Testimonials for JR Coaching & Training
Here are just a small selection of the 100's of testimonials we have received over the
last 14 years!
last 14 years!
There really is no way to way to overstate the profound positive impact that Jo has had on my business and to be honest my life!
I have gone from a struggling solopreneur to running a small team, growing our client base and our offering, locating to our own office, all with a firm grip on our numbers, our goals, and our mission. If you had told me 3-4 years ago that my business would be in this position I wouldn’t have believed it in a million years. Jo has to have a huge amount of that credit for where we are today. Jo’s combination of motivational and inspirational skills, straight talking wisdom, and an incredible head for the financial side of business (something less natural to me!) is a rare and indispensable mix that has made it possible for me to get to grips with and manage our finances and increased my confidence and self-belief massively. She has also played a crucial part in helping me seek a diagnosis for my ADHD. The effect this has had is amazing, I am now motivated, able to focus, and able to believe that I can achieve all my goals – not just in my business, but everywhere. The way we work together is tailored to my ADHD thanks to her deep understanding of the condition and how it affects the way that business leaders operate. If you’re reading this review then you are fortunate enough to have been led to Jo Richings so I would encourage you not to hesitate and get in touch with her now! Karis Copp. MD Karis Copp Media I've been working with Jo for the last year to help me gain some control in my rapidly growing business. The benefit of her guidance was immediate as she inspired me to delegate several hours of low skill tasks from my week and got me to organise myself, and thus my company, better. It seems mad but as a small business owner who is running things solo, you have no one to turn to when you make decisions and this can often be quite isolating and lonely. Jo has helped fill this void, helped me feel proud of what I have done, and shone a light on areas where things can improve. In the process she has become somewhat of a sidekick (possibly even a business Aunt?) but definitely a friend. I'd implore anyone in any position to start a conversation with her, - honesty you can’t afford not to! Tom Gale, MD Atom Packs I have worked with Jo for 6 months now. Jo has helped me to review my business and the way I work to put together solid foundations to help me grow my business. Jo brings a different viewpoint which in turn adds great value to my business and the way I work. I’m excited to see what the next year holds for my business having Jo supporting me along the journey too. Stevie Jepson, MD, Platinum Accountancy Jo is extremely good at what she does, she is positive, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Jo has the experience to know how to handle every situation in the most appropriate manner and is very good at explaining things in easy to understand language. I would definitely recommend Jo to anyone looking to grow their business and become a lot more serious and professional. Marcus Robinson. Managing Director, Mortgage Style Limited I first meet Jo when she started to coach one of our directors in Bristol in 2007, it was apparent to me that Jo had a very positive approach to coaching and that the people Jo coached made a strong connection with her and therefore they felt very accountable for their actions.
Since 2007 Jo has worked consistently for other areas of our business and we have always received very positive responses. Areas of work that Jo has been central to include:
Peter Kavanagh. Chief Executive Officer Jo Richings is one of the most energetic, inspiring mentors that I have encountered in many years of business. She took responsibility for assessing our company’s needs in terms of where we felt the new direction should be taken. Jo neatly processed the steps we should take as individuals, as well as a team, and gave us clearer insights to the moves we should be instigating to get to the goals we jointly set. It is now 12 months since Jo first started to guide our thoughts and we are extremely happy with how that professional enthusiasm has fed through to all the members of our team, to achieve a good transition towards new directions and horizons for our company. Christine Marshall, Chairman,
Jo is a credit to coaching. With her passion, commitment and vast experience we were able to understand and implement effectively what was needed to improve our business and make it more profitable. She has taught us the importance of personal growth, how to focus on the next steps and has always been there whenever we needed her help. If you are thinking of taking on an business coach, I would say don’t think, ring Jo! Stuart Salmon Managing Director
I am pleased to recommend and endorse Jo Richings. We started our journey with Jo's company when we were looking for a company that could provide bespoke personal development training, and what we received was so much more. We have been very pleased with Jo's commitment, organisation, coordination and support and particularly that she delivered on schedule.
