What is coaching?
Coaching is a technique to support a person’s self-improvement. This may relate to short-term goals at work or broader, longer-term aspects of their life more generally. The purpose is to help people live and work closer to their potential on a sustained basis.
How does coaching help?
Coaching is a unique form of support that helps clients access more of their own potential, as opposed to passing down someone else's knowledge or practices. We very often feel stuck in a situation, knowing where we want to get to but not knowing how. Coaching helps people to "unblock," tapping into their deeper selves so that their energy, creativity and confidence can flow once again. This form of support is especially meaningful and motivational because it provides insights that are ‘felt’ and lead to improved self-mastery and performance.
What kinds of issues are appropriate to bring to coaching?
Everybody has their own unique story and issue to discuss, but common themes that come up include self-confidence, becoming a better leader, personal effectiveness, dealing with difficult people, handling a career crossroads, damaging self-talk, and work-life balance. See the home page for more info.
What can I expect in terms of results?
Most people come away from coaching feeling lighter, better understood, and with self-insights and concrete steps they can take. For more, check out what past clients say in their own words.
How will I know if coaching is right for me?
There is no ‘right’ form of self-improvement method. Each has its own appeal and downsides, relative to your personal needs and learning styles. The same person may find a particular method works well for them at one stage of their career, but an alternative method is more suitable later. It's also important to find the right coach for you (see my 'try before I buy' offer below to help guarantee your confidence on this).
What’s coaching with you like?
My coaching is guided by the values of Compassion, Courage and Honesty. Compassion means ensuring coaching is experienced as a safe space and encouraging clients to be self-compassionate, sharing and understanding without judgement or criticism. Courage means drawing on the deep wisdom of the heart as well as the head and be willing to go deeper than conventional conversation allows. Honesty means being willing to step into a space of openness and vulnerability, which sets the right conditions for self-insights.
Is coaching a form of therapy?
No. Coaching is distinct to therapy or counselling. The relationship is not about addressing any psychological, emotional or mental health needs based on past trauma or other personal circumstances. If any such issues arise in our initial chat or coaching, I may check whether you would like support from an alternative specialist professional.
Will you be giving me advice?
In general, I will not seek to directly give advice or share my experience. This would be a distinct form of support, known as mentoring (the term comes from Homer’s Odysseus asking his friend Mentor to look after his son: “Tell him all you know”). Instead, I will help you find your own, unique insights and personal path forward.
Is the coaching confidential?
Yes! I will maintain full confidentiality for all topics and details discussed so you can have maximum confidence. I am strongly committed to adhering to the British School of Coaching Professional Code of Conduct, which includes stringent requirement to maintain the highest levels of integrity and to respect clients’ confidentiality.
Do you have coaching for yourself?
Yes. I have had several coaches of my own, and currently meet with a coach at least once a month for supervision and mentorship as well as personal coaching.
Can I try before I buy?
Yes! There is no substitute to knowing what coaching is like than trying it for real. I’m happy to offer any prospective new client a free session. Consider it a gift from me! There is no requirement or expectation that you do sign on as a client. That said, sometimes a player is interested in having more coaching, so when we meet I will briefly outline how this is done so you have this information for future reference
Does the coaching need to be in person or online?
In most cases the coaching will be via Zoom or similar technology. Research shows online coaching is just as effective in terms of outcomes.
What is your coaching qualification?
I obtained the ILM L7 Certificate in Executive Coaching (2023). This is a masters-level professional qualification, which I studied and trained for via the British School of Coaching.