How to get the most from working with me as your coach
It’s no secret that I am huge advocate of coaching. I’ve experienced the power of coaching as a coachee many times over my career. Having the space and support to talk through problems that were holding me back has helped me adapt and respond to some really challenging situations through the years.
Now as a qualified coach it’s a privilege to be part of my client’s journeys, to see their growth and progress in the time we’re working together. But, working with a coach doesn’t mean progress is guaranteed. You need to be willing to put in the work.
As your coach I will be here to support you, challenge you and cheer you on but let’s be really honest, when it comes down to it only you can create the change you are looking for.
If you’re thinking about working with me as your coach I want our sessions together to deliver on your hopes and expectations. With that in mind, here are my top tips for getting the most out of our coaching conversations.
Make sure I am the right coach for you
When a new client shows an interest in working with me as their coach I always suggest we meet and have a chat. That initial meeting is likely to be online and it’s a chance for us to get to know each other. In that meeting I’ll ask questions to get to know a bit about you and what you’re hoping to get from coaching.
Finding out more about you helps me get clear on what you’re looking for, and make sure that is something I can offer you. It also helps us both decide if we are a good fit for each other.
When you’re choosing a coach it is so important you choose someone you trust. Talking about ourselves can feel uncomfortable, and depending on the topic the conversations can be intense at times. Sometimes the things that are holding us back can be deeply personal.
My number one tip is to use that meeting to decide if I am the right person for you to have those conversations with. If you don’t think I am the right coach for you after that meeting I want you to say so.
Prepare for our sessions together
Coaching is all about you and helping you reach your potential. Before each session I’ll send you a preparation form to complete so you can tell me what you’d like to discuss. To give you some ideas it could be that thing on your to do list that feels too difficult to tackle right now, or finding the learning from something that hasn’t gone well. Or maybe it would help to explore what’s keeping you stuck, or to talk through the thing that keeps you awake at night.
Thinking about what you want to discuss means we focus our time on what matters most to you, and if you send that form back to me before the session I can plan how to guide the conversation towards the outcome you’re looking for.
Be open and honest
Coaching is about helping you to find your own solutions to the challenges you’re facing. It’s hugely empowering to know you have the answers within you, but it can also feel uncomfortable having your thoughts, perspectives and beliefs challenged by someone else. This is why it’s important you are working with a coach you feel comfortable with and can trust.
During our sessions together I’ll be asking questions that encourage you to look at things differently. If you’re not open and honest with yourself in our sessions it will affect the progress you make. Come into the coaching conversations with an open mind and ready to embrace the process.
Follow up on your actions
Don’t worry, I am not going to set you homework! The actions that come out of the session will be things you’ve decided you want to do or try. I always suggest setting time aside after each session to sit and plan how you’ll move those actions forward. By planning how and when you’ll follow up on your actions you’re setting yourself up for success.
Then, as you’re doing the actions be mindful of what is happening. Think about how what you’re doing is different to the way you would usually go about things. What do you notice? What has worked? What didn’t work for you? We can talk about all these things in the next session to build on what you’ve learnt and create a momentum for positive change.
Give me your feedback
As we go through the sessions let me know what is working for you and what isn’t. The coaching conversations are about you and what you need, and everyone is different. I’ll be planning and adapting my approach to the way I think will work best for you, but it helps us both if you tell me if I’m getting that right.
At the end of each session I’ll ask if there was any question or tool I used that worked particularly well for you in that moment. I’ll also regularly ask you for feedback as we go through this journey together. I promise I really do want to know how you feel about the sessions and your experience working with me so be honest.
Running a business is hard. But remember, you don’t have to do this alone.
Get in touch to find out how I can help you become the leader your business needs you to be.
As a business owner I understand how easy it can be to feel overwhelmed by your business. I know how important it is to build a team around you that can support you to bring your vision to life. You need to feel empowered to drive your business forward in a way that feels right for you and avoids burnout.
In a previous life I’ve been the leader of a large team but I have also been a trainer, a facilitator, assessor and coach, all in the leadership space. I now love drawing on my experience to help business owners who are breaking the mould in their industry and doing things differently to discover how to lead their business THEIR way.
The problem is, when you set out to do things differently there isn’t a blueprint to follow. It’s about finding a way that works for you. I provide the tools and support that enable business owners to lead themselves, their business and their team in way that feels authentic and sustainable for them.
