A typical coaching session will include work on your current issues as well as developing strategies for a more long-term goal or goals. Quite often new issues emerge during the process so I welcome flexibility. Each session will last 1 to 2 hours, depending on what suits you and your needs.
I do not adhere to any one particular model or tool. The issues that my clients come with would seem to be far too varied for that to be appropriate. Whether working 1-to-1 or with teams, a solutions-focused approach may be most helpful, whilst at other times it might be a more cognitive or change-related approach.
For leaders and senior managers, it may be working on issues emerging from a new role or managing conflict, prioritising and delegating. For others you may be seeking to better manage a healthy work/life balance or stress that you or your team are experiencing.
For those at the start of their working lives, seeking career coaching, it may start with finding out what inspires and anchors you. For those contemplating or beginning retirement, or semi-retirement, questions around fulfilment and purpose can help unlock a positive plan of action to help you adapt to the changes you will be facing. I am experienced in helping you identify and clarify your priorities so that individual needs can be tailored to each and every client.
Your first session would be different from subsequent ones as we’d scope out what you hoped to gain from the coaching and perhaps do some preliminary work on that. At the end we’d both have the opportunity to reflect on whether continuing would be really useful to you – because that’s the whole point of our working together.
The reality is that it’s one of those things that is best experienced to be understood – which is why I never require my new clients to sign up for a ‘course’ of coaching with me until they’ve tried it. Instead I suggest an initial session before you decide to commit to more, though the typical ‘course’ is between 4 to 6 sessions.
What people say
The team has become more confident in talking honestly and openly. They are able to rationalise situations and work on them. They have learnt it’s okay to be open and honest with each other and so the dynamic is much better and allows us to try and solve problems before they escalate. I’ve appreciated being supported and coached around approaching difficult conversations, and your remaining professional and protecting the individuals’ privacy at all times.” Team manager, national charity
You asked probing and purposeful questions in our early meetings without making me feel I was being lead or forced to answer in a specific way. You also introduced me to ways of approaching my problems. You listen carefully, question skilfully, enable reflection and give positive support.” Primary school teacher
I have greater self-belief and self-confidence in tackling trickier situations. And my behaviours have changed: I have been more focused in terms of ensuring my thinking translates into action, and have been more explicitly challenging. The benefits these changes have brought include being more confident in my approach in a number of situations, not just the focus of the coaching. This has been positively commented on by governors.” Headteacher