Helene Strawbridge
Associate

Helene, as an Organisational Psychologist and Consultant, coaches and mentors professionals, leaders and employees who seek professional and personal growth. Results such as workplace productivity and employee satisfaction are measures of her success.

Based on experiences gained during a 20 year career in information technology, Helene has been running skills development programs for small business, such as Custom Plumbing in Canberra, to raise the competency of senior managers and supervisory staff in client relationship management and team leadership.

In 2006, she developed and implemented a performance management system for Planpower, a company of UXC. The development included setting business objectives in conjunction with senior management, writing and enhancing position descriptions, reviewing and updating competency level qualifications and training managers and staff to run the system successfully, from its first year of implementation.

In 2007, she delivered 360 degree feedback sessions for senior management of Australian Industrial Registry, the administrative arm of the Federal Department of Industrial Relations. The feedback provided individuals with opportunities for self- reflection and planning for their career development and enhancement.

She conducted performance management workshops for Melbourne Fire Brigade in setting objectives for senior management and their direct reports. These objectives provide the direction for the Brigade's performance management activities for the next year and the basis for effective execution.

Helene helps her clients to understand their strengths and contribution to their workplaces. Building on their ability to build and collaborate teams, she assists in their decision making abilities for team and individual performance. Helene espouses that coaching is proven to work when two factors are present: the client is willing to grow and there is a gap between where they are now and where they want to be.

She specialises in assisting clients to manage career transition, from those seeking growth and development to those seeking an integrated work and personal lifestyle.

Recently, she has worked with Senior Management in the automotive manufacturing industry. The Australian company is developing into international markets and seeks to develop its management capability to manage this transformation. Through training and follow up coaching, the company is prepared for its expansion during 2008.

Helene is a registered psychologist in Victoria, holds a Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training and is credentialed with the International Coach Federation (ICF), as an Associate Certified Coach. She holds MBTI assessment tool accreditation. She is Secretary of the Australian Psychology Society (Victoria) Interest Group in Coaching Psychology.

Helene owned and operated restaurants, Straws in Carlton and The Eaglehawk at Maldon, and co-wrote a restaurant and wineries guide which preceded the Age Good Food and Wine Guide.

Capabilities

Career Development

Create, adapt and implement development programs for senior management and consultants including workshops to determine current competencies and future requirements; coaching of individuals and groups about development plans and training needs; building business cases for promotion and succession planning.

Mentoring

Devise, design and implement programs to manage mentoring relationships including techniques to match mentors and protégés, program frameworks to guide and enhance the relationship; coaching sessions for mentors including expectation setting and delivery; program review and lessons learned as input to future programs.

Change Management

Build programs and processes to implement a vision via change in large organisations including determining the reasons for change; engagement of stakeholder commitment and sponsorship; coaching change teams for effective promotion and implementation of change.

Corporate and Executive Coaching

Partner with senior and executive managers to help them achieve their professional and personal goals.