By Vincent Duport
Support that amplifies the power of our technology
TalkTois much more than a training course: it's a journey that profoundly transforms the way we do business. communicateto dare take your place and strengthen its trust. Far from a purely technical approach, the programme is based on a model of blended learning which combines three complementary dimensions: the support of coach-facilitators, group dynamics and a mobile application developed in-house. In particular, the application incorporates artificial intelligence features that enable personalised monitoring, instant feedback and continuity between sessions. This unique combination allows participants to experiment, self-evaluate and receive regular feedback, so that they can gradually anchor their learning and embed change over time.
In the first article in this serieswe explored this global vision and showed how TalkTo supports professionals in their development. Today, we're embarking on a dimension complementary: that of facilitators. Their role is not limited to running workshops. They are present throughout the process, ensuring that a climate of trust is established and that people are given the space to listen, so that awareness can be raised.
This gradual pace provides the space needed for the changes to take hold over the long term.
As Tanguy sums up: "I'm not looking to inspire people. My aim is for them to find their own inspiration.
This sentence says it all. Here, the transformation does not come from vertically transmitted knowledge. emerges from within. And it is precisely this posture of facilitators, somewhere between demanding and benevolent, that we are going to explore in the lines that follow.
The testimonies come from three coach-facilitators TALK: Ivana, Natacha and Tanguy, from the entire support team. Although they each expressed their own views, their comments reflect the collective spirit and shared approach that underpin the TalkTo programme.
Finally, the third and last article in this series will give the floor to the participants themselves. Their testimonies will bring this cycle to a close by showing, from the inside, all the power of the TalkTo experience.
"I'm not trying to inspire people. My aim is for them to find their own inspiration.
- Tanguy Laurent
The posture of facilitators: a framework that both reassures and liberates
Being a facilitator at TALK means above all embodying a unique attitude: a discreet but decisive presence, where demanding and benevolent coexist. This posture requires great flexibility: oscillating between a structuring framework and a space for freedom, listening deeply, sensing the needs of the group, knowing how to stimulate or, on the contrary, remain silent.
For Ivana, the challenge is to encourage a true speech :
"Not perfect or formal communicationIt's this sincerity that weaves the bond of trust with ourselves and with others. In the end, it's this sincerity that forges the bond of trust with ourselves and with others.
For Natacha, it's a question of "putting ourselves at the service The group's "leader", guiding with accuracy but without ever taking power:
"We observe, we lead, we accompany. But it's the participants who move forward.
Tanguy focuses on consistency :
"Be clear and punchy, while giving everyone the space to bring out their own intrinsic motivation."
In concrete terms, this posture takes shape from the first day, when participants and coaches co-construct a common charter. More than just a set of rules, the Charter becomes the foundation of a micro-society in miniature It's a place where people experiment with new and sometimes unusual ways of being together. As Natacha says, it's a common gestures laboratory, listening without judging, respecting unconditionally, speaking sincerely. These are simple gestures, but put together they create a small community capable of showing that we can live together differently, in harmony despite our differences.
And to illustrate the role of the facilitator, an image often comes to mind, cited by Natacha as well as Tanguy: that of the " sheep dog ".
"Our role is to discreetly ensure that the framework is respected. When someone breaks the rules, we don't punish them, we question them. Is the person aware of what's going on? What are they proposing to do to get back within the framework? They remain the actors in their own lives.
This firm but benevolent framework is reassuring. Participants very quickly understand that their words will be welcomed without judgement. And it is this climate of trust that allows them to dare to say, to experiment, to dare.
"We observe, we lead, we accompany. But it's the participants who move forward.
- Natacha Kmarin
Key moments: week 3 to week 4
The coaches are unanimous: there are decisive tipping points throughout the programme.
Weeks 1 and 2 serve as a foundation. They lay the foundations, establish the group dynamic and bring everyone face to face with their emotions. Some are surprised by the depth of the work: it's not just about technique, it's about posture and confidence.
Week 3 marks the first major turning point. The reserve of the early days fades. The participants begin to encourage each other, to open up, to speak with more confidence. Natacha talks of a "switch": a personal realisation that leads to a collective shift.
