by admin | Sep 26, 2014 | Balance, Coaching
This week (Tues 23rd to be precise) saw in the Autumn Equinox – this means the day is more or less equal in terms of daylight versus night-time hours as is possible. This is the reason it’s called an “equinox”, derived from Latin, meaning “equal night”.
When I think about being equal in our day to day life, I think of creating balance. During coaching sessions with clients, we often refer to balance – either in our work life; with our social life; or inner balance. Often clients seem to seek a ‘balance’ in their life and want to work with me to achieve this. Of course, everyone’s idea of a balanced life will be different. This is the beauty of 1:1 coaching. I don’t have a set formula that I use with every client regardless of their needs and circumstances. True 1:1 coaching centres around what the client expresses they need, what level or type of balance (perfection) they wish to achieve, and what they are prepared to do; able to give up; or stop doing and so on in order to achieve this.
Coaching enables you to pause, think and reflect on what’s going well, what could be better for you with a coach there to support a client’s processing, and thought-mapping. Ultimately the client comes up with options or strategies to enable desired change. These changes are often around work/life balance issues, diet & lifestyles themes, or maintaining harmonious relationships.
When thinking about balance for you – think about what works; what makes you feel you; what is achievable; and how you can help yourself sustain it. Try answering these questions:
1) What does balance (at work or personally) mean to you?
2) What are you like when you are at your balanced best?
3) Write a list of all the things you love doing. How often do you do them? How can you do them more often?
For an informal chat about how Wellbeing Coaching can benefit you or members of your team, please get in touch.
by admin | Sep 1, 2014 | Uncategorized
As the new term starts, I’ll soon be working with a new cohort of staff from the NHS. Coaching will be on a 1:1 basis supporting staff to continue to be highly effective team members in a pressurised and changing environment. This new cohort takes my work within the NHS to over 30 members of staff now
The graduate mentoring programme with DMU continues and Ben has already registered his company, so exciting times ahead!
I’m also preparing for my ‘slot’ at a Nottingham network event in Oct, & will be attending some social events with other like-minded small business owners too.
by admin | Jul 1, 2014 | Uncategorized
I’ve now started working with Ben & Rosie – 2 graduate enterprenuers from De Montford University who are starting on the first steps towards building their own business within a robust support programme which includes coaching & mentoring from Life Matters Coaching Ltd #nextgen!
I’m very proud to have an article published this month, too! Click here for more details on The Art of Listening (once you’re on the page, scroll down to Featured Articles).
Dragon’s Den(style) – a couple of years ago I was lucky enough to be the Nottingham Group Leader on the Govt National Citizen Scheme (NCS) leading 44 young people through a transformational summer programme during July & Aug 2012. This summer’s programme in Nottingham is being led by New College Nottingham (NCN) – & I’ve been asked to be a judge in the final presentation of the young people’s social action project – v excited to be part of this great initiative again
More updates soon – keep in touch!
by admin | May 1, 2014 | Job Hunting
There are many resources, tools, networks, pieces of advice and experts that you can call upon to help your search for & securing a new career role. All have their merits, uses and place within the process, but ultimately a person’s mind-set and attitude will also contribute to the success of any career campaign. This is where working with a good coach can really springboard you onto success.
Working with a coach can support the ‘marketing of you’ – as a person seeking a new role you need to adopt a ‘marketing specialist’ role and imitate the same process as a successful marketing campaign.
Being the Marketing Specialist of You:
- Know the Product – YOU
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- What are your work values, goals, interests & skills…?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses..?
- What is the ideal future scenario…?
- Develop good ‘sales tools’: CV – Covering Letter – LinkedIn Profile
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- Use the internet to research good templates to help guide you
- Read profiles of people already working in your chosen industry, what key words do they use, what’s their past experience, what skills do they promote? What’s their USP?
- Identify your market
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- Explore career options
- What are the current trends in the market-place
- Check out potential company cultures & future directions (that are suited to you)
- Perfect Successful Job Search Strategies
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- What can your referral network provide..? Ask for help – a surprising amount of people will gladly offer their time/insight etc
- Make direct contact with the company – make yourself known
- Use the internet for extensive & relevant research
- Get your CV out there – on platforms for it to be found
- Use 3rd party agencies to search on your behalf
- Commit dedicated time & effort to it – getting a job is a full-time job, develop a new routine, think differently & reward yourself to maintain momentum
- Be creative!!!
Use a coach to identify your key skills, experience & expertise
A coach can also help you in other ways, such as:
- Developing & maintaining a high-level of (legitimate) self-confidence
- Practising your script – practise interview techniques; answering tricky questions; tailoring your CV & covering letter each time; get it wrong & then get it RIGHT
- Help you to focus on the end prize
by admin | Dec 1, 2013 | Reflection
As the end of 2013 draws ever closer, our thoughts turn to past resolutions, possibly unfulfilled aspirations, a new challenge for the new year or perhaps the on-going quest for the perfect gift or perfect party outfit.
Often in the rush to get to Christmas and then onto welcoming in the New Year we forget to look back on what we’ve achieved over the past few months. Consolidating on what we’ve done, new experiences we’ve had, new memories created and challenges overcome gives us the chance to spring forward with renewed vigour, commitment and enthusiasm for the coming months. When working with clients, reflection in many forms is a great way of getting the brain stimulated with positive energy and offers great learning points, too. Reflection can be used in career coaching when looking at your career journey, its highs and the skills you have gained along the way. It can also be used by individuals who are looking to bolster their self-esteem and find their ‘happy point’. It’s also a great team building exercise as it requires effort from each member and offers an insight into how each team member values the team and their own role in it.
The linked document is a simple start for a team reflection exercise – it can be modified to suit of course – try it with your team, big or small before the end of the year is out and see what inspiration and celebration you gain from it!
Team Reflection Exercise
