How it works

Coaching

Every coaching relationship starts with a conversation.  Whether you’re looking for coaching personally or for one of your team members, we’ll have an initial meeting to explore the coaching aims and objectives, what kind of support is needed and most importantly whether you or the coachee are comfortable working with me.

Trust is at the centre of a coaching relationship and therefore taking time to build trust and get to know how to work together are integral to it’s success.

Once we’re happy to progress things we’ll agree:

• Coaching aims, objectives and desired outcomes
• How to work together and our ‘contract’ to one another
• Who needs to be involved in initial meetings – coaching sponsors (HR, People Development, sponsoring partners etc)
• Number of sessions
• Type of support needed
• Regularity of sessions
• Venue (face to face or via Skype/VTC)
• Confidentiality etc

Although I prefer to work face to face, I’ve provided both coaching and training via VTC in the USA, Australia, Brazil and the Netherlands.

Difference between coaching and mentoring

I work across the Spectrum of Coaching providing both ‘non-directive’ executive coaching and more ‘directive’ communication skills mentoring.

Non-directive coaching

Coaching is essentially a ‘conversation with purpose’ following the coachees agenda, which is the most powerful form of coaching.  The core premise in coaching is that the coachee has all the answers and therefore rather than telling them what to do, my job is to help them make good decision and explore choices or options that will support them in achieving their goals.

It’s described as transformational as the coachee ‘owns’ the changes they choose to make and these can be life changing.

Mentoring

Mentoring is more ‘directive’ and therefore involves giving advice, sharing experience and expertise.  I put on my ‘mentoring hat’ when developing a client’s communication skills, improving their presenting, pitching etc.  When in mentoring territory I give advice and feedback, share my experience, provide toolkits and use role-play, presenting and general exercises exploring the power of tone and body language to help people develop and flex their communication style.  I may also film clients to both map their progress and give them a chance to feedback on their own performance.

During coaching sessions I may move across this ‘spectrum’ depending on the coaching need and how the client would like me to support them.  I will often start in coaching territory and then move into mentoring as the relationship develops and the coaching changes.

Training

When creating or providing bespoke training, I work in partnership with HR and training departments to devise work that reflects their specific client needs and culture.   Several courses are transferrable and work in any industry or sector, for example ‘Presentation Skills’ or ‘Having Greater Influence and Impact’, so we don’t need to start from scratch every time and this makes it more cost effective.

Clients

I work by word of mouth and recommendation, have had long relationships with my clients and know them very well.  Current clients include BDO LLP who I’ve worked with for over 10 years, BMT Group Ltd (worldwide) a client of 8 years, RBC, Aviva plc, Liquidnet, Chariot Oil and Gas Ltd as well as some private clients.