If you’ve ever wondered what actually happens in a coaching session, you’re not alone. Coaching can seem a bit baffling if you haven’t tried it before. Is it like therapy? Mentoring? Or, in my case, a walk and talk in the park?! The truth is, it’s some and none of the above. This post aims […]
1. Bring my whole self to this process; professionally and personally.
You cannot separate your professional and personal ‘lives’.
2. Be present in the moment and connected.
… to the coaching; what you’re thinking, feeling, experiencing. And…to nature if and where we are outdoors. If we’re on headphones, I’ll invite you to be descriptive of your environment too.
You can do this in several ways:
I will bring the process, tools, ideas, resources and best practice to best support you towards your goal/intention/objective. More in your pre-coaching questionnaire.
4. Give feedback and be responsive.
Coaching is collaborative. Neither of us should guess where we stand. I ask you to give me feedback and respond – you can rely on me to give and do the same.
I aim to get back to you within 24 hours of you emailing me, even if it’s just to say ‘I received your message’ before I respond properly. If it’s over the weekend or holiday, this may take longer.
5. Do the work in the session and in between sessions.
…so that you get the best value, even when it’s challenging. I might suggest a piece of work based on what you brought to the session. Mainly you will decide your course of action.
Whichever way, I’ll invite you to:
6. Session duration and timescale.
I’d been trying to work out ‘what else’ I could do with my career and life.
After 20 years in HR and with the children getting older, I wanted to change careers, but into ‘what?’ And ‘how’ was that even possible? And…’who would take on a mid-40’s apprentice?’!
I took small steps to boost my confidence and mindset; a regular ‘walk and whinge’ with friends to offload, short courses to up-skill, more running, more netball.
I asked my workplace ‘what else’ they needed that I could help with – ‘job crafting’.
I was trying to make changes but it wasn’t really working. I was still frustrated and now, more miserable. I needed a different approach to find a way forward and release the building pressure I felt.
Hiring an accredited coach with whom I knew I could work with, enabled me to take a good look at myself – at times, uncomfortably.
To be listened to without any interruption, or judgement was empowering and I started to recognise what made me, me – my personality, strengths, what energised me and made me happy. What if these things amounted to a job I would…love…?
I followed my curiosity and dabbled with ideas about potential jobs, tasks and environments that would suit me, with a new, growth mindset.
I started to shift perspective. When I finally realised the ‘what’, I felt an energy and sense of knowing that was powerful. And I laughed, because it had been right in front of me!
Coaching undoubtedly helped me get to know myself, to see my potential and what was possible. I wholeheartedly decided through those sessions, on what and how I wanted things to be.
It had taken me two years of feeling stuck and miserable and a number of hours to be liberated.
This is what I now do with my clients. I help them rediscover themselves so that they can play to their strengths and thrive.
