What Is Coaching?

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What do you think of when you hear that someone is a Coach? ​

Do you think of this:

Or maybe this:

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Life Coaching, Executive Coaching, Career Coaching, Confidence Coaching.....????

Well I’m not surprised there is some confusion out there.  I have just come back from a networking event where, out of around 20 people, 5 of us were coaches.  There was a Midlife Coach, a Leadership Coach, 2 health and wellness Coaches and me.  What sort of coach did I introduce myself as?  Well I didn’t define it I’m afraid…. I work with people, all sorts of people.  Some have executive roles in either public or private sector, some are long term unemployed, some are graduates, some are being made redundant, some are small business owners, some are stay at home parents, some are students, some want to make a career move but don’t know which direction to go in etc etc.  I work face to face, via skype, over the phone and I work 1:1, with groups and with teams.  So you see it’s quite difficult to define what I do succinctly.

So instead of describing what I do I described WHY I do it! 
I am passionate about supporting, enabling and motivating people to make positive changes and THRIVE in order to confidently achieve their potential.  

This is known as a “Why statement” and is based on Simon Sinek’s Find Your Why exercise that can be found in his book of the same name. ​
You can also find out more at his website: 
​https://simonsinek.com/find-your-why/   ​

The Power of a Why Statement

If you are a business owner, leader or embarking on a change in your career this can be a really useful exercise to do. 
​The basics are that we all have something that drives us, a purpose, the reason we get out of bed but few of us take time to find out what it is.  I’m not sure I totally concur with Mr Sinek when he says that our Why is fixed at an early age – but I will leave that for another time! However, from a business point of view it does a good job!! If you lead with your WHY you are connecting with your audience (e.g. customers/potential employers) via the primitive limbic part of the brain; the emotional part and the part where decision making is controlled. ​

So, if you are trying to pitch your business or pitch yourself in an interview or at a speed dating event start with WHY you do what you do!!  People don’t buy what you do they buy WHY you do it. 
If you are interested in knowing more but don’t want to buy the book watch the Ted talk here:
https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action

My Coaching Approach

So back to the confusing world of coaching… the type of coaching I do is based on the premise that the mind that holds the problem holds the answer and my role is to enable my client to find the answer not give them the answer.  This means that change is authentic and therefore sustainable.  Ever been given some fantastic advice only to end up not following it at all?  It’s more than likely this is due to the fact that it was the other person's way of dealing with the problem not yours.  They are not working with your values, your strengths, your experience therefore how can they know what you should do? 

​The majority of my clients are seeking 2 things – confidence and clarity.  The two very often go hand in hand.  I feel incredibly lucky to work with people who trust me enough to help them move forward no matter what their goals are. 
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What to look for in a coach

If you are thinking of exploring coaching to help you make changes to your business/life, then I would encourage you to check out their credentials!  There are a lot of very poor-quality coaching courses out there hence very poor-quality coaches.  The industry is unregulated and therefore the client needs to do some research to be sure of the quality of service they are going to receive.  Being accredited with either the International Coaching Federation or European Mentoring & Coaching Council is a good start.  Look for qualifications that are validated by respected educational establishments.
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Free Consultations

Most reputable coaches will offer a free consultation or chemistry call/meetup.  This is to check that you are the right fit, from both sides and that you are ready for coaching.  The effectiveness of the coaching is influenced heavily by the coach/client relationship, so it is vital to check this out before committing to any sessions.  Also be aware that you are going to be challenged!  Change does not usually come easily and there will more than likely be an element of discomfort throughout your progress.  Relish it as it’s then you know it’s working!!! 
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If you are interested in a FREE consultation (see what I did there?!) please do get in contact.