Shooting the breeze

“So you paid this guy Chris Barrow to go for a walk with you?”

It might be a question asked of some of my clients after we have enjoyed a “shoot the breeze” day.

Format:

We go for a walk for 8 hours (including a lunch stop).

Venue:

Anywhere you like – can be in the countryside or a city.

Agenda:

Your 3-year vision.

Your 12-month plan

Your 90-day goals

Yours hopes and fears.

Your opportunities and threats.

You

You

You

Rules:

Preferably fresh air all day.

No interruptions – no phones or Blackberrys

No barriers – we can talk about anything

100% confidentiality on the conversation.

Result:

A client who has had a chance to “get away from it all” in an environment that they find inspirational – the space to think clearly and discuss in a “safe place” what to do next with their professional life.

With permission, here are some photographs of my last STB day with Alex Jones of Penistone Dental Care, waking around Langsett Reservoir in South Yorkshire.

IMG 00671 Shooting the breeze

IMG 00681 Shooting the breeze

IMG 00701 Shooting the breeze

IMG 0071 Shooting the breeze

About the Author

Chris Barrow

7 October 2009 by Chris Barrow

Chris Barrow is co-founder of Barrow Kwong Hing Group of Companies, a private dental corporate active in independent and retail dentistry and post-graduate dental education, operating in the UK and Canada. Chris has been active as a consultant, trainer and coach to the UK dental profession for over 15 years. As a speaker he is dynamic, energetic and charismatic. In 1993 Chris moved into business coaching and became one of the first UK students at Coach University, from where he graduated as a certified coach. In 1997, he created The Dental Business School (DBS) and the development of a 12-month business coaching programme for dental practice owners and their teams, delivered to over 400 UK dental practices in the following 10 years.

 In the last 5 years Chris has acted as a Non-Executive Director, Director and Consultant to a number of dental corporates, whilst maintaining his freelance activity as a dental business coach for independent practice owners. BKH is the culmination of his past experience in the business of UK dentistry

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3 responses to “Shooting the breeze”

  1. Julian

    I have a dog if you want to take it on your next walk.

    On a serious note, because you are not taking notes, don’t you forget 80% of what you talk about? I can see that it is more pleasent enviroment no phones or people but dont you end up getting away from business and talking about the rabbit that just ran across instead?

  2. Ian

    8 hour walks are just fab. My turn either in sunny Africa (lions not invited) or beautiful lake district

  3. Alex Jones

    dictaphone for the important bits and it’s amazing what you retain because you’re relaxed.

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