Week 4 anchors these changes. We work on active listening, formulating needs and answering uncomfortable questions. This work is nurtured by going back and forth between the app and the workshops: the exercises carried out individually are echoed in the feedback from the coaches and the group. For Ivana, this is a key moment:
"It is at this stage that many people realise that they are not just learning how to present a project, but that they now know how to engage in in-depth dialogue.
But the transformation doesn't stop there. Weeks 5 and 6 play an equally vital role They enable participants to integrate what they have learned and put it into practice in more complex and realistic situations. Gradually, the group achieves synergy: participants support each other, provide constructive feedback and test their new skills in real-life situations.
As Tanguy points out, "it's in these final weeks that we see the consistency emerge between what the participants say, what they do and what they embody". This gradual process is necessary to consolidate what has been learnt and allow the changes to take root over the long term.
Stories that leave their mark
Each group leaves the facilitators with unforgettable memories.
Natacha remembers a participant who arrived "tired, weakened, almost extinct". As the weeks went by, she regained her energy and her desire to create: "One day, she said to me: 'That's it, it's back'. It was overwhelming to see her light up againIt's all about finding new projects and new desires.
It also tells the story of a participantinitially reserved, which has gradually opened up like a flower. Uncomfortable with the idea of filming a video presentation, he finally came up with an apt metaphor: he described himself as a conductorplaying with the idea of harmony and false notes. "It was magnificent," she says.
Tanguy remembers one participant who was going through an emotional block. "We simply offered silence and listening. A few minutes later, she had turned a corner. She had proved to herself that she could go to this difficulty. "
These anecdotes tell the essential story: TalkTo is not an academic course. It's a place where you discover you're capable of overcoming your fearsinvent new new ways of presenting ourselves, to reconnect with your vital energy.
The key relationships that make TalkTo so powerful
In addition to communication skills and emotional intelligence, the TalkTo programme also develops the following skills powerful interpersonal skills that are transforming the way we collaborate and interact with others.
Among them, the coaches unanimously highlight :
- Active listening, not to respond, but to really understand the other person.
- Openness and humanism, a stance that values and respects diversity.
- Respect for yourself and others, the basis of all constructive interaction.
These skills are not covered in theory, but tried out in practice, with benevolent feedback, simulated interviews and group discussions. They become tangible levers for better persuasion, cooperation and dialogue.
This is one of TalkTo's strengths: in a landscape where training courses abound, the The programme has a number of unique features :
- A cross-disciplinary and holistic approach: we don't just work on the performance of a pitch, but also on identity, emotions, posture, listening and expression.
- Dedicated time to invest in yourself: a gradual pace that allows awareness to percolate and learning to take root.
- A coherent team : All the coaches share the same values and the same approach, which gives a particular power to the experience.
- The alliance between people and technology: face-to-face workshops are extended by a mobile application developed in-house, with exercises, feedback and self-assessment to reinforce day-to-day learning.
- An impact that goes beyond the professional: the skills developed are used in all spheres of life, including relationships, family and social life.
TalkTo is a programme for developing communication skills to boost confidence, posture and interpersonal skills.
A shared transformation
TalkTo's impact is not just limited to participants. The coaches themselves change over the course of the sessions.
Ivana explains:
"It taught me to cultivate humility. Each persononne has unsuspected strengths. I grow with each group. Humility in my coaching enhances the learner's journey by listening to their voice, encouraging collaboration and open dialogue".
Tanguy sees this as a mission deeply aligned with his values :
"I need to be of service to others. This role allows me to continue this mission, which is deeply meaningful to me.
For Natacha, it's a no-brainer:
"I feel my rightful place. More than a job, it's a vocation.
This reciprocity is at the heart of TalkTo: transformation flows in both directions. What the participants discover reflects on the coaches, and vice versa.
"It taught me to cultivate humility. Each person has unsuspected strengths. I grow with each group. Humility in coaching enhances the learner's journey by listening to his or her voice, encouraging collaboration and open dialogue".
- Ivana Dugalic Montefusco
In short, TalkTo is much more than a programme: it's a demanding, caring space where everyone learns to listen, express themselves and act in a way that's consistent with who they really are.
And if one sentence were to sum up this spirit, it would be this one, shared during the interviews:
"True strength is not in speaking louder than others, but in finding your voice and daring to make it heard.