Stéphane Verhaeren

Stéphane develops tailor-made training and coaching aimed at developing the capacities of collaborators to communicate and behave more efficiently, more effectively and more serenely in their organization. Stephane approaches communication and behavior through the principles and techniques of Improvisational Theatre. Very interactive and revealing, the approach will favour experimentation bringing to light participant’s strengths and pitfalls, facilitating awareness and improving the anchoring of more productive reflexes. “Improv’” develops the art of spontaneity: on a stage actors build fun, consistent and captivating scenes on the spot. They don’t have scripts, nor costumes, nor scenery. And yet, “Improv” requires training. It puts forward a wide array of behavioral techniques and principles. These principles turn out to be fundamental and universal communication keys. Stephane’s training method will develop collaborators’ relational aptitudes by transposing the keys they will have experienced from the theatrical universe to their professional context. In short: from theatrical know-how to professional competencies. Stephane’s approach also includes the informal and playful, allowing a detached, authentic and open working atmosphere which are ideal conditions to get out of one’s comfort zone and kick start a change process without fear of exposing one’s professional credibility.

The fields requiring relational efficiency in which Stéphane has intervened on a regular basis include:

People management

Leadership skills

Team building / team working

Diversity

Customer relations

Conflict management

Public speaking

Negotiatio

Individual coaching journeys

Stephane has had the opportunity to work with many different sectors.

After a business degree at ICHEC Brussels, and HEC Montréal, Stéphane worked for the Unilever Group for 8 years where he has been in charge of several brands and categories of consumer goods. After 2 years spent abroad on a European role the time was ripe to follow his calling for self-expression and interpersonal communication and behavior. He decided to dig deeper into his passion for improvisational theatre, which he actively leisured in since 2002, and sought to apply its benefits to a day-to-day professional context. He set out to become a trainer and a coach and has developed his activity successfully since 2009.

Stéphane can hence count on two complementary backgrounds: theatrical expertise and know-how on one hand, professional experience in the world of organisations on the other hand. This unique heritage gives him the necessary competencies to usefully link theatrical techniques to the sharp stakes of the business world. He quickly understands the professional context of his participants, while handing them over the necessary tools to improve their relational capacities. Additionally, his passion for group animation is a real driver of motivation and inspiration for his participant’s audiences.

ICF certified coach (The Coaching Square)

Masters the Harvard Principled Negotiation Method