Jo took a real interest in understanding every part of our organisation, before making a recommendation on what and how she would deliver. She has worked with all members of my team, as well as myself to ensure that we are working together for a common goal. We've gone from a dysfunctional team thinking that we all knew each other, to one where we all work together - work is now a pleasure rather than a chore. On a personal note, Jo's on-going support and guidance has had such an impact on my own life. Isabelle Mills, Office Manager & PA to Chief Executive Officer In the months I have been working with Jo she has consistently brought valuable insights and techniques to the table. The personal and business benefits gained from coaching with Jo are invaluable. The qualities I appreciate about Jo are that she is positive, objective, clear, concise, and exceptionally knowledgeable about all types the business, she a tool kit for every situation - and they work ! I would not hesitate to recommend Jo to anyone who is serious about growing their business, her professionalism, can-do attitude, positivity and knowledge are invaluable.
Stephanie Beddis, Owner Jo Richings is one of the most positive, enthusiastic and motivational people I've ever had the pleasure of working with. We worked with Jo during our transition from daytime cafe to evening Brasserie and 7 day a week cafe restaurant. As a family business it can be easy to get side tracked and lose focus on the important issues with no one person in overall control.
Jo was brilliant at helping us honestly identify our objectives, make quick rational decisions about how to achieve them, and then help us get organised and motivated to reach these goals. These included hiring a new evening kitchen team, brining in a lot of new organisational systems to allow the business to run smoothly when we’re not there. Jo won’t accept prevarication or woolly thinking, if you’re passionate about getting your business organised and profitable she’s a top class individual to help you get there. John Drysdale In the months I have been working with Jo she has consistently brought valuable insights and techniques to the table. The personal and business benefits gained from coaching with Jo are invaluable. The qualities I appreciate about Jo are that she is positive, objective, clear, concise, and exceptionally knowledgeable about all types the business, she a tool kit for every situation - and they work ! I would not hesitate to recommend Jo to anyone who is serious about growing their business, her professionalism, can-do attitude, positivity and knowledge are invaluable.
Sarah Lidbury, Owner Jo has been my business coach for a few months now and I can’t praise her enough. Not only has she assisted and guided me in the best methods on how to grow my business, but she also listened and clarified how it fits in with my personal goals, so I have more direction and know what I need to do to take my business forward. I love Jo’s no-nonsense approach, she’s honest and reliable, and with her years of experience and knowledge as a business coach, she is certainly best placed to help any business. I love the fact she ‘tells it like it is’ as this helps me focus on the important goals and prioritise the rest. Anyone not sure whether a business coach is for them should have a chat to Jo. Carol McIntyre, Owner Jo has been a huge support in the growth of my business. I worked with Jo at a previous employers so she was the first person I contacted when I started the business 10 years ago. I knew she would be able to provide the support and skills I needed to be able to take a step back from the day to day running of the company and see a greater strategic picture.
I have been working with her for the entire 10 years of the company and have now started to cascade her support further down the management structure. She has been invaluable to me. Robert Loaring, MD I have been working with Jo for around three years now, through good days and ‘growth’ days. No matter what is going on for me or my business she always has an interesting insight and something positive to contribute. As a soul director of a Small to Medium sized Enterprise I find it invaluable to have a sane, wise and creative brain to pick and a broad set of shoulders to lean on! Hywel George, MD
I cannot speak too highly of Jo and her team. The coaching received has transformed my business over the last 6 months. Professional guidance across all business facets - and it’s been great fun! Absolutely brilliant! Thank you. Paul Hounsell, Director
I remember reading a quote “attitude is contagious, would I want to catch yours?” Let me tell you that you would definitely want to catch Jo’s attitude. It doesn’t matter what has been happening in my life or business, I always leave my sessions with Jo fired up and with a definite cando attitude and of course that then transfers into everything I do and produces fantastic results. I would highly recommend Jo to anybody. Susan Gallagher, Owner |
Jennie ran a DISC training workshop for us recently & managed to keep all 30+ of us engaged with her energetic style. Using a combination of presenting, group work, reflection, and having us all up on our feet & moving around the room, we learnt all about DISC. We left the day with plenty of ideas to keep our learnings live back in the business. Thank you.
