Feedback from Coaching Clients
Here are comments from some of the clients I've had over the last few years.
Annette Falk Lund
My name is Annette Falk Lund and I've worked as a painter for ten
years. Since 2005 I've been self-employed and living from my painting.
I've had Mikael as my coach for one year. Before we started I met
once a month with a mentor. It helped me be successful and to have a
sense of focus, but I wasn't able to talk about specific issues
relating to work with customers, communication and how I could bring my
great dreams closer. At the time I was quite on track for what I wanted
and my private and professional life worked well. I'd bought a house
with the love of my life and was thinking about my wedding. However, I
also felt that I had many more resources I needed to get in touch with.
I was interested in taking a quantum leap
to develop myself and to have an experience that would enable me to use
all my awareness more effectively.
Even after the first session when we talked on the phone, I was
thrilled. All the doubts I'd had that it was too expensive to spend
money in this way, or that I didn't really need that kind of coaching,
simply vanished. A few days before I'd prepared myself by mentally
being in the coaching session, and writing down, in the form of an
agenda, the things I wanted to discuss. Then I called Mikael. Since I
live in a different part of Denmark from Mikael the coaching sessions
are by telephone.
With few exceptions I can say that it works as well
as if I sit in front of him. Mikael manages to ask the right questions
so that I can formulate my conclusions. I can even get 'AHA!'
experiences that relate to conversations with customers from several
years back and where I suddenly understand why the conversation took the
turn it did. Also in my personal life, I feel more at home with myself.
People around me also notice the positive change. For example, I
communicate more clearly and without troubled emotions in relation to
my daughter and my friends, and I take responsibility for my own
feelings. When I'm on business in Copenhagen I visit Mikael and we do
our coaching sessions there. This gives us the opportunity to do
exercises physically (for example role-playing) which is very rewarding
and revealing. We laugh together often when we talk, even on the phone.
I like humour.
It's a long process to change habits and to learn new things, because
the learning from childhood is powerful. So, I expect to continue for
some time. I look forward to continuing cooperation with Mikael. Most
important of all is that I've grasped that I can do what I like, and
that it's possible to have a healthy economy and to do business using
the skills and resources I have myself. I call this 'quality of life'.
Annette Falk Lund
Artist painter, Feggesund, Jutland, Denmark
www.falklund.dk
Adiba Kholmurodova
I contacted Mikel Hoffmann in the end of 2008, because I found myself stuck with a lot of issues in many aspects of my life. I was going nowhere. It was sort of a vicious circle, which I could not get out of no matter how hard I tried.
Mikael helped me to look at my problems from the outside. He used me as a tool to help myself. With clever questions he directed me to the root of my issues. We did not try to find logical solutions, but focused on how I felt facing different situations and what decisions I made. After some time, I felt like a grey cloud over my head was slowly starting to clear out. On top of giving me practical tools to improve my life, Michael helped me to bring out the 'true me', my inner self.
Right now, my life has a direction. I have big dreams. I have a control of how I feel and what I do in many areas of my life. I have got a strength, courage and determination to pursue my dreams. I stopped my secessions after three months when I realized that I could go on myself applying what I have learned with Michael. The benefits of coaching are tremendous and worth the money spent. I strongly recommend Michael as a coach to anyone who wants to change his or her life from 'struggle' to 'satisfaction and joy'.
Adiba Kholmurodova (26 years, Uzbekistan)
Student of MSc. Finance and International Business
Lene Ulrich
COACHING WITH MIKAEL
I came to Mikael with the aim of developing and making commercial use of my creative talents.
We've had a total of 6 meetings over a period of just over 2 months.
I've worked professionally myself as a Coach and Teacher for many years
and am skilled and happy in my work!
As a client I'm therefore professionally critical, observant and curious - and people with such focus can be very tough!
Mikael works in the present and is direct and versatile. I greatly
appreciate his effective, sharp and very varied approach, and his use
of a variety of tools. I've experienced the whole gambit of feelings:
joy, frustration, anger, curiosity and wonder… and then those AHAs!
Experiences just pop up like popcorn!
My benefits - described here a few months later - can generally be
described as BEING SET FREE! I have set myself free in many areas that
can be concretely summarized:
-- I now have a real, profound belief that I can expand my business
with my creative talent. It has developed quietly with my first
contribution as the illustrator for a book, published just before the
summer. It's wild! So, I've solved the practical tasks - and it doesn't
end there!
