To: a) optimize available workshop time and, b) reduce the amount of reading and 'home-work' (in the first 3 evenings of the course) --advance preparation is provided to all participants. The pre-work also helps participants further define their specific agenda for the tailored-fitted course. This preparation ensures that participants are having their needs met from the first hour of day one of the short course. All Pre-Work materials are given to a successful applicant upon enrolment and are required to be completed prior to attending the course. Pre-work includes some preparatory reading and analysis and a self-administered Coaching Skills Profile/Questionnaire and Checklist. These materials are confidential and you will not be asked to share them with others.

1) Accessing the Pre-Course Online Learning Portal (reading material and analysis and a self-administered coach questionnaire- available at no cost to the enrolled participant) -and bringing a completed Checklist to the course. 
                                                                     -or-
2) Accessing the Pre-Course Online Learning Portal and be also guided by Dr Skiffington (as your personal study mentor, 1-to-1 via telephone. Cost $295/£UK165 for 1 session). By having Dr Skiffington mentor/call you, you can also privately discuss your practice needs and establish a personal and working relationship in advance of the course. Note: Dr Skiffington has only a limited amount of mentoring time available for a small number of participants. Consequently, this 1-to-1 mentoring option is only available to selected participants who will be continuing the mentoring relationship/program post-course (and have booked at least 3 post-course support mentoring sessions).

.Post-Course Mentoring:
    - Supervision / Post-Course Support
The importance of professional support has long been recognized by leading professional representative bodies and organizations around the world. Many Fortune 500 clients now require their coaches (internal or external) to show that they are engaged in a mentoring program as part of good practice

Given: a) the rapid development of coaching technology, b) that coaches are "resource" people, c) that coaching is an emerging profession still defining its boundaries and, d) the increasingly varied nature of today's coaching issues -it is important for professional organizational coaches to have a means to reflect on their work with another experienced, senior, third party practitioner/mentor. Our post-course support program not only provides a structured platform for continuing learning and development for the coach, but also reassures a client with the knowledge that their coach has the professional resource back-up of a respected, industry leader.

- Have a mentor assist you in building your practice:
Don't re-invent the wheel!.....Hire a mentor. "Walk your talk". Some coaches choose to specialize in an intervention and work with business professionals across a range of industry sectors. Others tend to specialize in one industry-type such: health-care, IT, education, financial, defence, energy, legal, local government etc... Whatever the business sector you may choose to coach in, Dr Skiffington can help guide you to best find your right professional roadmap. Through her many years of working with organizational clients and thousands of graduates around the world, Dr Skiffington can provide the career support and advice you require to be successful in your specific region and marketplace.

This important, follow-on support service is personally provided by Dr. Skiffington and can involve multiple levels of agreed upon assistance and guidance such as: marketing strategies for your practice, help in preparing a proposal to a prospective client, guidance on various case issues, product/service development, reference to further resources you may require regards a specific coaching intervention etc.

This vitally important service/mentorship provided by Dr Skiffington ensures her long term commitment to your professional development and long-term success. 
As a developer of, and author on coaching best-practices, Dr Skiffington works with some the world's leading specialist coaching practitioners and corporate coaching program managers in the form of an ongoing, co-learning, developmental partnership. However, all of her new and established graduates receive equal access to her 'experience and knowledge base' via her mentoring.

Bridging the gap between knowledge and practice
 -Further Benefits:
The Masters-level Course provides the specific tools, techniques, coaching models etc. that you require in your day-to-day specialist practice. This exclusive mentoring program provides the glue to creating foundational strength and resiliency. The program provides the difference between course participants who listen and then go on and may apply what they hear and are given, and those who listen and then go on to apply what they hear and are given through one-on-one counsel/mentoring within their (external/internal) practice. (Note: for the Global Work Referral Program and Graduates Networking/Referral Program -see above page: 'Graduates Referral Network' tab).

The post-course mentoring program is a form of personal and business success insurance - to ensure your newly taught coaching skills and practice management skills succeed. The program:

• helps the coach evaluate how well they are performing

• provides the coach a safe environment in which to explore what is happening for them in their coaching relationships

• assists in overcoming challenges

• helps reinforce the specific model of successful coaching as it relates to their practice

• helps the coach identify and refine what is working well and what needs further fine-tuning and what to change

• helps the coach reflect on where they are

• provides a means to discuss particular cases with an objective, respected third party -which of course is undertaken with a full understanding of the requirements for confidentiality 

• assists the coach in problem-solving and finding solutions

• is a means for information sharing

• provides access to invaluable advice on business/marketing matters

• increases the competitiveness of your practice

• assists the coach in resourcing ie: a coach is a resource person and is therefore as good as their resources are deep

• is a tangible way for you to show your prospective clients that you are walking your own talk by being mentored/coached by Dr. Skiffington.