I love to see people solving their own challenges, answering their own questions and becoming more resourceful. I often see clients leave a coaching session with clarity, more energy and a focus on what is next and that is very rewarding.

I have worked with a coach, or someone similar all my career. They have helped me to achieve career goals, change direction, resolve internal struggles and build my resilience.

I read a lot! I read both fiction and non-fiction. I am particularly interested in books which increase self-awareness and self-learning and have a learnt a lot from leadership theories.

The most important aspect is to learn to be fully present with a client and to put them in the driving seat. This is much easier said than done! Quickly followed by deep listening and a belief in the capacity of people to be capable and resourceful.

Start practising your listening – it is harder than you think!

 The amazing look on a client’s face when they come to a new awareness. It lights up the room and we both know something special (and valuable) has happened. I also love that coaching helps others to help themselves. It is not about the coach having the answers, but about taking a client through that process of reflection to find their own answers. There is a wonderful satisfaction in being able to help someone find their own way forward and equip them to continue to do so. 

It has helped me become who I am today. I have been coaching clients as well as receiving coaching for the past 14 years. It has helped me shape my personal and professional life in countless ways. In that time, I transitioned careers, set up two businesses and created a name for myself in an industry I had not previously known. None of this would have been possible without coaching. 

Someone who has empathy, compassion, the desire to help others and the willingness to learn. Learning to coach is not a single event, it is a journey and the best coaches enjoy the process of learning and refining their skills on an ongoing basis. 

Get proper training! Nothing can replace solid structured training that will help you gain the specific skills required for coaching. Then practice, practice, practice and get feedback so that you can continue to refine your skills.

So many things keep me inspired and most important of all is making sure to make time for those things and the people who are inspirational. It is all too easy to get caught up with the things that cause us stress. Make time to breath in the fresh air. 

The obvious skills that make a good coach are being able to listen and ask good questions. However, it is so much more than this – keeping an open, curious mind, setting aside any belief that we have all the answers, being comfortable with ambiguity and not knowing all the details, really believing in our client’s ability to answer their own questions and find the best solutions for themselves.

I am a constant learner and believe we are all on an on-going developmental journey. I am currently completing my Masters in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology and am fascinated by how this evolving field can support people to fulfil their potential in a sustainable way.

A belief that the person has the ability to find their own path, and a willingness to walk besides them as they discover it.

Without a doubt, it is my clients’ realisation that they have found their own solution or answer or even shifted their own belief when they did not think it possible to start with! Supporting clients to get to the point when they find their own answers is truly rewarding. 

By far the most powerful support coaching has given me is finding a new way to deal with my own internal demons. Through self-discovery, support and practice, I have turned self-limiting beliefs to constructive dialogues.

Learning and growth. No coach should ever say that they have stopped learning. I learn from my clients every day and I grow as a result.

Stay curious, trust your intuition, be brave and hold your client when they step outside their comfort zone. Above all, always trust your client to find their own answers.

When I was studying to become a coach, I wanted to become the “perfect” coach. I soon realised how vain it was to be perfect when all I bring to coaching is myself. Coaching is fundamentally a human connection. If you are interested in supporting others without advising them, developing them without solving their problems, unlocking new behaviours without judging them, go for it.

As an alumni of the coach certification programme from 2017, I love leveraging my previous experience as a participant combined with my full-time coaching practice to today’s cohorts. I also love the diversity of participants in terms of background, various culture, and locations. 

Through the mentor coaching groups, I enjoy creating a safe space for coaches to practice their techniques. I see participants in each session, including myself, learn new techniques and it’s very fulfilling to see the “lightbulb moments” for both practicing coaches and coachees.