Box of Crayons
Coaching for Great Work The Coaching Habit The Last Feedback Workshop You'll Ever Need Great Work Kick Start

Box of Crayons Program Leader – Information & Application

Information & Application

You’re curious about becoming a Program Leader for the Box of Crayons programs. Fantastic.

This (long) page gives you all – at least, all that I can think of – the information you might need to know before applying.

Take a read. In fact, I’d strongly encourage you to read all of it before you do apply, because it will save us both time if you’re sure this is a good fit for you. Check in both with your head and your heart to make sure it’s a Yes before jumping in.

And you’ll see throughout the page, links like the one below so when and if you’re ready to apply, you can jump to the form right away.

Apply here to become a program leader
(closes Feb 3)

The story so far

We launched our first program about five years ago and this has grown into our flagship Coaching for Great Work program.

With the launch of my book Do More Great Work in 2010 we launched the Great Work Kickstart program.

And in 2011 we launched our two latest programs, The Coaching Habit and The Last Feedback Workshop You’ll Ever Need.

We’ve run the program successfully for our organizational clients in North America, Europe and the UK (for those who think it’s not part of Europe). You can see many of the clients we’ve served listed on each of the program pages.

In 2011 we had our most successful year, billing about a million dollars in program sales. Woo hoo! That’s in no small part due to the talented faculty we have who market, sell and deliver the programs.

We’re thoughtfully expanding

We’re looking to expand our team with between four and eight new program leaders. I’d particularly like to increase the number of program leaders in the United States and into some new countries.

If you’re thinking of applying, what follows may help you decide whether it will be a good fit or not for you. We’ve found this is the combination of attributes that is most likely to succeed:

You also most likely:

One final comment. A number of our current program leaders are finding great success in working in small group alliances based on geography. You might consider applying with a partner in mind, as this seems to increase focus and resilience. There’s a space on the application form to mention who your partner(s) might be, if this is a route you take.

Apply here to become a program leader
(closes Feb 3)

So why would you throw your hat in the ring?

Here are some of the reasons you’d consider becoming a certified Box of Crayons Program Leader of C4GW:

I also want to tell you why I want you involved. Here’s what I’ll get:

What makes the programs so special?

We’ve worked really hard to make these programs powerful, different and effective.

Some of the reasons why they’ve been so successful with our clients are:

Apply here to become a program leader
(closes Feb 3)

Still keen? Here’s the process

1. Apply online here (applications close Friday February 3rd).

2. Short-listed candidates have a telephone interview with Michael to ensure a mutual fit and discuss questions we both have (weeks of February 6th & 13th).

3. Final group selected (week of February 20th).

4. Three-day live training program in Toronto, Tuesday May 1st to Thursday May 3rd. The focus is on the Coaching for Great Work program, and you’ll be expected to master that before moving to the other programs.

4A. On the weekend of May 5-6, there’s the inaugural Program Leader gathering. We’ve timed the live training program to coincide with that and I’d hope you’d stay for it, but it’s entirely your choice.

5. Self-guided small group practice. You’ll work in triads to practice some of the key elements of the program.

6. Receive and review the Coaching for Great Work eCourse.

7. Submit video of you delivering three specific elements of the program

8. Shadow a Coaching for Great Work program when next held in your region (not mandatory but highly desirable).

9. Gain certification for the other three programs – which are slightly less technical than Coaching for Great Work – through online guidance.

What you get as a certified trainer

1. Program materials

2. The core Coaching for Great Work library

3. Five copies of Do More Great Work by Michael Bungay Stanier

4. Online review resource

5. Right to use the Coaching for Great Work & Certified Program Leader logos on your website and email

6. Listing on the Coaching for Great work website

7. Opportunity to contribute guest articles to the Outside the Lines newsletter and The Great Work Blog.

8. Invitation to the annual Program Leader gathering

9. Two group calls per month, one on education and one on selling.

My best guess at questions you may have – and my answers

Here’s my best guess at questions you may have. Feel free to email me with other questions you have.  You can reach me here: zib.snoyarCfOxoBnull@leahciM

A. The accreditation program

What’s the cost of participating in this program?

This program costs US$2,000 and completion grants accreditation. It also includes your license fee for 2012.

In the first twelve months after accreditation, a US$500 bonus is paid to you for each of your first four sales in addition to the fees you would earn.  In other words, it’s possible for you to earn back the full cost of this training.

To maintain your accreditation to sell and train C4GW an annual licensing fee of US$2,000 is payable each year, starting at the beginning of the year.  The amount of this annual licensing fee may change.