Claire Viney, Consumer Intelligence Ltd It was by far the best training I’ve had at the university, the standard of which is already very good. I enjoyed the pace, felt you gave us adequate time to work in groups, and that you answered all our questions as we went along. I will definitely start putting what I’ve learned into practice." Thank you so much for running such an energetic and engaging workshop. I thought it was wonderful and have talked non-stop about it to anyone who will listen! Claire is an outstanding learning consultant with bags of energy , experience and enthusiasm! She is extremely creative and applies a can do approach to every project she works on. Claire was great. Good energy, pace and content. Made everything interesting. Very impressed! Thanks Jo – it was absolutely fantastic and I can definitely only assume that you have had me under surveillance for 6 months! Some of it made me laugh out loud how spot on it had me. Professional, engaging, experienced and fun is what Matt brings in every training he delivers and/or designs. I have no hesitation to work with Matt and look forward to the opportunity of working with him again! Matt is a fantastic facilitator, a powerhouse of knowledge and a very understanding character to work with "The Stress Management workshop was excellent. It really helped me understand why and how meditation works, and how it can be helpful. This has made me much more keen to incorporate it into my daily life. Thanks Neil! I liked that there was something to do prior to the session. Matt was also very clear and asked questions to the group. The emphasis on simplicity and how it's linked to succeeding. I loved the action plan at the end, this was a really nice addition and the group discussion around each individual's action planning. A fantastically informative session. Scarily accurate in it's assessment of my strengths and weaknesses. Really helpful to understand the profiles of other people and how to manage difference preferences. Elaine was tremendously knowledgeable and could answer all our questions Really interesting insight into myself and those I work closely with. It was a good way to see how we all behave and interact with one another" "Most qualified trainers these days can deliver ‘generic’ content very well, AJ – delivers ‘bespoke’ content at consistently high level of excellence, this man has the absolute ability to capture, and then script, the very essence that bespoke training courses require, in order to first deliver the content in a style that captivates, and then secondly to inspire those candidates into taking real-life positive steps, post training course, which offer tangible benefits to both company and candidate. The work required to achieve change is not to be under-estimated, and this workshop shows that. Just the right depth and length of session to encapsulate the subject, with pointers of where to go next to learn more. Highly recommended "The feedback that I received from staff regarding the training was that he was engaging, fun and Adrian taught the staff a new way of thinking. He understands that staff are not a 'one size fits all' and adapts to the needs of the group. Thank you! The Managing the Human Dynamics of Change workshop has really helped me think about the best ways to introduce and manage change with the different people in my team, allowing me to tailor my approach to their individual perspectives regarding the change. Jenny delivered all of the sessions for us with enthusiasm and credibility. Due to the content of some of the sessions there were some strong challenges during some of the sessions, Jennie dealt with all of these confidently and with solid examples. The feedback from all of the sessions was excellent. I've been fortunate enough to have attended a few different courses that Jill has presented. The courses have always been professionally delivered, the content is always well communicated and put into practice within a comfortable environment and Jill is thoroughly approachable and willing to discuss concepts or ideas that have been explored. Without hesitation I would recommend Jill to anyone looking to develop themselves either as an individual or as an organisation. Jennie was superb. Really engaging, and really effective use of zoom. Something I've not seen before allowing us to make and things as she went through the session. Good use of breakout rooms, interesting topics of conversation relevant to the session. I really liked the part about different personality types/roles within a team. "Jennie was brilliant, her simple explanation and examples of how to improve teams was really valuable. Excellent! Jennie gave a really succinct breakdown of the principles of the dynamics of a high performing