Elizabeth Joss-Bethlehem works as a copywriter and corporate trainer. She owns WordWorx, a one-woman business based in The Hague, The Netherlands. As part of her business, Elizabeth has trained various organisations, from small NGOs to Dutch multinationals.
Why are corporate in-house training programmes so important for businesses?
“Tailor-making a training programme requires really grappling with what the customer/organization does, doing extensive research, and fully understanding their wishes/needs. As a result, tailor-made training programmes have a much greater impact on participants – the content really sticks! Additionally, there’s nothing like conducting an in-house programme and being physically on-site. Working with groups and individuals in person can hugely boost both the skill level and the morale of an employee and, in turn, can help the company in achieving its objectives. This is what my business is founded on – providing customers with the highest quality English-language training programmes on the market.”
What makes your training programmes so different from others out there? Tell us more about this please, Elizabeth Joss-Bethlehem.
“It’s difficult to compare training programmes as they all have their admirable (or weak) points. But what I can definitely say is that the customer is at the heart of everything I do. I like to keep close contact with customers and obtain as much information from them as possible in order to provide their employees with the best programme. Moreover, my training programmes are not standardised, and since I’m the sole trainer at WordWorx, this allows me to quality control everything I do. Because I don’t work with other trainers, this also gives me increased flexibility – I am able to develop courses very quickly, and I also conduct the training sessions myself. I oversee all elements of the process, from start to end.”
What knowledge do you bring to the training programmes/sessions?
“I believe that there is always something to learn, and as such, I’m open to learning even more. I think I actually might be addicted to learning! And I believe that’s what makes me a great trainer, too, as I can place myself in the participant’s shoes and really understand the learning experience. I bring a wealth of teaching and corporate/commercial experience to my training sessions so which is very useful for my participants – I’m not just talking about what I know (or have read up on), but I’m talking about it because I’ve experienced it as a marketing and communication specialist. I’d like to believe that gives me the edge.”
What can participants expect from you as a trainer?
“As a trainer, I try to remain humble to my participants – they are generally experts in the industry, and my training programmes help bring out and refine their prior knowledge. I am well-prepared and well-researched, and I’ve been described by customers as inspiring, entertaining, and full of energy. And I can easily adapt to any environment I’m placed in. I remain professional and thorough from start to end. Not only do I furnish participants with crucial knowledge, hints, and tips, but am also a great motivator and support participants extensively,” says Elizabeth Joss-Bethlehem.
What are training sessions like?
“Training sessions are certainly not long lectures where I’m doing most of the talking. They rather comprise open, interactive sessions where questions and discussions are encouraged. Each session does, however, include short theoretical components to introduce the material to the participants. Thereafter, there are various practical exercises, and this is where the magic really happens, as participants can practice what they’ve learnt in an open and supportive environment. I provide a lot of individual feedback, and there’s also feedback from other participants in the group, too – so everyone is learning all-round. It’s a holistic learning environment.”
When did you begin working as a trainer?
“I’ve been involved in training and teaching for many years. It’s difficult to highlight the exact length of time since I’ve always thought of myself as a teacher. Even when I was a small child in primary school (in the early 90s in South Africa), I recall my enthusiasm for playing ‘school-school’ with friends. I would stick golden stars on the foreheads of other children and reward them with small plastic gifts which I would buy from my pocket money. My love for teaching and supporting others was further established during my post-graduate studies at Stellenbosch University in my home country of South Africa. During this time, I taught first-year students for three years on a part-time basis. Thereafter, I worked as a high school English teacher. I loved the interaction with the youth and the sense that I was doing something for the greater good. In my late twenties, I ventured into the commercial world and gained significant work experience in the fields of online marketing and communication (in South Africa and the Netherlands). I’ve also worked as a lecturer at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. I now run my business, WordWorx, full-time — allowing me to merge my love of teaching with my passion for writing and words,” says Elizabeth Joss-Bethlehem.
What are your plans for the future when it comes to your business WordWorx?
“WordWorx is everything that I encompass as a person. It’s about my passion for persuasive English, writing, online marketing, and of course, training/teaching. Since my early twenties, I’ve always been a business owner on the side-line (I’m averse to the word ‘entrepreneur’!), so when I look back, I’m proud to say that it has developed considerably. Like all business owners, I have high hopes for the future. I wish to continue providing my customers with top-notch training programmes. My intention is also to expand and grow as an all-round writer and also as a sustainability writer. But I’m also very much looking into online opportunities for my customers and am working on developing a few online courses.”
Interested in reaching out? Contact Elizabeth Joss-Bethlehem via email today: info@elizabethjoss.com. Or feel free to view my best-selling copywriting training course.