I first engaged with Mark Hopkins and Tetrakey as I required coaching for an interview I was doing for a promotion within the company I worked for. Off of a very brief directive, Mark created a mock interview which offered me a completely unexpected insight into the specific role I was interviewing for as well as providing me with interview techniques that allowed me to best present myself during the interview. I was known to the interviewers who complimented me highly on how I carried myself during the interview and I was give the promotion.I thereafter engaged with Mark for a 3 month coaching period. Marks commitment, focus and expertise cannot be more highly praised and his skill set is uniquely suited to a coaching experience which encourages self reflection, self motivation and in my instance the merging of both my personal and professional life, in order to create an environment that allows personal growth which supports the achievement of my professional goals. My 6 month review in my new position highlighted the positive effects the coaching has had on my performance in my new role as managing director.
Mark’s coaching has impacted not only my professional life, but my personal life as well. Professionally I am more self aware, better equipped to handle the stresses of my daily role and I have been given the tools to plan the strategic direction of my company. Mark assisted me with setting goals for myself as well as my team and I know my company is in far better hands with the coaching I received from Mark which has enabled me to lead my team. Personally, although I only engaged with Mark for business coaching there was crossover into my personal life. Through my coachingwith Mark I was able to set goals, prioritise a work/life balance and realized a greater sense of self confidence than I had in my life.
I am looking forward to working with Mark again in the near future and would highly recommend his services to anyone looking to advance their career and start to achieve the personal goals they have set but seem unable to reach.
Mark has probably given me far more of his time and experience than I deserve. He makes a point of asking me questions of myself that I find hard to answer, but which lead to me making the biggest step changes in my approach to my new challenges. As a result of the thought-provoking questions posed to me, I have obtained the decision making rights to transform a business that should leverage off entrepreneurial flair, but has been constrained by treating those ‘entrepreneurs’ exactly as we do our Branch Managers. The lack of ability for these entrepreneurs to make decisions affecting their own profitability has caused mistrust, anger and frustration.
Mark facilitated a “Co-Creation” workshop (His idea) where we worked through trust, history, mutual needs, an understanding of each other’s profit drivers and finally proposals (In principal) of how the model should work in the very near future. Participants were all hesitant at first, doubting that their input could make any viable difference – but the end result has been spectacular. 100% engagement and buy in to the process going forward. Mark didn’t allow me to let the process stall after the workshop. He has been in constant contact to ensure that I keep up momentum and deliver on the promises made there.
He’s best when he goes quiet for a while, then leans back and says that he’s going to ask a tough question of you… That’s when stuff really starts to happen.
My paths crossed with Mark about 2 years ago at a management conference. Since then we’ve had regular interaction and it is not often you meet someone that can impact your life so greatly. To say Mark helps you think “out of the box” is an understatement. He turns the box upside down and by the time you’re done there is no box left. Many people coach you as to what the “right thing” to do is, I believe Mark is not much more than that. He makes you question not just what you do but why you do it and that is a fundamental difference. My life has been the richer for knowing him and the lessons I learnt I’ve taken to my employees. Final note, Mark never stops impacting people’s lives the way you do!!