team. I really enjoyed it. We have used Jill's services on several occasions over the past few years. She has been excellent each time; and has approached our "brief" with great enthusiasm. She has always paid close attention to what we have needed, and has delivered great results for us. Highly recommended for mentoring & team building.... Jo's DISC workshop is a great way to learn more about yourself and also gain a better understanding the people that you regularly come into contact with. The results are scarily accurate and it's a great way to tap into how and why you react the way you do, which helps you to be more emotionally intelligent and self-aware. I thoroughly enjoyed the management training delivered by Jill covering subjects such as Strategy, Leadership and Communication. Jill's style is direct and to the point, giving you what you need to know as concisely as possible. I also found Jill to be helpful with real work based problems and was kind enough to give advice outside of the classroom if requested. I would certainly recommend Jill if you require business or personal development training. This was a great session, it really helped understanding the behaviours of an effective team and recognising things we do well, things we don't do so well and things we don't do but want to do. I have taken a lot from the session and will be using things from it as we grow our team." Thanks Jennie I attended a development day with Jill in Bristol. Jill was a professional and engaging trainer who delivered some great insights. A very productive and valuable day! I really enjoyed the training, I feel like I understand myself so much better now, and why I react to certain situations how I do. Also being able to see how people view themselves and how their preferences can differ to mine was very eye opening. Thanks for the session last week! I’m normally quite sceptical of workshops like this however I found this really inciteful and it has provided me with a better understanding of how to approach people depending on their DISC traits." "Wow, just wow! I had a DISC profile review session with Elaine (after doing her quick and easy DISC profile test) and was amazed by what I've learned. Elaine clearly and constructively took me through my profile test results and outlined exactly what my natural characteristics are, my preferred styles of working, my 'comfort zones', and much more. All of this may seem obvious but I know that we so easily overlook it or worse still, fight against it pointlessly. Elaine's decades of experience as a DISC expert, and the report she provided, are truly invaluable if you want to know what your core traits and preferences are, what areas to focus on or avoid, and whether you're being your natural self in the workplace. I would 100% recommend this to every business owner and entrepreneur out there. A very small investment for a service (and understanding) that will last you a lifetime!" "I came to learn about Elaine three years ago when I offered to do a talk in her Facebook group, and last year again I signed up to coaching for my health, it was eye opening to find out the internal issues that I was unaware of and the remedies and the actions I can take to improve it all. I then signed up to do DISC training and have thoroughly enjoyed her teaching style and benefited from her vast experience of using DISC for improving health, wellbeing and performance. Since working with Jo our small family business has grown no end. From myself and my partner on our own with a computer to three teams and a small office. Jo really is a walking encyclopedia and helped us to organise the business and become one of the most sought after tree surgeons in our area. We no longer compete on price and are able to have a divide from working and home life which is a rare thing when you have your own company. The 'recession' has not been a factor at all and in fact, business wise we wouldn't know there was one. Thanks to the teaching and advice we have had! And not to mention how much fun it is too. I would recommend Jo to everyone I know and really can't speak highly enough of her. She has made a huge difference to mine and my partners life and the life of our family. With the money back guarantees you really have nothing to lose. ' Liz Lewis. Owner |
I've worked with Jo for 8 years since joining the Romans Group. With the benefit of being able to look into the business and with all her experience from working with other companies, Jo been a great asset to helping us develop our peoples' skills Working at all levels in the business, she is able to cut through the 'noise' that frequently masks the root cause of problems or issues, and not only provide clarity of the solution, but a means to achieve this solution.
