their own
Taking themselves more seriously
Creating momentum and consistency
Taking more effective and focused actions
Becoming more balanced and fulfilled

When do business owners hire a coach rather than a consultant?
Owners hire a coach when they are making changes to their business or in transition, starting a new business, feeling dissatisfied, re-evaluating career choices, or simply looking for professional breakthroughs. Unlike consulting, where only "answers" are being provided:

Coaching can help you identify and verbalize your true purpose, both in life and in your business, create a vision, then begin the journey of working on your business on purpose, which means that you implement strategic goals and objectives for your business to fulfill your personal vision of your life. Coaching helps you face yourself, and deal with your inner barriers to greater business growth and self- awareness. Consultants focus only on a pre-defined business solutions, not the solution of life and work balance.
Coaching enables you to set priorities and discipline yourself to follow them, delegate tasks so you are freed up to actually lead your company, and evaluate your business practices to create greater efficiencies and business systems. Consultants do not provide any accountability to you. You have to supervise their work, instead.

The major difference from consulting is that Business coaching is an on-going collaborative partnership, focused on both external and internal issues, and built on taking long term action.

Is coaching confidential?
Yes. Coaching is ALWAYS confidential. Coaching clients can be confident that the coaching process is very confidential and private, and unless the client says something, no one will even know a person has a coach. The very personal nature of the coaching process requires clients and their coaches to develop a very strong mutually trusting, mutually respectful and mutually focused partnership. What happens in coaching, stays in coaching.

How is it different from consulting or therapy?
It's about tangible business results and balance with your personal life. Business Coaching can:

Increase personal productivity
Improve job satisfaction
Reduce job related stress
Provide a sounding board for company owners
Increase the congruency of your family life and business success. After all isn't that what you are really working for?

What would I get out of it?
There is increasing evidence that coaching is one of the most powerful ways of developing your company, people and adding to bottom line business performance. A study of Fortune 1000 companies using coaching showed the following percentages of business executives got these benefits from the coaching they received:

An increase in productivity (by 53%)
Increased customer service (by 39%)
Increased retention of senior people (by 32%)
Reduction in costs (by 23%)
Increased bottom line profitability (by 22%)
Increased quality of planning and implementation (by 58%)
Increased organizational strength (by 56%)

How often are coaching sessions and what is my time commitment?
We work with clients in 3 month time blocks. We have found that is the most effective block of time for working on specific goals. Some clients' schedule additional blocks of time. Our Strategic retreats are for longer periods of time.

How do I get personal time or tailored solutions for my company?
Call us at 970-764-4556, or send us a request via email.

EXECUTIVE ROUNDTABLE

What benefits will I get from joining an Executive Roundtable Program?

Increase your own experience and confidence
Sharpen your business and personal skills
Create real progress in your business
Add an instant and valuable support network
Get honest feedback, advice and brainstorming
Borrow on the experience and skills of the other members
Create plans and have the group hold you accountable for fulfilling your plans and goals
Receive critical insights into yourself
Work ON your business, not just IN it; make the transition from being self-employed to acting like the CEO of a business
Get a sense of shared endeavor - there are others out there!

Who joins a Business Coaching Program?
Small business owners who want to create an extraordinary year join an Executive Roundtable Program. Plus, you join a Program when you want to have your own personal board of directors, a group of trusted and respected business colleagues who can brainstorm with you, challenge you and hold you accountable so that you move forward quickly.

Who should NOT apply to join an Executive Roundtable Program?
If the following describes you then you should not apply to join an Executive Roundtable Program:

If you are not serious about evolving or growing your business
If you always prefer to work alone
If you are not willing to both ASK for help as well as GIVE help
If you can not commit to the every-quarter meeting schedule

Who runs the Programs?
Brian Koehn and Michelle Rabouin, both small business coaches and entrepreneurs with over twenty years each of management experience facilitate all the programs.

How often are the Executive Roundtable sessions and what's required of me?
We meet for 1 day each quarter, offer a pre-meeting networking dinner, and two monthly on-demand, 50 minute sessions every other week by phone and in some cases, internet web conference -- you decide whether or not to participate in the on-demand sessions. The quarterly meetings are mandatory.

Can a meeting over the telephone really be as powerful as meeting in person?
Absolutely! It's not necessary to sit around a table to have a discussion that is productive! If you use available you can be more productive and share and communicate just as effectively as if we were sitting knee to knee in the same room together.

What is the Executive Coaching session like?
This is a curriculum based program. However, in each session, you also bring to the Program the challenges you're facing, the decisions you need to make, the ideas you want to brainstorm. You bring what's most important to you and you're not limited to the preset topics for discussion.

What is the schedule for Program coaching sessions?
The initial meeting schedule is every other week for 50 minutes on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday for twelve months. The set schedule will be posted for the group once it has been formed.

What if I have a question or want to brainstorm in-between meetings?
Great! All our Executive Roundtable groups have their own private online message forum where you can continue detailed discussions or bring up new questions with your Executive Roundtable partners.

What topics can I bring up in a coaching session or in the Roundtable?
Anything related to your business, both practical questions and self-development topics:

marketing questions and help with specific marketing leads, tools and techniques
a request for people to review a new page on your website, blog or campaign
how to deal with a difficult client or colleague
setting fees and cost analysis
dealing with frustration and time management
creating a new, big vision for your business
surviving a market or industry in transition
designing programs for your service business
figuring out where you're self-sabotaging your own success
keeping motivated when you're overwhelmed
breakthrough places where you're just plain stuck

And anything else that comes up for you. We're here to help.

How large are the Roundtables?
Each Executive Roundtable Small Business Program is limited to 10 business owners. Couples or executive teams are welcomed.

