Why Use Me?
After eight years in financial services followed by nearly ten years working for a number of media and communication companies (via six months on a beach between the two) I came to coaching officially in 2003 after reading Fiona Harrold’s book “Be Your Own Life Coach”. I realised I had been coaching informally for many years – developing staff, helping friends, being the person people would feel comfortable talking to and opening up to – often people I hardly knew.
I’d wanted a new career for a long time and knew that I’d want it to involve helping others in some practical way. I shied away from counselling as I felt it dwelt to much on the ‘whys’ at the expense of the ‘what next’ – what steps you need to take to change, move forward and improve your lot (something since echoed by clients). This is where Life Coaching comes in. Coaching focuses on the practical steps needed to move you forward to a better place by making steady incremental changes.
I undertook my initial training with the European Coaching Foundation, although any coach worth their salt knows that developing their coaching skills is an ongoing and continuous process of improvement, just like it is for my clients.
Areas I tend to specialise in are career change, business or career development, confidence issues (the biggie!), motivation (i.e., doing what you say you will do when you say you will do it).
My style of Coaching is informal, practical and down to earth – with a dose of humour. There’s no waving of crystals, navel gazing or obscure coaching jargon. I work with you to help you understand your present situation, and together we work on possible options for moving forward… then it’s time for you to act. What I call homework.
This, for me, is the crux of Coaching; offering practical assistance and support with the ultimate aim of living a happier life where you have a real sense of balance and fulfilment. Put more simply; you feel good about yourself.
