The Indian Talking Stick A lesson in listening through Pace International Franchise

Press release date: 4-Apr-2010

The Indian Talking Stick - A lesson in listening

Over the years I have trained and coached thousands of people to listen effectively. It can take between one and two days for even the very brightest of people to become skilled at listening. The coaching and exercises, I have used over the years have been extremely effective in improving the skills across many organisations from the
boardroom to the front line. I guess you could say the principles I have applied are tried and tested.

It was when I was in Australia on a speaking tour that I was introduced to another tried and tested method for improving communication. At the end of one of my presentations an aboriginal gentleman, approached me and asked if I'd heard of ‘The Indian Talking Stick’. He explained how the talking stick is used, and since then it is a method that I have applied in many situations with clients where poor listening was interfering with understanding.

When a fellow human being realises they are being really listened to, their relationship with the listener immediately improves. It is as true today as it was hundreds of years ago, when the Indian nations of the United States and Canada employed what was an extremely effective communication tool. The idea could not be simpler.

Whenever people are together, the talking stick is present. The person holding the talking stick is the only person allowed to speak, and you can hold onto the talking stick until you're satisfied that you have been fully understood. No one else is allowed to interrupt, contradict, agree, argue or disagree with you. The talking stick is passed
on, only when you feel satisfied that you have been understood.

When you pass on the talking stick it becomes your responsibility to listen fully to whoever is holding the stick. The same rules apply, the talking stick remains with the next person until they are satisfied that you fully understand them. This method of communicating requires discipline. However, the payback is that the people involved feel that their point of view has been fully understood, even if not agreed with. As I heard about this simple tool to aid communication, I recognised how powerful it was and how much understanding the Native Indians had of the way that human beings work.

So often in relationships, we don’t feel that we are being listened to. We can tell by the body language of the listener, we can tell by the questions that they ask, we can tell by the way we are interrupted that our point of view is not being taken on board. When this happens relationships deteriorate and effective solutions are more difficult to find.

I run exercises, using a substitute Indian Talking Stick. It can be anything to hand, I have even used a tomato ketchup bottle! It is amazing to see how communication, understanding and relationships improve, when the discipline of a talking stick is applied to a scenario.

PACE has global brand dominance developing businesses within the professional services sector. Our initial franchisees (Licensed Associate Partners) have proved the system works and are already bringing in their own business after just 3 months. They are also taking PACE into other sectors outside of Professional Services.

Now is the time to invest and secure your locality. Join a driven group of like minded highly respected business people. Partner’s charge upwards of £3,000 + VAT per day however to begin with you will be billing a more modest £1500 - £2000 + VAT per day. You will be aiming to bill for 20 days in year 1, rising to 60 days in year 3.

PACE have very strict criteria for applicants – contact PACE to find out more.

PACE Partners International

THE POWER OF PACE

Would you like to work with some of the World’s most successful companies and help their teams win more business? PACE Partners do just this using the proven, published and protected PACE system.

• Do you have a background in senior management or consultancy?
• Are you accustomed to substantial rewards for your time, £1.5k+ per day?
• Do you want to have control of your time, both leisure and work?

PACE has global brand dominance developing businesses within the professional services sector. Our initial franchisees (Licensed Associate Partners) have proved the system works and are already bringing in their own business after just 3 months. They are also taking PACE into other sectors outside of Professional Services. Alison and Rachael are proof of the power of the PACE system...

PACE THINKING
Associate Partners impart the proven PACE system for developing businesses. Through working with business leaders and their teams, clients gain the skills and confidence to grow their business through attracting new, and retaining existing customers. Long term client relationships are incredibly important and many of PACE’s clients have become good friends.

OUR NUMBERS STACKUP
PACE is known as the best. Clients see immense value working with PACE, the system works time and again.

“We identified over £1m in increased fee income that was achieved because we applied PACE thinking”
Global Engineering Consultants

Partner’s charge upwards of £3,000 + VAT per day however to begin with you will be billing a more modest £1500 - £2000 + VAT per day. You will be aiming to bill for 20 days in year 1, rising to 60 days in year 3. Several of our partners billed upwards of £350k last year and retained their life balance by utilising the skills of others within the network. That is an individual billing of over £350k PA, with very minimal costs.

You will need to be able to invest £48,500 + VAT to start your own PACE business. Please note that the major banks have approved the PACE Business Model. You could borrow up to 75% of the franchise fee, depending on your situation.

PROUD TO BE PACE
Pace thinking works. The system is proven across the World over a variety of sectors, not just in the core professional services market. Our Partners and Licensed Associate Partners are proud to be a part of PACE:

“PACE is a quality organisation, I am still pinching myself as they are such nice people, so encouraging and supportive. Working with PACE is a much lower risk way of having my own business, which was a key factor to me.”
Rachael Wheatley – Bristol

“They are great people and PACE is a very powerful brand. I never feel alone, it’s a comprehensive package, almost like being part of a company!”
Alison Hartley – Edinburgh

A CHANGE OF PACE
This opportunity creates a life of contrast. From one extreme you will work to develop some of the most successful businesses in your locality. Similarly you will be part of a network of like minded individuals all striving forwards to improve themselves and those around them.

However it doesn’t all have to be fast paced! Would you like your own business with the freedom to work from your home office? Maybe relocate to a picturesque part of the country? As a PACE Licensed Associate Partner you have the freedom to choose. Spend more time with your family, work around your hobbies and interests. Choose a happier, healthier life balance.

THE PACE FAMILY
Join a driven group of like minded highly respected business people. With three pilot licensed associate partners established and billing only three territories have been taken so far. Now is the time to invest and secure your locality. PACE have very strict criteria for applicants. Please only contact PACE if you meet the following criteria:

• At least 10 years in a senior management or consultancy role
• A proven track record achieving sustainable performance in business
• The desire to forward yourself, impart knowledge and help others
• A strong sense of ethics and unquestionable integrity
• Confident dealing with senior business people
• The locality/territory you are interested in is still available
• The ability to invest £48,500 + Vat to setup your PACE business

If you have answered yes to the questions above please contact PACE Partners International for further information and to arrange an initial meeting.