The professional development and ethical framework aspect of coaching is the main reason why I am an accredited coach via the International Coaching Federation, and since gaining my ACC credential last year, my practice has evolved.
So when I recently passed my next milestone, namely completing 200 professional coaching hours, it prompted me to take a moment to take stock and publish this update, which picks up the story of the posts I previously published on my coaching practice.
Blogging about work that is nearly always confidential is a challenge, and as a coach my role is support my client in celebrating their achievements, their progress. It is after all the client who does all the work of moving towards their goals. Being part of that journey, and it isn’t always a straight line of progress from A to B, is hugely rewarding. Working with established clients of periods of months or even years as I have now begun to do has opened up a new perspective on coaching relationship to me.
Keeping my pro bono commitment
When I first started my own business, I committed to offering 10% pro bono places for both my 1:1 coaching and courses, enabling emerging leaders to get the coaching they need or for anyone try it for the first time, absolutely free. Over the past year I have been able to keep and even slightly increased those pro bono hours, and I am committed to continuing to do so. I also publish my pricing for individual and organisations up front, so that there are no surprises.
Exploring my coaching niche
When I set out to become a coach, I had no idea who I would best like to work with, and in coach training, I pondered much about my so called “coaching niche”. Although I still struggle to narrow it down at times (because sometimes an unexpected client comes along, and they bring an interesting problem to the table), but here is how I usually describe my particular approach to executive coaching:
My clients partner with me to develop their vision of what they want to change, where to go next or what they dream of achieving. I coach executive leaders, emerging leaders, reluctant leaders, and those that haven’t yet found their way into a senior role… and those who would never call themselves a ‘leader’.3
What my clients all have in common is that they are prepared to be curious and open to exploring what’s next. They want to make a change, but maybe they are still figuring out what to do or how to get there: whether that’s a career change, growing an organisation, developing as a leader or achieving a milestone goal.
Together we identify what needs to change and then work out a plan of how to get there. As the coach, I am the trusted thinking partner with whom my clients can think through challenges and roadblocks. Creativity is at the heart of meticulously informal leadership coaching and each coaching engagement is as unique as each individual client.
Recent coaching CPD
- Coaching Ethics: updating my understanding of coaching ethics, especially as I work more with groups of leaders and within institutions.
- Workplace Wellbeing: it is really interesting to see what other coaches are doing in this space, especially on a larger scale across industry and Higher Education. Unsurprisingly AI plays a role, which I am skeptical about.
- Team Coaching: this is a relatively new area of professional coaching practice for me, as I have started to coach teams and groups and run coaching based courses over the past year.
Curious about coaching with me?
Head over to my coaching page or find out what clients say about coaching with me. I always offer some free initial sessions to help us assess whether what I can offer is a good fit for you, so get in touch to arrange a free initial chat to see how I can support you as a coach.
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