Frequently Asked Questions
What is coaching and what's the purpose?
“Coaching is partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximise their personal and professional potential. The process of coaching often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity and leadership.” We all have goals we want to reach, challenges we’re striving to overcome and times when we feel stuck. Partnering with a coach can change your life and set you on a path to greater personal and professional fulfilment." (International Coaching Federation)
What's it like to work with you?
People describe me as being warm, understanding, calm, focussed, professional and challenging, but non-judgemental. Each coaching relationship is unique and the raport between a coach and their client is pivotal. That's why I like to have a discovery call first. I view myself as being in partnership with you in developing your thinking, the thinking of your team or organisation and your actions. I want my clients to feel listened to, understood, believed in and ultimately be more empowered to positively impact the world around us. I ask powerful questions, support you to reflect and allow space for you to do this. You will be safe to think and to talk because your actions are important to you and to others. At times, I may introduce thinking exercises, schools of thought, and frames through which you will observe your thoughts, feelings and behaviours so that you can make informed choices about your next steps. Primarly, sessions will occur on Zoom. However, I am based in Calne in North Wiltshire and do offer walk and talk sessions in the Beversbrook and Bremhill areas nearby. I work 9am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday and some evenings and early mornings.
What's the typical journey for a client?
This will be dependent on which of the packages we're working on. However, all engagements begin with a discovery call and a contracting session. Discovery call This is a 30 min session in person or on Zoom. In this short session we'll get to know each other, I'll answer any questions you have and we will decide if we are a good fit for working in partnership, either individually or with your team or organisation. One of the most powerful determiner of any successful coaching relationship is rapport - a sharing of values and a meeting of minds. We'd need to agree that we have this before we commit to a partnership. Contracting session This is a 45 minute meeting. In this session we'll agree on the number of sessions, where we'll meet and how often. We will draft the goals and set expectations for the working relationship. We will also agree the approach, whether that be coaching on its own or whether it will include mentoring and facilitation too. If we are arranging a team or organisational package of support, then we will also discuss other key people who will be involved. Once we have met, I will send you the coaching agreement for you to sign, the invoice (to be paid in full before the first session) and, in the case of 1:1 engagements, a coaching questionnaire to complete before the first session. Sessions are confidential. The only time I would break confidentiality is if I felt a client was likely to harm themselves or others. I would then report my concerns to their employer or next of kin as my safeguarding duty.
What might I expect to get from coaching with you?
According to the ICF, positive coaching impacts include: Increased productivity Optimized performance Improved work/life balance Increased wellbeing Increased self-confidence and assertiveness Improved emotional resilience Improved connection to self and others Improved influencing skills Improved communication skills Increased self-esteem More professional career opportunities In terms of coaching with me, these things act as a gateway for my clients to have a greater positive impact on their communities, society and the world around us.
How do I know if working with you will help?
In all honesty, you don’t. However, this website is designed to provide you with some information to help to decide. A free 30 minute discovery session would also help you decide if we are a good fit. One of my core values is integrity. If I don’t believe I can help you achieve your goals through coaching with me, I would be able to point you in the direction of some other excellent coaches and therapists. The ICF also recommend you meet with three or more coaches to “try before you buy.”
How is coaching different to other forms of support?
Professional coaching focuses on setting goals for the future, creating outcomes and managing personal change. Sometimes it’s helpful to understand coaching by distinguishing it from other personal or organisational support professions. • Therapy: Therapy deals with healing pain, dysfunction and conflict within an individual or in relationships. The focus is often on resolving difficulties arising from the past that hamper an individual’s emotional functioning in the present, improving overall psychological functioning, and dealing with the present in more emotionally healthy ways. Coaching, on the other hand, supports personal and professional growth based on self-initiated change in pursuit of specific actionable outcomes. Coaching is future-focused, and the coaching relationship emphasises action, accountability and follow-through. • Consulting: Individuals or organizations retain consultants for their expertise. While consulting approaches vary widely, the assumption is the consultant will diagnose problems and prescribe and, sometimes, implement solutions. With coaching, the assumption is that individuals or teams are capable of generating their own solutions, with the coach supplying supportive, discovery-based approaches and frameworks. • Mentoring: A mentor is an expert who provides wisdom and guidance based on his or her own experience. Mentoring may include advising, counselling and coaching. The coaching process does not include advising or counselling, and focuses instead on individuals or groups setting and reaching their own objectives. • Training: Training programs are based on objectives set out by the trainer or instructor. Though objectives are clarified in the coaching process, they are set by the individual or team being coached, with guidance provided by the coach. Training also assumes a linear learning path that coincides with an established curriculum. Coaching is less linear, without a set curriculum. *International Coaching Federation
What experience and qualifications do you have?
I worked for nearly twenty five years in education, with three years as a consultant, twelve years in senior leadership and the last five as a headteacher. In these roles I suppported and coached others - both children and adults. In this phase of my career, I coached and trained teachers, middle and senior leaders. I have a number of qualifications in leadership, including the National Professional Qualification for Headship and have attended a range of coaching courses, including instructional coaching with Paul Bambrick Santoyo. I am currently working towards the Diploma in Transformative Coaching with Animas and the ACC Accreditation with the ICF..
How would we get started with everything?
You can book a free 30 minute session with me if you are curious to find out more. Please click on the Book a Discovery Call button at the bottom of this section. Alternatively, complete the Contact Form at the bottom of the page and I will respond to you as soon as possible. I’d be very excited to meet you!
Contact
This moment
Or Leave a Message Here