Expertise
- Coaching
Summary
How I coach
I am a certified career development coach supporting individuals and organisations with career transitions. In only 6 sessions we identify what is to achieved and how to get there.
Career development coaching is especially helpful if you are:
- Feeling stuck in your existing career and considering a career change;
- Wanting better work relationships and more job satisfactio;
- Looking to improve your work/life balance and put down some boundaries;
- Keen to develop as a leader and take your professional development to the next level.
You will discover solutions and strategies that help you to grow and flourish. I provide a caring and empathetic environment where you are respected as the expert on your life. Using thought provoking questions, careful listening and helpful feedback, we co-create a positive and practical vision for your future.
- Initially, we identify the changes you wish to make. We agree some positive outcomes that you would like to see happen by the end of our time together. We consider and plan specific steps you can take.
- We may explore context, the wider organisation and culture within which you work and how it can both allow and constrain you moving forward. We clarify your values and how they align with your job and employer.
- We may name and describe relationships and behaviours that are stopping you moving forward and the changes you can make to address them. You will gain key insights into the opportunities in your everyday life.
- We will build an authentic and honest relationship in which you provide me with feedback as we review your progress.
Although this may sound serious, infact it is often very enjoyable and enlightening to discover new ways of being in the world. Indeed, new ways of being you!
Individual sessions start from £60 per hour. I offer a no obligation no fee trial session. Organisational and group coaching rates are available on request.
Why I coach
Before becoming a coach, I held a number of senior management positions at a UK university including Head of Department and directorships of postgraduate taught courses and international recruitment. A key feature of my role was to support my colleagues to reach their potential and achieve their goals. Yet as a leader and manager I also had to ensure that individual goals aligned with the strategic direction of the organisation. I became concerned at how often managers are expected to ask people to do what they might not want or choose, often for sound reasons such as over work or value conflicts.
When our working lives aren't going well we can easily think there is something wrong with us. Indeed we live in a culture where many voices are happy to tell us we're not good enough. Coaching showed me there was a different way, that values the individual first. This new way promotes self-leadership, to make positive choices in line with our core values. In short, whatever we do we can be our own boss! Whether you are considering a complete change of career or to find new ways to grow within our existing role, you can take charge of your future. Interestingly, coached individuals often make better employees.
As a sociologist I was fascinated by power and how it shapes our lives. Through coaching we also explore how power works, be it visible or invidious, and how we can identify and navigate it in the workplace and beyond. Of course, power can also be positive. People are more able to succeed when they have positive relationships with others, working together towards shared goals and objectives. The empowerment that comes from engaging with others is fundamental to self development, challenges personal barriers and creates life transforming solutions. In fact, it is why I became a coach.