How much does your program cost? This is an important but impossible question to answer. Some companies want our services for two coaching sessions, others want us there for six months or more. Here's the process. We meet with you about the program and discuss your needs. We learn what you are looking to achieve, and then we develop a customized program to fit your situation. From Sama's perspective, much more time goes into developing and preparing your program than actually conducting it. What we can say for sure is that our clients get more than fair value for our services, and once we start a program, they usually ask us to extend it.

Do you work individually or with groups? Both. We like to do one-on-one sessions, especially for senior managers, and then we'll do visualization exercises, role playing, communication scenarios, and coaching sessions for groups ranging from five people to fifty. Again, this is driven by your needs and what you want to accomplish. We will discuss various approaches with you and then propose the program we think will work best.

Can we design a voluntary program for employees, for instance, during their lunch hour? Absolutely, and we think that's a great idea in many cases. Firstly, people don't feel like they are being force fed something they don't want. Secondly, it generates buzz and interest throughout the company. After one or two sessions, we find more and more people are eager to join, and the ranks of attendees begin to swell. Your company benefits by offering a valuable and fun program for your employees, and your employees benefit by learning new skills and improving their life in the work place.

Will you do one or two sessions and then develop a program for us if we think it's valuable? Of course. Many people want to kick the tires before hiring us for a more comprehensive program. We welcome that because we know you will like what you see, and it gives us both a chance to learn more about each other.

What results can I expect from your programs? Like anything else, this depends on what you put into it. Our experience is that our programs and coaching sessions are received enthusiastically, and they are fun. They add excitement to the work day, and people quickly come to look forward to them. Here are some of the things you can expect:

• Positive feedback from your staff. They will thank you.
• Improved and more open communication at every level
• A greater spirit of teamwork and commitment to your company's goals
• Fun. We engage your staff interactively and involve them in role playing
• Understanding. Your staff will be better able to recognize and cope with stress
• Fewer sick days, more productivity, and less employee turnover
• Results that are personal to your employees and improve your bottom line at the same time

Who conducts the program? Is it Christian and Jeanie, or do you send staff to do them? In every instance, either Christian or Jeanie or both are present on site. They conduct most of the coaching sessions, visualization exercise, and role playing with volunteers from your company. We don't just reel in the business and pass it off for somebody else to do the heavy lifting.

Who stands to benefit from Sama's programs? Everybody. You stand to gain individually, and your company stands to gain as an organization. We receive constant feedback that employees are better equipped to deal with stress, more willing to share ideas and communicate openly, work as a team, and commit to your company's goals. They learn new skills, and the company benefits by having a more spirited and dedicated work force.

Your work is a bit outside the standard corporate box. In fact, some people might consider it too risky to propose up the chain of command. How do I pitch this? We understand the question, but we think it's far riskier not to take action when action is needed. Do you sense acrimony and a self-serving attitude in your workplace? Do people take more sick days than you would expect? Are stress and tension limiting productivity? Are people reluctant to offer suggestions or speak frankly? All these things have a cumulative effect, and bad results pile on top of each other over time. They reduce productivity, diminish job satisfaction, and hurt your bottom line. We are not a "Kumbaya, I'm ok, you're ok," gaze at the stars company. We are a company that brings real and lasting solutions to difficult problems. Stress can be good, and deadlines can promote creativity. But only when it's the right kind of stress. Wrong stress can be crippling and paralyze a company in ways it can't even envision. Clogged communications are invariably destructive. Leadership that doesn't understand leadership principles cannot succeed. A grounding in these and other principles of the program can only pay dividends. Be fearless and trust your management to understand. Once you show them what we can do, they will likely embrace the benefits that Sama offers with open corporate arms.

Will you travel out of state to conduct a program? Yes. We are based in New Jersey, but our clients are all over. In fact, Christian conducts frequent workshops and coaching sessions in Florida, and we work with many firms in New York and surrounding states. Our clients come first, and we go where they are.