People within the business who have worked with Jo, and who stay the course, always report back that the work has been beneficial to them as individuals and ultimately to the teams they work with which in turn results in improved quality and service delivery to our clients. Jo works with structured, proven models and is always insistent on measuring the output of the efforts applied, be these commercial or otherwise. The fact that we keep engaging with Jo year after year is testament to the value she adds to our organisation as well as the results she delivers. Peter Loverdos Group Operations Director Jo is an excellent business coach who I would recommend to anyone. She is quick, insightful, a great listener, organised and gives excellent, actionable advice. James Hooton, MD, Green Finance Institute Having been coached by Jo for over a year, I can assure you it will be a great investment in both yourself as an individual and your business. I can’t thank Jo enough for how she has helped me grow as a person. Jon Hawthorne, Director, Romans Jo is fantastic to work with and someone I would highly recommend for anyone looking to upskill themselves. Jo's wealth of knowledge has really helped my personal and business development. Dan Collis. Sales Director, Gibbs Gillespie Definitely give it a go. You might be sceptical and nervous (afraid of the unknown) but it is well worth it. I have had the pleasure of being coached by Jo Richings for a couple of years and it seemed the right step to take to enlist Jo’s experience to help us with advice, direction and vision for our company. Jo has an uncanny way of steering you and your team in the right direction, which you knew was always there, but couldn't seem to reach by yourselves! Clare Day. Director,
Having completed various leadership feedback style courses over the years, 360 feedback with Jo is by far the most engaging, and empowering experience. Jo’s ability to open your eyes, with new ways of developing is second to none, her enthusiasm makes the whole process enjoyable and worthwhile.
The 360 experience offers great insight into where you are successful and the areas of development with honest and open feedback from your peers, direct reports, and line manager. It is not just a survey and tick box exercise as Jo’s personal approach before and after the feedback enhances the experience. I would recommend this experience to anyone who is keen to understand how to develop and progress. Dan French, Director Jo has worked with Romans Lettings, part of The Romans Group (UK) Ltd for several years. Through coaching she has skilfully challenged the Senior Management team on their behaviours and has contributed significantly to changes we have made which, without her involvement, would not have taken place. We have expanded the business in recent years and Jo has made a huge contribution to this process. I would have no hesitation in recommending the services of Jo Richings. Peter Fuller Merger & Acquisitions Director
It was a great experience to work with Jo and it was very different to any training I have had before. I felt Jo made a huge effort to get to know me on a personal level and then adapt her approach to make the sessions as beneficial as possible for me. I felt comfortable discussing issues with her, she is a first class professional. Jo is fantastic at what she does and I would highly recommend her to anybody. Richard Chambers Manager
I immediately connected with Jo, she is extremely personable and will tell you how it is. Jo has a way of making people aware of their strengths and weaknesses by cutting straight to the point. I have gained a lot of ideas to improve my team and the things I do as a person, not only in my work life but also with my family. I particularly enjoyed the DISC analysis, as it made me realise how I like to be managed, so that I can communicate with my team and line managers to get the best out of what they do. Suffice to say, the month after our last session, my office had the best month of the year and I don't think it would have been without Jo's suggestions on how to get the best from all members of my team. I loved the way Jo made me feel, I always felt positive and ready to make a difference! Andy McElligott, (Manager)
I really really enjoyed the whole 360 process after initially being quite worried about it. I found Jo extremely friendly and I thought we really clicked. I later found out that this is because we are similar characters. I really enjoyed learning about DISC and identifying where other people in the group would sit in this and also myself. Oddly enough I enjoyed the feedback and seeing what other people thought of me. The few negative comments were things that I was already aware of and working on. I really liked Jo's honesty, which I needed and appreciated. She called me up on a couple of the bits that were mentioned in the feedback and it seems to have really worked. I look forward to hopefully working with her in the future. Ellie Milne, Manager
Every session attended with Jo, either in person or on the phone was extremely beneficial to me during the course of what was a tricky year. Jo helped me to understand what I could do differently and recommended many different ideas which I could and did put in place. Alongside some very good book recommendations, I was able to pull myself through some tough months and come out the other side in a far stronger position. Not only was her work invaluable to me from a work perspective, it also helped with life outside work as well. It was a great experience, thanks so much for your help Jo. Paul Lynch (Manager)
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
Having recognised the need to improve my time management skills I started coaching sessions with Jo at the start of 2012. Since then I and the people I work with have seen a marked improvement in my ability to get things done in a timely and efficient manner. Speaking to Jo on a regular basis has been instrumental in my change of attitude - she helps you focus on your strengths whilst setting you tasks to improve the areas that need it. I have no hesitation in recommending Jo - Thank you for all your help. Sam Attewell, Support Manager, I have worked with Jo for several years. In that time she has provided group sessions to new inductees to the business, as well as 121 coaching (including 360 degree feedback reviews and DISC profiling) with a number of staff from our management team.