-- My personal attitudes and pre-conceptions about restrictions have
come to a halt. I do things and act on things that were previously
associated with fear and anxiety. It was clearly better for me to
decide to act on them!
-- I have a sincere belief that all the ideas that Mikael has been the
catalyst for, will have a decisive influence on my overall quality of
life.
Mikael is a super-professional Coach and living proof of "walking your
walk and "talking your talk"." I have a deep respect for Mikael, and
will be glad to show him the results of my work - including those in
the longer term.
I would recommend Mikael as a Coach to all those who are passionate about making their dreams come true.
Lene Ulrich
Self-employed Business Consultant
Copenhagen, Denmark
Jef Martinussen
EVALUATION OF BEING COACHED BY Mikael Hoffmann:
I met with Mikael five times and had 2 telephone consultations during January, February and March 2008.
In retrospect, my overall feeling about the process is that it was very valuable! I want to resume as Mikael's coaching client
as soon as my travels normalize after the summer!
The experience put me in a position to break my stereotyped behaviour
in relation to sales and presentation situations and what I believed it
meant to be a good seller. Mikael opened my eyes to new resources and
practical approaches which reduced my stress and focused me on my
target.
In his coaching Mikael acted in three roles: Mentor, Coach and Psychotherapist.
This is as unique as it is important, since many people are unable to
move forward along their desired path as long as they fail to work on
certain patterns and programming from their past. Since I'm a trained
psychotherapist who has practiced psychotherapy, been in supervision
and taken a number of courses over a period of almost 20 years, this
was not primarily the role from which I gained the most.
On the other hand, both the mentoring and the coaching was excellent
and very supportive.
Teaching sessions were also included to help me to clarify my goals and to
contribute to practical ways of looking at, resolving and learning from the issues that arose.
One session focused much on my overall goals and values. I found the
clarification I gained from this extremely liberating in enabling me to
separate my own goals and values from those I had "inherited' from my
father. I identified, with Mikael's help, that there are several
contributing factors to my philosophy that dictates that I must work
hard, that my needs are met last and that, generally speaking, they are
absent overall.
Another session was much more practical and focused on a particular
presentation which I had to deliver in April, and which was a kind of
"prototype" for sales with potential customers.
I've now done many of these meetings and incorporated more and more
learning from the sessions with Mikael. There have been some periods of
adjustment to become accustomed to working almost without PowerPoint,
to be very personal, to use different tools, etc., but last week I was told
by a colleague that I surpass even the very experienced presenters in the
company.
A third session seemed to be based far more on the principles of the
movie 'The Secret', as we worked to attract a certain development in
the enterprise, namely, the right environment for a new headquarters.
We haven't found it yet, but when I lead a guided visualization with 10
colleagues, according to the principles Mikael and I had jointly
developed, 8 of my colleagues essentially had the same picture of the
spot where we want to acquire land. We have, as I said, not found it
yet but we decided to "touch down" in another place when we move on 1st of
July so that we have more time to attract the right place.
The main session was about understanding marketing and sales -
particularly in a market that is related to lifestyle and health! This
was a real breakthrough and, as a consequence, I recognised that my
business doesn't have a marketing and sales department, but a
"relations department". In our relations department they not only have
responsibility for the company's Customer Relations and Marketing system, but they have
particular responsibility for ensuring that the company is emerging as an
authentic role model so that our colleague and customers will want to look like us
emulate us and want to buy from us.
Mikael shared his own experiences and suggested how to build relationships by developing
activities that people want to participate in, based on interest, passion,
enthusiasm and community. In this way we build authentic relationships,
and that leads to being inspired and maybe a wish to participate more
and be together with us, as a person or a company. All of that can lead to
a desire to buy our products or services.
So, in summary, my work and my business have benefitted greatly from
both the counselling and mentoring processes which I experienced with
Mikael. I would highly recommend Mikael's coaching to people who are
starting out in self-employment, regardless of the type of business.
With Mikael to address the personal as well as the commercial ambitions
and blockages in relation to the required goals, you have every chance
of making a success of it!
Sincerely,
Jef Martinussen
Psychotherapist, Copenhagen
Christian Ramberg
Hello - my name is Christian and I'm 25 years old. I've now talked with Mikael for almost six months.
But let's start at the beginning: I have by nature a great temper, and it has given me problems from time to time. That's
the reason I started to talk with Mikael.
