I have been in sales for 18 years and got stuck in my ways  to sell, promoting the product sell sell  sell  after your session I realized that I could learn so much from you. Your session showed me a different path a different way to look at selling. For example: I would go in to see a new customer and rabbit on how good we were as a company, what I had to offer, and baffle him that much!!! I WAS WRONG, I was encourage to change it all around, to sit down and ask them why I was here, and what they were expecting from me, it was weird at first. 

I believe that in sales now there is always so much to learn, Darren’s workshop took away all the guess work and got me to focus on what the client was looking for I’m grateful to you!!!, if you are in sales don’t forget to stop an d listen, you will be amazed in what you can learn, On an average I seen 17 new customers over 3 weeks and due to the techniques I have picked from this session 15 have ordered and the other 2 did say they will. So 100% what can I say .Fourseasons on average has had 16% increases on sales, so were doing something right.

Thank you again                                                                                                                                                         

Julie Hill, Senior Field Sales Executive, Four Seasons Conservatory Roofs, Worskop

Hi Darren.
 
You visited the McAuley Catholic High School earlier for the day, and personally speaking, it was a first time for me to hear one of your talks.
During that hour and a bit... my outlook on school, university, and life in general has changed. Everything you said had such an impact on me, I now look at things in such a way... I can't help but feel happy about life, everything I have right now, everything I have the potential to work towards and in the end get what i want by 25 haha Your browser may not support display of this image.
 
I want to finish by saying how much i really enjoied and appriciated the time you had given up from your schedule to talk to us and tell us what you did.
Many, many thanks and kind regards. 
                                                                                                                                                           
Yours Sincerely,

Beau Marsden, McAuley Catholic School

Working with you has changed my life forever, and I don't say that lightly.  This is not blowing hot air up anywhere, just the honest truth from a very appreciative student.  Over the last few weeks working with yourself I have: 

• A better understanding of who I am and why I do, feel and think the way I do, alongside a better understanding of other people, their strengths and how to communicate with them. I now understand that at this moment in time my strengths are working 1:1 and in small groups on PE, DET & Comms/sales.  I love the idea of customer services skills training, I just don't know yet what this looks like.  I'm not yet best placed for big conference speeches until I really have an area of specialism.
• Improved my personal time management by creating a sales pipeline spreadsheet of outstanding proposals and forthcoming speaking opportunities
• Seen another way of approaching a sales meeting and offering a programme of training up front, alongside opening up 'challenges' and allowing the customer to sit there for a longer period of time and then move in to solve
• Understood I need to improve my closing/keeping control of proposals/meetings and been shown how to do this
• Created a more structured approach to my day and diary planning and kept a record of where my time has been spent
• Set goals to take my breath away
• Been inspired to be me and encouraged that I have been doing a lot of the right things in a fairly unstructured environment 

Alongside the things we have done we are also still to explore together my personal goals and outcomes whilst having a commitment to putting training frameworks together for forthcoming opportunities where we can each tap into each others expertise.  Daz, in a nutshell, I am incredibly appreciative of the time we have spent together and hope that this can continue long into the future at a mutually beneficial level.

Stuart Powell - Bently Taylor

Darren Lawrenson has been undertaking coaching for the senior team of Sandwell Public Health directorate since July 2008. His counsel and his professional style is excellent - direct, free from the trappings of management and psychometric mantra - full of practical and considered care and support, backed by a personal substansial track record in management.
                                                                                                                                                            

John  Middleton, Director of Public Health - Sandwell Health Authority

Areas such as looking at the personalities, team development and management styles has given me some new ideas to focus on learning and coaching to help my team and myself improve. I particularly enjoyed the discussions about experiences and how Darren had dealt with them, and especially listening to alternative ways of dealing with people.

Colin Burman, Operations Manager - Ann Summers

Following a number of development sessions with the Finance Team at Oldham PCT we agreed to undertake individual coaching for the senior team using Darren Lawrenson's services.

 on an individual level I have received great value from the sessions and they really bring benefit as our relationship develops. It has helped me address a number of issues and I have recieved very positive feedback from the staff.

Steve Sutcliffe, Director of Finance - Oldham PCT

Darren's energy and enthustiasm was exactly what the conference needed to uplift the delegates. Not only is his approach refreshing, vibrant and enjoyable the content was knowledgeable and accurate. Darrren uses stories, anecdotes and 'real life' experiences to bring alive what sometimes can be 'dry' topics.

Tom Kirkby, Managing Director - Call Northwest

I wanted to say many thanks for speaking at our Student Conference. Your session was excellent! I have received numerous emails from delegates saying how much they enjoyed the conference and how excellent your session was. delegates have asked for your details in order to contasct you in the future.

Jacky Bowman, NW FSD Project Manager - NHS

Darren has been working with the Prince's Trust Team Programme in St. Helens in a voluntary capacity since November 2007. The Team Programme is a 12 week personal development course for 16 - 25 year olds. The young people who attend the team programme have a variety of skills, abilities and backgrounds, Darrren's primary role is to assist and support the young people through the programme.