Insurers - Case Studies

Case A:

Brian is one of two business partners in a hardware and landscape store. He is 56 and has undergone unsuccessful surgery to correct issues with bones in his ankle/foot. He is unable to be on his feet for any length of time and when he does walk the pain is unpredictable and varies significantly in intensity. Prior to his disability, he spent most of his working day on his feet in the shop and yard. He is unable to perform these duties but his goal is to return to his business - albeit in a different role, within the next 6 months.

Brian’s business is still operating but need to become more profitable to comfortably support him in a new role. Through a coaching program spanning 4 months, Brian is coached through:

• Taking on a different role in his business,
• Working through the changes with his business partner,
• Managing staffing changes,
• Taking action to address those areas in the business where there are opportunities for growth and/or savings, and
• Monitoring KPI’s and taking action based on information they provide.

By becoming active in the business again, Brian’s mental outlook improves as he is making a contribution again, he is motivated to start working on what was previously an overwhelming task, the pressure is relieved from his business partner and he is able to make decisions and take action to grow the business so that it provides him with an appropriate level of earnings while still maintaining profitability.

(Coaching program continues - currently completed 4 sessions over 6 weeks)

Case B :

Sam is a plumber who injured his arm and is therefore unable to work on the tools effectively. He does however have a good reputation in the marketplace and a network of builders willing to refer work to him. He was confident that he could win enough work to expand his business such that other tradespeople could do the hands on work.

The coaching program focused on assisting him build a team of plumbers of sufficient calibre to satisfy his high standards and those of his customers. The coaching helped him clarify the number and nature of staff needed for him to achieve his income targets. Once he was confident that the strategy was working he accepted a lump sum payment from the insurer is no longer on claim.

(10 sessions over 7 months)

Case C:

Bob found himself incapacitated by depression and anxiety as the result of a combination of events including a marriage breakdown and conflict with a previous business partner. Business coaching was used to assist him focus on the future growth of his current business during the uncertainty created by these issues. Both situations were resolved, his mental health recovered and as coaching concluded he was pushing forward with some exciting new opportunities for his business. His rehab file has been closed.

(7 Sessions over 6 months)

Case D:

Eddy is 60 years old and is the franchisor of a mid-tier franchise with 35 franchisees. Eddy has suffered a series of health scares and is currently dealing with significant after-effects of chemotherapy and faces at least one more operation. His business is currently running successfully under management, however it cannot support his salary as well as that of his management team. He has large monthly mortgage repayments. He cannot return to his original hands-on role in the business due to his ongoing health problems, however he needs an income.

Through the coaching process, Eddy works through his options which include (among others) growing his business, selling his business and/or selling his large family property to reduce his debt. He makes a decision to focus his GM on growing the business in preparation for putting it on the market by the end of this financial year. For Eddy to be able to make this difficult decision and move towards actioning it, has taken careful, tactful questioning and an appreciation of the emotions tied up with each of these options.

(3 sessions over 2 months)

Case E:

Ki Sook had been on claim from some time suffering from depression and other mental and personality disorders. She was sure that returning to her previous employment would cause a relapse of her symptoms. She therefore had decided to start her own business. Her insurer was sceptical as to whether Ki Sook would be successful in this new venture but did not feel fully qualified to make this assessment. Ki Sook was committed to her business idea and not interested in exploring any other avenues.

Over the course of 3 coaching sessions Ki Sook came to the realisation that business success was a long way off and there could be faster ways to achieve the income and lifestyle outcomes she was seeking. She decided to seek flexible, part time work in the field that interested her. The case which had been stuck for a couple of years now had fresh options as the client was now open to seeking suitable employment. By the end of coaching she was already looking for part time roles and had applied for a position.

(3 Sessions over 6 weeks)

Case F:

Huang is a photographer who has injured his back and as a result, is unable to service his regular commercial clients. He was disengaged from his business and having his wife engage expensive contractors to help service his clients. Due to the rates charged by contractors there was virtually no profit margin on this work and therefore no personal income. As a result of coaching he established a pool of lower cost junior photographers who could perform his work at an acceptable profit margin. He became reengaged in his business and initiated a number of new marketing approaches. This rehab file is now closed.

(7 sessions over 5 months)

Case G:

Thomas was a high flying, talented over-achiever who burnt out and went into a deep debilitating depression. He is a natural entrepreneur with the proven marketing expertise to make it likely that he would be successful in a new business venture. Business coaching was used to help manage his enthusiasm so he could launch his new business without creating the pressure and stress that would lead to a relapse to his condition. To date he has built a very exciting business concept which is currently in the process of being piloted.

(5 sessions over 4 months)

Case H:

David is a solicitor who had owned a law practice in the past and is now suffering depression. He is seeking to establish an income working from home doing low stress legal work. During the course of the coaching we have been working to help him build methods of gaining new clients that he feels capable of undertaking. The coaching has helped David stay focussed on what he needs to do to establish new clients. To date he has conducted a number of marketing and prospecting activities. He is on the right path but it is taking some time. He values the coaching highly and wants it to continue as part of his rehabilitation

(7 Sessions over 6 months)