Category: Becoming-a-Coach

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The Power of Vulnerability

BabyDo you feel you are enough?

Sometimes, as we are busy coaching to improve performance, meet goals and help our clients achieve more, we can find that another very different question rises to the surface.   It’s not about hard goals and outcomes and can be tricky to pin down; it’s  question that arises in a tentative, hesitant, almost faltering way, it goes something like this:  “Given there is always ‘more’ that I can ‘go for’, where do I find a sense of enough?  A sense that who I am  is enough?” Continue reading “The Power of Vulnerability”

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How to Choose a Coach

Paint Swatches

The other day a friend was quizzing me about coaching and how to go about hiring a coach.  It’s a big investment of time, energy and money and going about finding the right coach can be a daunting prospect. How can you maximize your chances of getting it right? What kinds of questions to ask? What to look for? How to ensure a good ‘fit’?

Here are a few suggestions: Continue reading “How to Choose a Coach”

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Coaching Through Organisational Change

bomb

Recently, one of my clients described her leadership role as working in a minefield. She pictured herself in potentially hostile territory, without a map, not knowing if a bomb was inches away. A powerful image of turbulent organisational life; with economic uncertainty, rapidly changing technology, globalisation, restructuring, downsizing and good old fashioned acquisitions and mergers. All contributing to unpredictable, potentially explosive working environments, places where hidden explosives of depression, anxiety and stress can blow your life apart.

Continue reading “Coaching Through Organisational Change”

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International Stoic Week: 25th Nov – 1st Dec

Emperor Marcus AureliusDid you know we’re in the middle of International Stoic Week at the moment?

No, well I wouldn’t have either if I hadn’t received an invitation to a workshop at the University of Exeter about how Ancient Philosophical Ethics could contribute to Modern Business a few weeks back.

I spent a fascinating couple of hours learning about Stoicism; the 2000 year old philosophy as way of life which encouraged resilience, flourishing in relationships and contributing to the common good. Continue reading “International Stoic Week: 25th Nov – 1st Dec”

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Stop; Breathe;Take Stock

busy shutterstock_40161490Many thanks to Irene Brankin, one of the Wise Goose Team, for this guest post where she shares some thoughts about the stress, pressure and general busyness of life and talks about the theme of  her next book. Irene will be speaking at the Coaching Connect event on October 11th.

We’re all so busy ‘chasing our tails’ these days especially with social media, and all the new technology that is coming out. We’re being told how much we need these things and how they are different from what we’ve got – if we use them in the first place! All pressure and more pressure. Continue reading “Stop; Breathe;Take Stock”

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Pioneering Coaching in Schools

Girls in Human PyramidMany thanks to Liz Scott, one of the Wise Goose Team,  for this inspiring guest post where she shares her pioneering work in bringing coaching into schools…

It was very nerve-wracking. Here I was, in front of a group of 45 pupils, (aged 9-10 years old) and I had to entertain them for the next hour.  I was in a primary school pioneering a coaching skills programme with children.  Continue reading “Pioneering Coaching in Schools”

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Employee engagement – seven tips for success

shutterstock_97495052Organisations need people who are engaged and motivated; especially during an economic downturn.

Many studies show that engaged employees are good for organisations. According to the Corporate Leadership Council, employees with lower engagement levels are four times more likely to leave their jobs. Engaged employees are also more productive and contribute more to profits. Studies found that the organizations with highly engaged employees achieved twice the annual net income of organizations with less engagement. Continue reading “Employee engagement – seven tips for success”

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Start with listening – give the gift of attention

Gifts I love Christmas and the giving and receiving of gifts, but Christmas is over now and I’ve been thinking about a gift we can give all through the year – the gift of attention.

Most of us think we are good listeners (especially coaches, mentors and therapists), but a study into what makes good communication shows that professionals allow their clients on average only twenty seconds before intervention. Continue reading “Start with listening – give the gift of attention”