Enable – Communication Coach programme

Written by Sophie Critchlow, ELBA Employment and Skills Project Manager – ENABLE  

Confidence in speaking is a vital component of preparing for work and speaking in professional environments. Communication challenges, or a lack of confidence, are one of the main factors that hold people back from succeeding in an interview or speaking with confidence at work. Other possible barriers people may face also include accent bias.

It is a sad reality that accent bias exists in our society and extends into interview rooms and places of work. A hierarchy of accents is still prevalent within these arenas, and this often means that we see discrimination against English as a second language (ESOL) speakers, non-standard working-class accents such as Multicultural London English (MLE) and ethnic accents. The findings from a survey carried out in 2006 by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development discovered that 76% of employers admitted to discriminating against candidates based on their accent whereas 3% of employers were aware of “accent as a protected category.” Continuing from this, research carried out by Queen Mary University shows that public attitudes to different accents has remained mostly unchanged over the last 50 years.

So, what is the Communication Coach programme?
The Communication Coach programme is the latest innovation from the Enable programme. Through the Enable programme, a partnership with HSBC, beneficiaries were identified as needing specific ongoing support to improve predetermined communication challenges around speaking and increasing their confidence.

16 people received virtual coaching/mentoring from HSBC Volunteer Coaches who addressed a specific communication challenge or barrier or sought to develop their professional speaking skills.

During the coaching sessions, coaches helped candidates to find strategies and resources they could use to help them overcome any barriers they may have in preparing for work and finding their authentic professional voice.

The Enable programme has a multitude of different modules aimed at addressing certain barriers people come up against when looking for employment, such as preparing for interviews; developing confidence in speaking English in the workplace; giving feedback to peers and managers, and leading and organising meetings.

So why not hear from one of our beneficiaries!
Here you can read about Maria’s experience of receiving coaching. She had decided to join the programme as she wanted help to rebuild her confidence speaking in the workplace:

“I came from Portugal in 2002. My aim in coming to this country was to study and to learn and make something of myself.  I used to work as a cleaner and study, but I had to give up studying at entry level in 2015. I had to provide for my family and started working full time with Thames Water.

In 2019, I had to give up working for Thames Water as it was a strenuous role and hurt my knees. I tried to apply for a promotion as a supervisor, which would mean that I would not have to stand so often but I was rejected. I was told my accent makes it hard for people to understand me and that is why I could not do the job. My confidence went down after this. I went back to being a fulltime cleaner. 

I decided that I wouldn’t give up and continued applying for job vacancies more suited to me but without the extra pressure on my knees. I attended many interviews and sadly found myself rejected.  Sometimes I would be speaking at the interview and from their face I can tell they would not give me the job. I even got an interview with my local council in Hackney but after the interview I was told that I have the ability and skills, but my accent is hard to understand and for this reason, I was not successful. This happened a few times.

I met with my Coach in May, when we had the Coach meets Coachee zoom session. From the moment I met her she gave me lots of confidence. She taught to have future plans, that age is just a number, that my language shouldn’t be a barrier, and that having the willingness to learn and just by being okay with going back to learning I can succeed at anything I wish. She taught me ways to think and plan before I speak. To take deep breaths when I get nervous. To believe in myself and to slow down when I speak as then even with an accent I can be understood. 

In the sessions, I was able to open up about myself, allowed me to explore my strengths and weaknesses. I was able to explore my vulnerabilities and work on them which as a result I no longer fear myself. I no longer hide in my shell and even when I do not understand anything, I am not afraid to ask someone to repeat it. through this programme I no longer hide, I am confident, I tell people to repeat things if I do not understand. My accent is still there but I am a new person when I speak. I plan what I have to say if it is at work or to a manager which really helps.  

Recently I became aware of a co-ordinator position becoming available. I went to my manager and had the confidence to say I want to apply as I have so much knowledge. Sadly, I did not get it but from it my manager has agreed to train me up to work in a co-ordinator role. He told me I would be very good at the role as I am agile, capable, and knowledgeable. So soon I will become the ‘Exhibition Co-ordinator’.

Now I will never give up, never be scared or ashamed. Coaching showed me that I can do whatever I want to do and achieve everything if we have someone to help us.”

The Communication Coach has been set up to help people to overcome any barriers and manage the challenges they may face in pursuit of their career goals. Communication Coaches have helped people increase their confidence with public speaking, being successful in interviews, being heard in the workplace and developing communication skills that are essential to a person’s career journey.

Thank you to the volunteers who have given their time to support beneficiaries on this programme.

If you have a specific communication challenge or would like to develop your speaking skills and would like to receive coaching from an HSBC Volunteer Communication Coach, please do get in touch at enable@elba-1.org.uk

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