From my beginnings in Liverpool Uni, focusing on developmental Psychology for my final year research and looking into the difference positive reinforcement makes to young people in an EBD school (as they were then known), I guess I have always been interested in Positive Psychology and it's tools and techniques.  My aim has always been to listen and empower. I don't know everything and the more I learn, the more I realise how little I know!

 

As a coach, this mindset has helped me to help others to find their own answers. As a coach, I listen to what is said and what is not. The best way forward is the way that a person chooses after delving into whatever may seem to be blocking their way.

 

In my early career, working with young people and mentoring, it was about developing rapport, earning trust and guiding the young person positively, while acting as an advocate for them to ensure that the unconscious bias of others was not preventing them from achieving personal growth.  This made sense as their brains were still growing, their outside influences may have been negative and there is also a sense of security and reassurance when a young person feels like you have their back and their best interests as a priority. When moving into counselling and Childline, working with the NSPCC however, I learned of the benefits of empowering young people and giving them control in a conversation and this new way of communicating involved a much more careful use of language for supporting.  Finding the right words, offering the appropriate observations and reflecting with respect and integrity can help someone feel valued and understood.  As a communication tool, this is a powerful way to work with people of any age and was probably my first taste of coaching. I knew then that there was an art to listening and responding and that all conversations benefit from careful consideration in order to be supportive.  

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My decision to train as a certified ICF coach was really to develop my skills further. There is a craft to coaching effectively and as a coach, I want to be the best that I can and make a difference.  Coaching tends to be for people who want something to change. Whether that is to aim higher, move forward, remove barriers or get out of something - it all boils down to wanting improvements. 

I am a coach and I have a coach and the benefits of being able to talk out loud, confidentially, while feeling supported and listened to, makes me feel stronger and more focused on achieving my aims. I wonder why we don't offer coaches skills to everyone! Maybe one day...