What people say

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Steve and Tara with their vast experience and great nature, have provided coaching and training at both the business and personal levels, bringing clarity and understanding with the many tools they utilize……and a change in direction we needed to grow and prosper.

Our journey is far from over, and I look forward to working closely with Steve and Tara as we travel down this exciting path.

Grant Weck • CEO • Weck Group

Testimonial in full

GJ Weck and Sons Ltd is a second-generation family owned operation made up of two key businesses: Wood Products, a timber processing and wood packaging manufacturer, and Weck’s ITM comprising two ITM building supplies stores and an ITM Frame & Truss manufacturing plant, which supply the Trade Building industry in the Pukekohe area.

The company introduced the and services of the Acuity Group (Business Coaching) & Mindful Nation (Training & Development) after 16 years of operating under the same basic family business model with little formal business structure or processes. With shareholders nearing retirement and members of the third generation coming through, we identified that we needed to refine our businesses to optimise current performance and set them up well for the future.

 

Steve and Tara, with their vast experience and great nature have provided coaching and training at both the business and personal levels, bringing clarity and understanding with the many tools they utilize. This included the Everything DiSC® Workplace Profile which greatly assisted the cultural shift and change in direction that we needed to grow and prosper in what can only be described as challenging times.

 

Our journey is far from over, and I look forward to working closely with Steve and Tara as we travel down this exciting path.

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Steve and Tara have had an instrumental and lasting effect on our business from one-on-one coaching of our partnership and team, through to chairing meetings, facilitating strategic planning retreats, and even providing wine suggestions. This team helped us navigate the evolution and implementation of iCLAW’s culture and environment……. The overall effect - less nonsense, less stress, and more production.

Owen Culliney, Aasha Foley • Managing Partners • iCLAW Culliney Foley • Hamilton • New Zealand

Testimonial in full

Steve and Tara have had an instrumental and lasting effect on our business from one-on-one coaching of our partnership and team, through to chairing meetings, facilitating strategic planning retreats, and even providing wine suggestions! This team helped us navigate the evolution and implementation of iCLAW’s culture and environment.

 

A highlight, and key to unlocking harmony and empathy in the workplace was introducing Everything DiSC® across our practice, together with the Personal Effectiveness Program (PEP). The implementation of DiSC and the reflections that came from that and PEP created a greater appreciation for each other within the team. It also greatly improved understanding of the messages being delivered by clients and third parties. The overall effect – less nonsense, less stress, and more production.

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Steve and Tara have had a huge influence on the growth of iClaw.…….we are more focused on what we want to achieve, and we are able to connect and appreciate each other. With the introduction of DiSC® and their customised Personal Effectiveness Programme we have been able to develop our people and get the best out of them.

Jayde Kenny • Business Manager • iCLAW Culliney Foley • Hamilton • New Zealand

Testimonial in full

Steve and Tara from Mindful Nation have had a huge influence on the growth of iClaw. They have worked with our staff as well as management to gain insight into the business. Both Steve and Tara engage as if the business is their own and lead us to find clarity and direction – including plans that we can immediately implement.


Thanks to Steve and Tara we are more focused on what we want to achieve, and we are able to connect and appreciate each other. With the introduction of DiSC® and their customised Personal Effectiveness Programme we have been able to develop our people and get the best out of them.

 

Steve and Tara go above and beyond and always make themselves available for anyone in their programme that is struggling or has had a light bulb moment.

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I have noticed a significant change within the culture of our organisation after the implementation of the PEP training……..we are far better equipped to deal with the stressors in our profession.

Thank you Steve and Tara for all your help.

Simmi Singh • Senior Solicitor • iCLAW • Hamilton • New Zealand

Testimonial in full

The Mindful Nation Personal Effectiveness Programme has not only allowed to me to grow professionally but personally too. The PEP training helps one to assess every situation objectively and being a working professional for a number of years now, I have been tested and put in stressful situations numerous times, some of which I reflect upon and wished that I had the tools that Tara and Steve have provided us though this training to better manage such situations. The programme started off with a bang! Facing our values, realising our triggers, and learning what we prioritize in our day to day lives and how similar and/or different we are to one another– this was via the DiSC® Profile assessment. After going through the various DiSC styles, my team and I became crucially aware of how different we all are in our communication, and how we could realign ourselves to better connect and appreciate one another.

 

What I loved about PEP training the most is that it can be applied in every single relationship and engagement. Tara and Steve are passionate about what they do, they know what they are doing, and they are really good at it too. I have noticed a significant change within the culture of our organisation after the implementation of the PEP training. We all have become better and more efficient communicators and have learnt to appreciate each other’s values and priorities. We have also managed to become ‘response-able’ and are far better equipped to deal with the stressors in our profession.

