Each month TAP takes time to thank its clients by showcasing them as our client of the month. For June we’ve chosen Outside Partner, a business coaching company who take time to help you work on areas of your business you might be struggling with.

We spoke to Janine from Outside Partner to find out more about what they do.

Tell us a bit about Outside Partner!

‘Outside Partner’ describes my approach offering supportive, goal-orientated business coaching to individuals determined to achieve their full career potential. 

The company name ‘Outside Partner’ is actually a position in ballroom dancing that allows one partner to move forward more freely.

In the ballroom, dancers need to find their own equilibrium and co-ordination, yet require continuous support from their partner to create the most impactful moves. In the outside partner position the contact points are minimal but still highly effective to complete the picture.

This is exactly how effective business coaching works.

What made you start the company?

I have always had an entrepreneurial streak and wanted to set up my own business. For a long time I didn’t find anything I felt passionate about enough to warrant leaving my corporate career and going it alone.

In recent years however, I have worked extensively with coaching interventions and not only seen the benefits in the work place but also experienced it first hand. Coaching enables me to combine my strengths and passions to encourage and support people to stretch themselves and fulfil their potential.

I am able to help people achieve this by drawing on 20 years of corporate experience, which I have gained in blue-chip organisations across a variety of sectors, as well as academic insight. Coaching needs to be results-oriented but I also want to make it enjoyable.

I would love to work with those who have not had the chance to benefit from it yet.

How can businesses benefit from your programmes?

The 2016 Spring Survey conducted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) stated that coaching is one of the most popular development methods with 92% of those who received it rating it as useful.

However, only 9% of employees had actually received any coaching over the past 12 months – which is a figure Outside Partner hopes to increase!

Coaching helps by raising awareness and encouraging people to take responsibility for action. Typical coaching themes include:

• Defining Success and Setting Goals
• Shaping and Executing Business Strategy
• Delivering Positive Change in Self and Others
• Leadership
• Creating High Performance Environments
• Partnering Skills
• Managing Difficult Relationships
• Navigating Organisations
• Decision Making
• Overcoming Obstacles and Developing Resilience
• Preparing for and Managing Transitions

In addition to one-on-one sessions, I also work with organisations and teams to create a coaching culture and provide mentoring support for HR Professionals. For these I design tailor-made programmes to support personal or organisational development plans.

Particularly for smaller and medium-sized organisations without large HR departments, a bespoke offering supporting their business strategy through targeted development interventions produces cost-effective results in a timely manner.

Why did you choose The Accountancy Partnership?

I was looking for an accountancy team that is accessible, competent and cost-effective, which is exactly what I have found at The Accountancy Partnership.

How has the service you’ve received been?

Courteous and prompt. Not having to deal with problems has been the objective for me when searching for a new accountant, which The Accountancy Partnership has delivered on. Everybody I have interacted with has been very responsive.