What support does Box of Crayons offer after the accreditation training is completed?

We run two monthly conference calls a month with me and the program leaders around the world.

We’ve been experimenting with an online community group as well, although we haven’t quite “cracked it” yet.

I am also available to provide support for sales calls and proposal review.

What’s at risk for me in applying?

If you’re accepted into this program, you’ll be in the fourth cadre of trainers. We’re getting better and better and selecting the right people and providing as much support as we can for their success.

The key decision you’ll need to weigh up is whether this is something you’re prepared to market and sell. If you’re up for that, the evidence is that you’ll be successful.

B. Once you’re accredited

What’s it going to be like partnering with Box of Crayons?

We can’t exactly be sure – after all, the responsibility for success of this relationship is shared.  But here’s what we want to bring to the table:

  1. To create an explicit social contract about how we will work together and to keep that contract fresh.
  2. To treat you as an adult partner in this adventure.
  3. To play our role in building a supportive community amongst the trainers.
  4. To be transparent about the mechanics – how the selling works, how the client management works, how the money works.
  5. To pay you as fast as possible and on time.

In short, in this adventure I’m hoping to build a community of outstanding partners who make me think and make me laugh, are champions for the program, feel a sense of ownership, and earn the money they would like to earn.

Will you really generate work for me?
If so, how will Box of Crayons promote and sell the programs?

The answer is – we might be able to generate work for you, but you shouldn’t count on it. We have a number of clients who are looking to scale this program. If all the stars align, I’ll certainly be able to provide opportunities to run C4GW for you.

But you should work on the assumption that we won’t provide work for you – and it’s up to you to make things happen.

We have a number of ways we expect to promote and sell the program:

  1. Through sales of the Do More Great Work, which promotes the program.  The book was launched in February 2010, has sold more than 50,000 copies and has already helped generate sales.
  2. Through promotion in the Outside the Lines newsletter (with a 20,000+ person circulation) and other social media avenues
  3. By presenting the workshop at key industry conferences in North America. Michael has spoken at leading conferences for the last five years
  4. Through the efforts of the trainers who’ve completed this program.

How will I earn money – and how much?

I want you to be an active promoter and deliverer of this workshop, and we know that for this to happen the program must make sense not just philosophically but also financially.

The objective of the pricing structure is:

The same core principles are applied in all geographical markets, although the specific costing will be different in these different geographical markets.

We have a detailed financial formula that helps decide where the money goes. If you’re invited to become a program leader, I’ll share this in detail with you before you commit so you know exactly what the deal is.

The basic principle is  that the fee the client pays is split between these roles.

To the person who delivers the program, about a third of the fee is paid.  Delivery means standing up in front of the group and leading the training.

To the person who markets and sells the program between 30% and 40% of the fee is paid.  Marketing and selling means finding leads, negotiating the sale and closing the deal.  I explain more about the range of payment below.

To the person who manages the client administration about 5% of the fee is paid. Client administration means contracting, invoicing and client management.

The numbers vary because the more you sell, the more favourable the formula becomes.

Is there a set price for the programs?

We set a standard price for the programs:

Here is the current cost of the programs:

This price doesn’t include materials for the participants.

Price points are still being established in other markets (Europe, Australia, India).

What about additional work I generate from Box of Crayons’ clients I’ve trained?

The C4GW program can create opportunities for “on-sell” work, such as consulting, coaching or additional training.

We encourage you to take advantage of those opportunities.

15% of all revenue from that client is payable to Box of Crayons.

C. Additional questions

How do the eCourses work?

Each program has a “long tail” to support participant engagement and learning. These include an eCourse for each program.

The eCourse is run through the Box of Crayons autoresponder system.  You would send an email with an invitation to subscribe to participants, and they would have a personalized eCourse sent to them. The email is sent from the CoachingForGreatWork.com url – in other words, it’s a neutral (not Box of Crayons) brand.

Will I have to work under the Box of Crayons brand?

If you are leading a program sold by Box of Crayons, you will be a Box of Crayons trainer.

If you generate any additional work with a client, you will work under your own brand.

Am I be able to tailor the program?

At the moment, the programs are not open for anything but very minor variations.

How do you deal with potential conflicts amongst the trainers?

We haven’t had any yet, but potential conflict or disagreements may come about through:

A process of arbitration will be established to help resolve these issues.

What are the key influences on the program?

The key philosophical influences on the design and content of the program are:

Apply here to become a program leader
(closes Feb 3)