I didn't know much about his approach at first, so when we started work
I thought it was a little silly to bring up and live again through some of
the situations I'd experienced.
I've been to a psychologist before and it didn't help.
Shortly after I started to work with Mikael however, I noticed that when things
came up in me that we needed to work with, they came much faster than when
I was with the psychologist.
One special thing about Mikael is the way he uses the body, the major factor
in the psyche when being physical. They go together
and work together.
When, for example, I experience an unpleasant situation, it's
almost as if my head believes that I'm there, changing the whole
situation.
It's easy to get emotional about my work, so to sum up, it's not only
helped me mentally but also physically. I live much healthier now. I
cycle more and my limits as to what is possible when cycling has also
been moved in the right direction.
I've been much better about controlling my anger and it helps me in
everyday life. Instead of using my energy negatively, I've now changed
it in a positive way.
In addition I excersice 5-6 times a week and eat VERY much healthier.
I am, after 3 months of Mikael's help, well on the path to finding my
inner self and being more true to who I am.
Christian Ramberg
Lise Lee
What has coaching done for me?
.
When I contacted Mikael I had many problems. I had huge challenges in my
job and in my private life. Problems seldom come alone, they appear many at a
time.
I was filled with very negative feelings and was on the edge of giving up
everything. I couldn't sleep, I lost my appetite (I lost 10 kg involuntarily) and
was without initiative. I couldn't figure out where I should start or how I
could gain control over my life again.The first thing I learned in my coaching was that I was stuck in my own feelings. I
was hurt and just stood and cried.
Mikael asked me what I wanted to do? Where would I like to go? He told me not to just stand there but to find my way out of it!
I didn't know what I wanted or which way to go. I'd lived all my life for my
kids, for my husband, for my friends, but not for me. I'd convinced myself
that I had to do a lot of things because if I didn't, something bad would happen.
Perhaps we would go bankrupt or the children wouldn't make it, or maybe people would talk
about us.
I now have a good overview of how much I choose in my life. I choose if I
am a victim and the door mat.
Regarding the phone coaching - it's optimal for me because it made talking about
difficult circumstances a lot easier. When I was at home in my own house I
could look out of the windows without a person in front of me.
The first thing that happened in the coaching was that I gained more
self-confidence and self-esteem. Right down to daily life tasks, I began to
control my life again so I got what I wanted and not adapted to everybody else, but
of course, in a loving way. It's not about being an big egotist. But it created a lot
of screaming at home because the level of service had
dropped. In particular, my kids were forced to do things themselves. It's very hard
as a mother when the children are screaming direct complaints or expressing fury as they
tried to get their old mum back in her known role as 'Helper'. Plus, of
course, the self-criticism: I kept thinking, well, I could just do this and that, yes, I haven't
done everything right, I'd better do......
It took a while before my husband reacted. Then he said: "I can't feel
you in my hands anymore, have you found somebody new?" The answer was No.
Then he began to flatter me: "You are young and beautiful, don't you need
some new clothes?" The tactics were quite clear. If he could flatter me a
little then I would fall down again. But I didn't fall, I was up and
running and I was different, I wasn't just his servant. Then he became furious
and called me irresponsible and egotistical. Especially in my relationship with my
husband it has been fantastic to have Mikael as a coach, particularly because I don't exactly
know the way men react. Had it not been for Mikael then I would have gone
back to self-criticism and returned to the old role.
The habits, the roles and the reaction patterns are so deep in us that it's
very important to have the right support and patient back-up when we want to get
out of them or change them. It's taken me 20-30 years to build up my habits
and roles. It's been very important in my coaching situation that I trust
100% in Mikael and follow his advice, because I know that he wants the best for
me. As soon as I started to drop back, the old life started
creeping into my life again. The drop-backs were, however, few and only lasted a
few days. Commitment has an incredible power but I know today that the power is within
myself. That piece of work no-one else can
do for me.
Then the next step came. What do you want? When are you happy? To find my
passion in life is not as easy as it sounds. I had until now gone through life
feeling I had to take care of others, and there was never time for myself,
or energy or money. And then Mikael stood there and asked me what I wanted!!! It's
as if you play the lottery and one day you win and then it is hard to figure
out what you want to do with the money. We all dream about winning the lottery
because we think it will change a lot. Through the coaching I've found out
that I don't have to win the lottery to change my life - even huge dramatic
changes. It's something that I choose to do if I want to. I've now found my
passions in life. One of them is to help people maintain their good health -
and to help sick people to get better.
