Training course (PT)

In using the Access Enterprise methodology it is important for the organisation/project who are managing the process to recruit, train and support the right coaches who understand the methodology and adhere to the values of it.

Cast your net wide and be willing to consider a wide range of potential coaches. For example, you might approach the Chamber of Commerce, local Trade Associations, Institute of Directors, local Universities, people within your own organisation, local entrepreneurs of micro and SMEs, large corporations who may wish to contribute to the project, and successful entrepreneurs who have been already been through the Access Enterprise process. 

The coaches will need to have had direct experience of business and, ideally will be entrepreneurs. They will be able to coach effectively and these are some characteristics of effective business coaching. Please try to see that the coaches you recruit have some or all of these characteristics:

1) Ability to form trusted relationships: it’s easier for the new entrepreneur to learn from someone they trust. Effective coaches effectively establish boundaries and build trust by being clear about the learning and development objectives they set, show good judgment, are patient, and follow through on any promises and agreements they make.

2) A structured approach: effective coaches will establish where the new entrepreneur is now and where they want to go. Helping others to gain self-awareness and insight is a key job for a coach. Feedback and practical advice will improve the performance of the new entrepreneur and the coach will look at such areas as gaps or inconsistencies, current performance vs. desired performance, words vs. actions, and intention vs. impact.

3) Self-awareness and self-evaluation: Effective coaches encourage self-reflection and self-evaluation. This can be achieved by asking open-ended questions, pushing for alternative solutions to problems, and encouraging reasonable risk-taking.

4) Supporting and encouraging: As partners in learning, effective coaches will listen carefully, are open to the perspectives of others, and allow mistakes to happen. They are supportive, encouraging, and motivating.

5) Results-driven: Effective coaching is about achieving goals. The coach helps the new entrepreneur to set meaningful goals and to identify the steps for achieving them.

Therefore, you are seeking to recruit coaches who are:

friendly

                                            knowledgeable

                                                              able to build trust and relationships readily

                                   successful

                                                                      able to commit time

           able to offer effective support

`                                                                                   able to be consistent in their involvement.

 

Experiential Learning – Learning By Doing

Experiential Learning is a fundamental principle of the Access Enterprise Methodology. It can be summarised in the following diagram.

Through the Access Enterprise work that you will facilitate you will support entrepreneurs to complete an activity that enables them to gain experiences and skills which supports them to move towards self-employment and business start-up. The activities and subsequent work that the entrepreneurs will produce will be directly related to their “real-life” business or in some cases will support them moving into jobs within other businesses.