PCI in the local community

Ali McBride - Positive Psychology for a Scottish nation

We would also like to take this opportunity to recognise the community efforts of our Scottish representative. Ali McBride, an Executive Coach for Performance Coaching International is passionate about enabling people to be all they can be.

This is reflected through her personal commitments to supporting others. As well as being a Samaritan and doing sponsored sailing events, Ali also invests her time coaching & providing consultancy for the 'Centre for Confidence', in Scotland. This commitment is underpinned by a strong personal belief that change is always possible.

The Centre advocates the principles of Positive Psychology which is an area Ali initially became involved with during her coaching and counselling studies. If you are interested in, 'the valued experience of well-being, contentment, satisfaction, optimism and happiness', then the field of positive psychology is definitely for you. Further information is available in our articles section.

Kevin McAlpin - cycling for cancer

Kevin McAlpin, Managing Director of Performance Coaching International completed a 75 mile bike ride on the 14th July this year. He raised £2,370 for Fairleigh Hospice who care for the lives of individuals and their families who have been touched by cancer or other life limiting illnesses. Their philosophy is caring is about adding life to days, even when days can't be added to life and they are a wonderful organisation.

Louise Bradshaw - Heroine of the Year

At PCI, apart from upholding our values through our work, we strive to contribute whenever possible to the community at large.

For these reasons we are proud to congratulate PCI business development manager, Louise Bradshaw, who has been awarded the title 'Business Heroine of the Year' at the prestigious Regional Business Awards.

Judges praised her for giving enormous amounts of time to help local charities, Louise also helps local businesses to develop, through her committee role on the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's 'development group' for Docklands and East London.

After her return from a career break (she has two lovely children) Louise worked tirelessly to gain three nationally recognised qualifications to enable her to coach executives. She immediately decided to use her new skills to further good causes.

As well as her wide range of Corporate Executive Coaching clients she has also been investing more time in the local community, coaching at Kingswood School in Essex with pupils one day per week.

Her coaching session at the school have included targeting under achievers and pupils classified as being at risk from being permanently excluded from school. Her input has led to a marked improvement in behaviour, demeanour and self-belief among the pupils.

Her other achievements included running the London Marathon shortly after having been admitted to a hospital A&E unit having fallen and badly cut her head. She would not withdraw from the marathon despite doctors' orders and made it to the start line five minutes before the race began. She finished the whole race in 4 hours 14 mins and raised nearly £ 3,700.

So we give our congratulations to Louise for a well-deserved award for impact on the local community and on PCI itself; she certainly is a business heroine!

Peter Watts - Cancer Research UK, Relay for life

Continuing the theme of helping our local communities, Peter Watts, Executive Coach at Performance Coaching International has also been using his talents to help Cancer Research UK's - Relay For life project in Upminster.

As well as raising funds for Cancer Research UK, Peter also tries to raise awareness with lifestyle changes, early detection and preventative measures'. Peter says 'Most of us will be touched by cancer in some way during our lives, it's about us all working together to try and turn 'hope into a cure'.

Cancer Research UK's 'Relay For Life' brought together the whole community in one location for an overnight event in which teams of people of all ages and abilities took turns to walk, run or skip in relay following an opening 'Lap of Honour' by cancer survivors.

This was the first event of its kind in Upminster and the only one in Essex.

Housing company saved from becoming derelict

Overview

Performance Coaching International (PCI) implemented a management coaching programme that took Redbridge Community Housing Ltd (RCHL) from the brink of financial ruin and closure, to a healthy, forward-looking organisation with predicted reserves of £400,000 by the end of this year.

At the end of the root and branch overhaul, managers said they had moved from being inward-looking and process driven to having a clear strategic direction, improved leadership skills and effective team working. More importantly, their staff agreed.

Some of the big successes:

At the start of the programme in 2003, RCHL was operating at an annual loss of £200,000; this year there should be an operating profit of £400,000
RCHL estimates the programme has saved £821,000, mainly through reduced turnover, lower sickness absence and reduced agency costs
Agency costs reduced by 39% due to development of internal capabilities
The staff survey showed satisfaction had doubled in almost every indicator
100% of participants in the coaching said they now have a clearer strategic direction
95% said leadership had improved at all levels
95% they had better self-awareness
100% said the programme had been a valuable and positive learning experience

Performance Coaching International sponsoring and developing talent whether the young or the very old...