"Where focus goes, energy flows..."
Lise Lee, Ikast, Denmark
Teacher
Ulrik Jørgensen
I contacted Mikael, because I felt that I didn't get enough out of my career
and business.
I wanted to pursue my search for personal and business success.
I had an idea that I wanted to be entrepreneur and/or just have a different job.
The goal was first to find another job because I felt that my job didn't give me the
challenges I needed.
The other goal was to find a business idea that, long term, could realize the
dream I had regarding having my own business.
Mikael and I worked together 2-4 times a month where, on the telephone, we
talked about what had happened in the past time and what should happen before the next
time we talked.
This created some obligations with some small and some big tasks I should do.
The tasks have been very diverse but have always reflected the problems
and challenges I was facing
Mikael has guided me all the way through the maze of challenges and
possibilities.
Today, about six months after our first contact, I have an outstanding job in
one of Denmark's leading IT companies, and at the same time I'm working on a business
idea that will hopefully turn out into something big one day.
Ulrik Jørgensen, København, Denmark
Civil Ingeneer
Henrik Madsen
I've had a bakery for ten years and I sold it in Spring 2006.
I'd tried to sell it for a long time but with no luck. Then I began the
coaching process with Mikael. When he asked me to visualize
what I wanted after I'd had sold it - then the sale went through surprisingly
quickly.
As I suddenly had no bakery and no job, Mikael helped me through a process where
I became aware of what I wanted to do in the future.
I've now created a small consulting company that helps self-employed bakers
with systems that can make their daily life easier.
I need to communicate a lot on the telephone and Mikael has listened to my
calls with customers and given me feedback on how I could talk without
scaring them away. This has resulted in me completely changing my
attitude and behaviour in relationship to communication.
Before I was coached by Mikael I tried to force a sale and closing, but now I
try to find out what people need and help them with the things they want on
their own premises.
It's been very valuable for me to have feedback from Mikael regarding
the things I do - and to adjust my way of doing things. Today I do things very differently.
I feel fantastic about my new life and feel all the time that I'm developing
myself positively.
My life has become much better. I've had a better quality of life since I sold the
bakery and now I'm engaged in helping others.
Henrik Madsen, Helsingør, Denmark
www.arbejdsgiverservice.dk
Henriette Flensted
I've been a self-employed practitioner for 1½ years but with declining
success.
Only 1½ months ago I began coaching sessions with Mikael Hoffmann and already
I can feel the effect of the coaching we've had together.
It's starting to work now.
My thoughts are different and life feels good and a lot easier.
I've quit my part time job and that's good because I didn't like it.
Suddenly now there's a group of people wanting a seminar from me on exactly
the day I used to have to work!
”The Flow of Life” you've told me about Mikael, but it was so
difficult for me to believe in.
I call and talk with people now, which I've never done before..
One of my old clients has just returned. She's really happy that I called and
she knows others that would like to participate in my seminar.
It feels really good for me.
I have a deep desire to help my clients, to be together with them, talk with
them, have a relationship with them - and not just look at them as customers
getting in and out of the door.
I'm just crazy about your coaching, Mikael.
I'm so thankful for the help you've already given me..
I'm looking forward so much to continuing our work together.
Henriette Flensted, Helsinge, Denmark
Celestine Andersen
Mikael Hoffmann
has coached me about once a week for a year now.
We've mainly communicated via telephone and additionally had some meetings
where Mikael has helped me with different things.
With Mikael I experience that I'm being heard, really listened to and
guided deeper into my own truth.
Mikael is very good at sensing the essence of my challenges and by asking
questions he guides me towards the keys I need.
I experience being contained as I am, where I am, in my process, and I've
confidence in Mikael as my personal coach because I experience a high degree of
empathy and sincere interest in finding the right answers for me.
Mikael relates professionally and unattached to my process, in a warm and
engaged way which makes me relaxed and confident.
I have experienced deep personal revelations that have made me a more whole,
mature and honest person - to myself and to others.
I have, through my talking with Mikael, found what my passion is, and now I
dare take responsibility for my dreams and actions.
Mikael's commitment and advice has inspired me to be a better person for others,
and I'm greatly thankful for everything he has done for me.
Celestine Andersen
København, Denmark
Shop Manager
My name is Mikael Hoffmann and I'm a Coach, I'm a Mentor and I'm a Psychotherapist.
Click her to read more about what I do and how I do it.