Jo's workshops get excellent feedback and staff respect her honest and candid approach, helping them get to the heart of any issues. I personally used Jo for some 360 degree feedback training myself and there is no doubt that the exercise led to a positive change in my behaviour. Michael Cook Managing Director The 360 feedback programme is by far the best course I have done with Romans. I found it very relevant and interesting and wish more time could be allocated to it. Jo is great to work with and is very engaging, I think this course has great value. Richard Gibbons (Manager)
I had sessions with Jo on Leadership Management and I found these extremely helpful not only in terms of my understanding but it helped me to understand everyone in my team as well. There is something so special about the way Jo conducts her sessions. I have been working with Jo for almost 12 months. She quickly learnt my character and was able to identify the attributes necessary for me to perform my management and leadership roles. Importantly, she has provided me with tools to assist with these functions.
Jo has worked with the company’s management board for over 6 months, during a significant transitional period. She has helped identify the aspects of the business that are working well and those that need attention - allowing us to bring to the fore issues that might otherwise have remained hidden. She has been able to play a significant role in facilitating a reworking of the company’s vision for the next five years and what steps need to be taken to achieve this. Owen Jones, Director, Jo has provided coaching and support for almost a year and in that time has been amazing. Her attitude is second to none and her enthusiasm, energy and positive attitude are incredibly inspiring. It is impossible to end a session with Jo and not feel like you could do whatever you set your mind to.
She also quickly gets to the nub of any issue you may have and allows you to find the answer by supporting your thought processes and asking the right questions at the right time. Jo will encourage you to work in ways which are more productive and which save you time and energy, but she also really values non-work activity and emphasises the importance of valuing yourself and your own time. If you are thinking of taking on a business coach, don’t look any further than Jo - she sets very high standards and then exceeds them. Nick Cork, Managing Director, Having not experienced this type of training before, I started with a fairly pessimistic outlook. However, Jo overcame my reservations within the first two sessions when I realised I had already learnt some big lessons which were successfully being put into practice. Jo is an excellent motivator and the frequent ‘little voice in my head’ when I know I have wandered off track.
She is opening my mind to ideas and ways of thinking that I had not contemplated, but are proving to work and make me a better Manager. I would recommend this coaching to anyone who wants to get ahead in life. Kiersty Sims, Head of Marketing, Don't just think about it, do it as you will not regret it. She has the rare ability to be able to facilitate change in people and their businesses without creating resentment. Rob Carter, Owner
Elaine is straight talking and gives you the information, guidance and support necessary to allow you to grow, make choices and changes you want to make. I highly recommend working with her." I'm grateful to learn so much from Jo as I'm currently on my way to become a better manager for the team. Many valuable insights that I never thought I have to learn, will actually benefit my work. I recommend this program for aspiring persons with managerial roles! |
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Jo & her team offer Business Coaching, Management & Executive Coaching and Team Coaching either face to face in Bristol or Berkshire, or worldwide via phone or Skype.
There coaching & training programmes are bespoke and tailored to fit the organisations or business owner, manager \ executives needs.
There coaching & training programmes are bespoke and tailored to fit the organisations or business owner, manager \ executives needs.
"The minute I started with Jo it was like a shot in the arm for me and my business. The benefits were immediate and huge. Not just for my business but for me personally. She will not hold back, she tells you the truth but it comes from a place of love. She really wants the best for you and your business. I'm so lucky she had space to take me on. If you are a not sure, don't be. She can take you from good to great quickly and easily by sharing her perspective of what she sees from the outside. I'm so grateful to have the opportunity I do with her." Athole Forbes