 

Thank you Steve and Tara for all your help.

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The Leadership & Personal Effectiveness Programme has given me a great series of practical tools that I can use to deal with situations as they arise in the workplace – how to harness my thoughts, process those in a helpful way and take appropriate action that is consistent with both my personal leadership style and values.

Glenda Graham • Partner •  Private Client Team • Norris Ward McKinnon

Testimonial in full

I have participated in the Mindful Nation Leadership & Personal Effectiveness Programme recently. This involved a series of modules on different topics including the Foundation Principles, unpacking the communication process including the messages we tell ourselves, mindfulness, a range of self-awareness models and skills and much more. The programme also included an Everything DiSC® Workplace profile which identified what sort of style I was, what triggers my style, and how I interact with other styles in the workplace.

 

The Leadership & Personal Effectiveness Programme has given me a series of practical tools that I can use to deal with situations as they arise in the workplace – how to harness my thoughts, process those in a helpful way and take appropriate action that is consistent with both my personal leadership style and values. I have really enjoyed the hands-on nature of the programme – not only did it give you the theory, the programme also gave you the tools to use. Being more attuned to what my particular strengths and weaknesses are and how these will interact in the workplace environment has been very illuminating and useful in a range of situations. I have been able to recognise certain styles at play in given situations and respond in a way that is going to ensure everyone feels heard and understood and outcomes are achieved. I feel calmer and more in control of my own self and less overwhelmed because of the programme.

 

I have also been having one on one coaching with Steve. This has given me an opportunity to talk about situations as they arise, get a different perspective and continually work on applying the tools I learnt in the programme. Steve has a way of cutting through the noise and really making you sit back and think about what messages you are telling yourself and what others are telling you, whether they are true and ultimately helping you find a path through. The coaching also helps you to understand the intersection of your work life and home life and encompasses you as a whole person. Not only have things transformed on the work front, but the tools also have improved life at home and the interactions with my loved ones.

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The 12-week Leadership & Personal Effectiveness programme with Tara was a game changer! The intense content during the programme provided a toolbox of new skills and strategies to become a more effective manager and leader.

Michelle Campbell CCM • General Manager • Hastings Golf Club • Hawke’s Bay

Testimonial in full

The 12-week Leadership & Personal Effectiveness programme with Tara was a game changer! The intense content during the programme provided a toolbox of new skills and strategies to become a more effective manager and leader.


The mindfulness component also opened a new level of growth personally which ultimately has improved the culture within the team. DiSC® was also a fun and beneficial resource to get stuck into.


I have no hesitation in recommending Tara’s programme.

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The Mindful Nation Personal Effectiveness Programme has not only allowed delving into DiSC® further than individual workplace profiles but has lifted our management team to a new level of trust and communication…… Building Trust With DiSC and use of Catalyst as a tool for continued development has given our team the lift it needed. Understanding each other, and our strengths and natural personalities is such a win for the business!

Julie Purdy • Business Manager •  Rose Optometry • Hamilton • New Zealand

Testimonial in full

Extending the DiSC® program further than individual workplace profiles has lifted our management team to a new level of trust and communication. Working with Tara individually to understand my own DiSC workplace profile and her complementing this with a team session on Building Trust With DiSC and use of Catalyst as a tool for continued development, has given our team the lift it needed. Understanding each other, our strengths and natural personalities is such a win for the business!

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We highly recommend Mindful Nation’s services for anyone looking to develop their management team and get the best out of their people.

Jagrut Lallu • Rose Optometry • Hamilton • New Zealand

Testimonial in full

Our journey with Tara and the team at Mindful Nation began with our legal team at iCLAW making a recommendation.

 

Initially we utilised Tara’s services for personal development and have extended that into the business – working with growing businesses and developing management teams that are successful requires careful planning and team development. Tara and the team have really helped us on our journey. We highly recommend Mindful Nation’s services for anyone looking to develop their management team and get the best out of their people. We utilised the DiSC® Workplace Profile and facilitation in Catalyst. It’s always nice to get the best advice to secure future success and we are very thankful to Tara and the team. Our future plans involve looking at broadening our use of DiSC & Catalyst into our wider team to create a stronger culture and team focus.

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Tara Connell’s personal effectiveness presentation for the Waikato New Lawyers really hit the mark. We all came away with some great tools to help manage stress, deal with difficult people and control how we respond. A great introductory session for all professional service firms. Thank you Tara.

Ewen • Waikato New Lawyers Chair

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