Don't be left at the crossroads (From Gazette Series)

Don't be left at the crossroads

AFTER years as a primary school teacher Ann George decided upon a life-altering career change. The Wotton-under-Edge woman has become a Neuro Linguistic Programming trainer and personal coach. KIRSTY RAMSDEN met the former teacher to find out more.

WITH years of teaching under her belt, Ann George felt something was missing in the communication style between teacher and pupil.

She questioned some issues around learning styles.

And about five years ago she went on a Neuro Linguistic Programming course.

Neuro Linguistic Programming has been described, in lay man's terms, as finding out how people tick.

Mrs George said: "It was all about how people do what they do and how communication works.

"We learned about ourselves and how we enable ourselves."

The course, she added, taught how to take charge of one's life.

"It is about making the changes, having the knowledge and the skills to make changes," she said.

Courses look at issues surrounding self-confidence and dealing with people in the workplace.

Following the initial course, Mrs George took further training sessions and has now become a trainer and life coach.

She joins forces with other trainers to hold initial workshops, longer courses and training sessions in schools - for teachers and students - and at businesses.

She said: "When working in schools or businesses it is not straight NLP but applying it to the organisation's needs."

In schools she will look at the language of "possibility" and the language of self-esteem.

She now runs Neuro Linguistic Programming courses nationwide and has travelled as far afield as Wales, Northern Ireland and Hertfordshire.

She recently worked with fellow trainer Jim Robb on a weekend workshop in Wotton.

Participants looked at various subjects including increasing self-esteem, self-confidence and self-belief, how to be in control of emotions and how to stay positive.

She has seen her courses make drastic differences.

She said: "When people take it on board you don't get the victims.

"This 'can't help it' attitude goes."

Those attending the workshops and regular courses tend to be people as "crossroads" in their lives.

"They often want something for themselves and quite often have been working for a considerable time," explained Mrs George.

"They may have become aware there is something else to life.

"They might be looking for opportunities to change their jobs or to get to know people better."

People may come on the course with work opportunities in mind, but leave with a set of personal skills, said Mrs George.

"They learn better communication is possible - communication with themselves and with other people," she added.

She said workshops tended to appeal to the "middle" age group of 30 to 50-year-olds.

But she added: "It is fantastic when we get youngsters in."

Mrs George intends to run a course for youngsters in the 18 to 25 bracket - to set them up with life skills.

Her next step is to launch practitioner courses in the area.

The practitioner course is 18 days in total, split into two or three-day weekends.

Practitioner courses tend to be held in London or Cardiff and she wants to have them closer to home to keep travel costs to a minimum for participants in the area.

Mrs George, who has lived in Wotton for 28 years, said: "What I'm doing is what I feel I was born to do - facilitating people to get the best out of their lives."

Anyone interesting in finding out more about Mrs George's work can contact her 01453 845007.