Why just 10 owners? I've seen groups advertised that have 18 or 20 people.
In the Executive Roundtable Program, everyone is given time at each and every meeting to talk about their business situation. This interaction is a critical part of our program. Large groups do not allow everyone to participate at this level. In addition, large groups do not allow you to really get to know your Executive Roundtable Program partners (and for them to really get to know you.)

What will my time commitment be for Executive Roundtable work and meetings?
Quarterly meetings are mandatory. One-on-one coaching sessions are on demand. Coaching sessions occur every two weeks, are delivered by phone, and are 50 minutes long. Once you are accepted into an Executive Roundtable Program, you'll want to mark those appointments immediately so that you don't forget them or schedule something in their place by mistake.

Is an Executive Roundtable Program like a networking or referral group?
No. While you may likely end up networking and sharing referrals with your Executive Roundtable partners, the sole purpose of an Executive Roundtable Program is to establish and manage your business through brainstorming, support, encouragement and getting/giving advice.

What kind of business owners are the Roundtables designed for?
Groups are established based on common challenges and goals:

Years in business - We separate groups based on 2 years or more in business
Common Challenges - Businesses are similar in the evolutionary business cycle.
Different Markets - No two people from the same business (no competitors).
Common Goals - Groups are blended to target common goals that all can work to achieve.
People used to an orderly exploration of redesign. Executive Roundtable Programs will be facilitated by a coach, but the focus of an Executive Roundtable Program is in creating a plan and implementing the plan for aligning your business to your long term goals, and forging a long-term relationship with your Executive Roundtable partners, while brainstorming decisions, ideas and solutions to problems. In an Executive Roundtable Program, advice is freely given and it's a major reason why people join.

Is everyone in the Program really an "Executive"?
Everyone is a regular business owners like you. The power of the Executive Roundtable comes when we all work together to help one another grow our businesses. Some people will be experts in their fields, some people will have many years experience in owning and running a business. Some are extraordinarily creative, or very practical and task-oriented. This mix of skills sets creates a rich environment for growing your business.

Why do I have to apply for membership?
You want to know that your Program members are going to be there for you and that the group is going to be cohesive and harmonious, right? By having prospective members apply for the Executive Roundtable membership, we try to put the right people into the right groups, and try to weed out those who simply are not going to be committed to the mandatory phone meetings or to seriously growing their businesses.

What is your money back guarantee?
We offer a 60-day-after-first-meeting, money-back guarantee. After you attend your first meeting, if within 60 days, if you do not agree that you are getting wonderful value for your time and money, you may drop out and receive a full refund, less the non-refundable deposit. After that, you must commit to the full program.

You don't need to worry about "problem members" either. Given our application process it usually doesn't happen. The purpose of a professional Executive Roundtable facilitator is to help the group work together. Remember, the purpose of the Executive Roundtable Program is to work in a spirit of harmony and shared endeavor. It's our job to make sure that always happens, so you can expect we will do everything we can to make it happens.

Can I get "fired" from a group?
If you do not abide by the Program guidelines of etiquette, or if you miss more than one phone meeting in the three months we'll be meeting together, you will be asked to leave the group and your money will not be refunded. We are looking for people who are seriously willing to commit themselves to the other Executive Roundtable Program members and who are seriously willing to commit themselves to growing their businesses.

How private will the coaching meetings be?
Roundtable is only open to members. One-on-one Coaching is confidential. Each member is required to sign a non-disclosure agreement so that you can be assured that our conversations are private.

How much does it cost to belong to an Executive Roundtable Program?
The starting cost for the entire program is less than $12 a day, or $350 a month! Your actual cost is based on the range that your company revenue falls into, which must be verified at registration. A $1000 deposit will hold your space, and be deducted from your remaining total, once you register. In 2009 the range of total price is $3600 to $6000 per participant.

Do you have a payment plan?
Yes. We require full tuition in three payments. If you have demonstrated need, we may be able to prearrange an extension of equal auto pay installments, plus a $10.00 per month administration charge after you have paid the non-refundable deposit. Please note that you are still committing to purchasing the full program.

May I also purchase some private one-on-one time with the coaches?
Yes, while you are a member of the Executive Roundtable Program, you can purchase private coaching time with us if you need additional time -- at a 20% discount from our regular hourly fees of $125.

How do I apply?
Just click on the link to go to the online application. Submit it, or print and fill out the application mail it to us. Staff will be in touch with you within 2 days to conduct your benchmark company interview and answer any questions.

How long will it take before I know I've been accepted?
Applications are approved on a first-come, first-served basis. Each group is limited to 10 members, so apply early to avoid disappointment.

What happens after I'm accepted?
You will receive a Welcome Email. Please note the mandatory phone call dates/times and mark them in your calendar for the full Executive Roundtable meeting schedule. You will also receive a link where you can pay online via credit card.

After you pay your deposit, you will receive an email with information on the dates of your Roundtable meetings. This email should arrive one week prior to the start of the Program. You will also receive printed materials in the mail about a week before the Program starts. Please contact us immediately if you do not receive these materials in that time frame.

What is the process for Applying to Executive Roundtable?
The process to join the Executive Roundtable Program is as follows:

Either send us an email to receive an application by mail, or fill out the application online.
Complete and submit the application or, if necessary, print and mail it.
Participate in a phone Benchmark Interview.
Confirm acceptance in the program and pay non-refundable deposit.

When a group is being established we initially interview and review applications to determine the best mix for the Program based on the qualifications discussed above. All information submitted is held in strict confidence and is not shared or distributed.

Our credo is simple.

We build Greater Businesses and Balanced Lives! pen on white background

GREATER BUSINESS. BALANCED LIFE.