“As one climbs the corporate ladder, two skills become vital to one’s progress, leadership and communication skills. However, communication skills are the most neglected, ignored and taken for granted. Most managers and executives assume they will automatically develop once a person has been appointed to a position of higher responsibility and accountability. This is far from the truth. South African leaders, in all spheres of business and government must wake-up to the fact that they cannot lead without improving their communication abilities. It has to be understood that it takes time and effort to improve these skills. Hence, we at the IDC took a deliberate decision to invest in and improve the communication abilities of our senior and middle management.” Mr Lese Matlhape, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, IDC

“Business is not only about hard facts. Effective business relationships are not based on how much you know but how much you care. The Image Excellence Group has assisted us in demonstrating this care through effective communication.” Mr Suresh Kana, Deputy CEO of PricewaterhouseCoopers

“The Image Excellence Group is our company of choice for developing the image and communication skills of our private bankers.” Mr W Robinson, Absa Private Bank

“My team increased their sales by 30% thanks to your interventions.” Mr G Swiegers Partner-in-Charge (Pretoria), Deloitte

“Trying to link investment in human capital to short-term gains in profits is an exercise in futility. I look at it from the point of view of what my happy, confident and competent staff would have achieved had they not gone on one of the programmes. My conclusion – some of them very little, some nothing! I even sent my own daughter there – talk about chalk and cheese!.” Mr Bobby Johnston, previous Chairman of the JSE

“I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the wonderful opportunity to attend The Image Excellence seminar. It was most interesting, educational and thoroughly enjoyable. The course was well structured, stimulating and informative. The course material was interestingly diverse. I believe it covered almost every aspect of self-image and communication skills development. In the highly competitive corporate arena in which we operate, development of the skills covered in this seminar would certainly give a ‘player’ the winning edge. Thank you Gail and all your staff, I will certainly recommend the professional service you offer whenever and wherever I get an opportunity.” Ms Francis Jackson, Human Resources, De Beers Group

“I would like to thank you for your expertise in developing the communication skills in the Defence Force. You have already made a tremendous contribution at the top level and have contributed to an improved public image of the Defence Force.” Major General GN Opperman, Chief Director Corporate Communication, SANDF

"I am writing to convey our sincerest gratitude for the miraculous work you did with our son. The results of your efforts have been absolutely amazing. I always had faith in the abilities of your organization and when we identified the need that he had, I took the chance to approach you knowing that you dealt mainly at a higher level. We are extremely grateful to you and your team for the willingness to assist and for the time taken to do a detailed needs analysis and assessment and to customize a program that suited and addressed the gaps that he had. The fact that you did not apply a “one size fits all approach” made all the difference along with the individual attention.

We cannot begin to tell you how impressed we are by the results and only watching him in different scenarios with different people, either individually or in groups; will you begin to understand the magic that you guys worked.

Our son was extremely quiet, shy, withdrawn, unsure and possible insecure to a point because of his confidence levels, but this is undoubtedly be corrected. He is now a real gentleman, confident, poised, definitely much more aware of his surrounding and willing to engage with anyone at any level and when given the opportunity he can actually conduct a meaningful conversation as you have sparked in him the will to broaden his general knowledge.

This program has had a direct impact on his relationships with others, on his schoolwork and definitely on how he thinks. It is as if the light of the tunnel was just switched on.

It was refreshing to hear his feedback after each session and your tutors were incredible as they showed such a personal interest as if he was their only client. The one guy even went as far as doing research on marine biology which is his passion and this really set a new standard.All we can say is that it was definitely a brilliant choice on our part, money well spent and that we got much more than we bargained for. We believe that this program should be extended to other young people to better equip them to deal with the “real” world.Once again, accept our sincere gratitude. You have given our son a gift of a life-skill that he can only enhance; we could not be happier. We extend special thanks to you for managing the process in such an efficient and professional manner. Having used your company’s services in the past and now with Michyle, we would unreservedly recommend that others take advantage of your services. With much gratitude." Rev Zain Reddiar (General Manager - Human Resources, MTN Irancell)