We continually went around the same mountain that we had been around for years. We needed a different outlook that can only be seen from a differing point of view. Nicole Colter walked us through the process of realizing that that differing point of view was already in us and we didn’t need someone from outside the organization to give it to us. We just needed Nicole to creatively help us discover it.
Have you ever proof-read your own work? You write something then proof-read but you tend to read what you think you wrote and not always what you actually wrote. We were stuck in that “proof-reading your own work” thing for way too long. We had the same stale ideas, solutions and processes that we kept in operation despite them not being completely effective. Why? Because we thought they would be effective. And when we would review them, we would come to the same conclusions. Then we would find that the anticipated outcome was not the actual outcome. So we would make some decisions that were similar to the former ones and start the whole thing all over again. It was exhausting.
We invited Nicole Colter into our staff meeting to work with us in a creative process from discovery to implementation. She has helped us discover real issues and real, workable solutions. She didn’t come in and tell us what the problems were and what we needed to do better, she walked us through steps of discovery. I liken it to coaching an entire corporate team. Asking the right questions, encouraging a different way of thinking and energizing the sometimes laborious process.
Nicole’s commitment to her client, her witty and creative thinking process as well as her commanding presence was captivating. Staff members that I was convinced would not embrace the process beforehand were complete buy-ins. Nicole drew out of them an untapped well of creativity that even they themselves didn’t realize they had. This has been an invigorating time for us. Our entire team is being re-energized and as a result many issues are being addressed and corrected.
We continue to work with Nicole. I have acquiesced my time with our leadership as she continues to lead us through this fun and creative process. We are excited to continue with Nicole.
Norwich Worship Center April 5, 2016
Nicole’s passion for reaching farther than most can see and her natural way of leading and encouraging is truly a gift.
On July 7th 2015, I was invited to sit in on a group facilitation led by Nicole. Our session was 2 hours and she led a group of nine individuals from different age groups (ages 17-47) and social demographics, through a very thorough process of problem solving in a way I had never seen. I have been involved in many strategic planning sessions with Boards I had sat on, but this one was much different. Nicole was able to clearly identify our goal for the session and engage each participant through the process that would bring the most valuable results. She moved us through her exercises, opening up our minds to a creative process of thinking that structurally seemed natural as she led us, but ultimately geared us towards ideas and conclusions that were completely ‘outside the box’ and forward thinking. Her session did not just capture ‘ideas’ but also allowed us to capture ‘challenges’ that could potentially be met along the way towards the goal, so participants could acknowledge, think through, and get comfortable on some variable with these ‘potential obstacles”, rather than to become stagnated by them if one were to arise along the path, had they not been addressed and brought forward. Her session was invigorating and exciting as we moved our way through and I was thoroughly impressed with her skills.
I’m so excited about what you’ve been teaching me about problem solving! After attending two of your large group sessions for our church, and one smaller session, I feel like I’ve learned so much. Being a worship leader and choir director, I lead about twenty-five people, and will be using your problem solving tools to assist in both groups. Plus I’m using it at home. I love how it’s not only effective in helping to find solutions to problems, but it also helps me to identify and prioritize issues that need solving. It helps me to figure out what I want to do. You’ve shed light on how to isolate issues, prioritize them and come up with realistic solutions. I’m motivated and excited to tackle new issues, knowing that I have a tool that I’ll use again and again to help as I move forward! It has helped me to isolate what is really important to me. Thank you again and keep me posted on classes you’re holding as I would love to attend again!
You’re awesome, Christine Stedford April 4, 2016
Nicole is a trustworthy, empathic and strategic facilitator. She helped me to identify the steps and to build a plan for my goal. Thanks to her now I have already started to build my dream.
I was experiencing a hard time figuring out how to start to practice teaching. Nicole helped me to identify what was my real concern. She planned a CPS facilitation session based on each of my interests and she made sure the outcome was exactly what I was looking for. Nicole mastered the session design and execution. She was reading group insights all the time, checking back on my thoughts and getting the most out of the resource group in the most gentle and objective way. Nicole showed always to be “one step ahead” while preparing and facilitating the session. She managed to get me several great and novel ideas to start practicing teaching and also a list of skills I should develop and improve, which I found more than valuable. I feel privileged to have experienced her as a facilitator and I would definitely recommend her as the facilitator that will take you where you want to be and further.
The session went very well, it was a lot fun and gave great ideas for me to further my research into solving my problem. I have a good grip on how to approach these problems. I think the process overall was very different but very effective.
Nicole is a marketing genius in my book! Her insight to marketing approaches, no matter what your business, is remarkable! Her no nonsense ad was the perfect approach for my life coach business. The directory was out in the market mere days and I received a call from a client to schedule a session! She is my go-to person for the spark needed to make reaching out to my clients not only authentic but effective. Be prepared to be wow’ed!
