“When we met I was feeling overwhelmed by management responsibilities. I did have some reservations about the time it might take and whether it would be a waste of time; however working with you has been very pleasurable!
You helped me to think out loud on a lot of issues and through that I achieved some new insights and clarity I had never had before. I am now catching myself every time I say should or can’t! I think it is a good idea to have somebody outside of the business to talk with and bounce ideas off”
“I felt like a fog had descended that just wouldn’t lift. I was allowing my past to negatively Impact on the right here, right now and on my future. I had lost all self confidence and belief and really couldn’t see that coming back.
I couldn’t possibly have imagined the profound positive impact coaching has had in such a short space of time. It’s been amazing! I instantly warmed to you from the first moment we met and also trusted you implicitly, which allowed me to be very open and honest. I walked away from each session feeling that the load was lightening and I honestly feel better now that I have in years. This has had such a positive impact on every aspect of my life.
I have a much more positive outlook and have learnt to deal with each situation as a ‘cloud that will pass’ as opposed to before when I just saw very little positive and would wait for the next negative to surface. I am so much more self confident and so much less anxious, which in turn has made me more positive overall.
This really has changed my life for the better in so many ways. I have learnt that change begins with me, not others around me and that I have directly contributed (sub-consciously) to the impact that the various ‘clouds’ have had. I now know that it’s ok to be selfish sometimes (you can’t drink from an empty cup) and that in order to give me best, I have to look after myself and take a step back from taking the ‘parent’ role in so many of my friends and families issues. I now deal with what I have to, as and where necessary, but have taken a concerted step back and decide very carefully before jumping in with both feet! I also realise that I had a direct impact on my family and the way they were feeling – I thought I hid my anxiety well but retrospectively realise I didn’t at all!
The best bit about working with you has been getting my life back and I’m really not joking! I will never be able to thank you enough for what you’ve done. The benefits are immeasurable and I highly recommend you”
I was put forward for coaching by the organisation I work for as I had been promoted, with an increase in responsibility and supervision of two junior colleagues. I was unsure how I would benefit from the sessions but the process of working with you has been great. Informality made it easier to approach sessions and allowed me to open up a bit as I would naturally be inclined to keep things to myself.
As a result of coaching I am no longer hoarding work and I accept that people have limitations, like me, and so do not expect that they ‘should know’. No more character assassinations! I have learnt that there are areas where I need to work a little better in terms of communicating and sharing. My best bit is that I now have a different outlook and am more flexible, rather than judging on early impressions. I hold back and think before I leap! I have found the whole process open and relaxed, which meant it was easier to get over any preconceptions I may have had”
“Before we started working together my work and home life were both extremely challenging with high workloads and new skills to be mastered in an environment of seemingly constant change. I very much enjoyed our sessions together. Your client approach was thoughtful and well pitched with appropriate time for reflection and discussion provided. Your application of the tools and methodologies was insightful and rightly driven by our conversations.
I have learnt that people are ‘creative, resourceful and whole’. I love this – to me this means that I don’t have to try to fix everyone all the time and it’s ok to be ‘responsibly selfish’. I am now taking a step back from others and where I do choose to become involved my focus is now more directed on how I can help them to help themselves. I have become more self aware in terms of the who I am and what it is I value”
“I had certain situations that I needed help addressing in work – self confidence and presentation issues. My Manager also wanted me to work on my ‘poker face’ in meetings with customers. Coaching has started to highlight areas for me to work on, such as being able to prioritise workload more effectively, how situations outside of work can affect my performance, how to acknowledge my feelings bit better and ask for support when needed. I feel more in control as a result.
Before I met you I was worried that we might not get on, that I wouldn’t be able to open up about issues and was unsure if the process would be any help. I have enjoyed working with you and found it easier than I thought to talk things through. You recognised when I was struggling and easily changed tactics which I found really helpful. Thank you for persevering through my tears and resistance to certain exercises.
I am now able to speak to my line manager and colleagues more easily, ask for support and say when I am struggling to keep up. I feel a bit stronger in myself but still need to work on things highlighted as a result of coaching. I have learnt that it’s ok to cry, it’s ok to ask for help and it’s ok if things don’t go to plan. It’s not always as bad as it seems.
I have benefited from talking to someone outside of work, my circle of friends and family who has an open perspective and can highlight things from both sides, which I have found invaluable. I would like to have some further sessions as I still have quite a few things to work on”
“Due to situations at work and within my personal life I was generally very overwhelmed, angry, resentful and emotional about issues outside my control. Through coaching I have learnt that I need to communicate more, especially my expectations!
I thought coaching would be very high level theories that I could not apply to my situation. The sessions were very useful to me, as opening up is very difficult for me as an individual. You gave me some practical ideas to resolve my current issues. My listening and communicating skills have improved and I am slowing letting go and delegating jobs that have previously frustrated me.
I have learnt that I need to get back to the things I enjoy and be me again! I now realise that it is not weakness to ask for help and to not feed the drama! I have really enjoyed these sessions and the time out has provided me with the reflection I need. I am now feeling mentally stronger and looking forward to making time for myself once again”
“I felt that I was very much in a rut, had lost motivation for my job and longer term career and was struggling to see the joy in both the personal and work aspects of my life. I also had a number of aspirations in my mind that I was scared to take forward and was becoming more risk adverse.
Through coaching I have become more aware of my different mental states and the tools and techniques we have discussed have helped me to manage these more effectively. I feel that this is having a big impact on my positivity and I’m learning to see the benefits in those areas that were previously challenging.
I have found our discussions to be really though provoking. Your reflective questioning has enabled me to be more aware of what is going on for me and other people. I’ve found the different exercises, if that’s the right word, have been really useful and I’ve found myself going back to them when I get in to a position where I start to feel despondent or apprehensive about a situation. I think you judged it well when you needed to be tougher with me.
As a result of working with you I am consciously being more positive about my approach towards each day. I have done things which I haven’t done previously and would have steered clear of – these are baby steps towards my bigger ambitions. I am reflecting back on the activities we have done when I have a bit of a drop in confidence and finding these are really helpful in bringing my mind back on track, whereas previously I would have kept on going over the situation in my head.
I have learnt that I have a lot to be happy and grateful for. My opportunities taste like burger and chips when I get there! And I sometimes overthink what other people think of me. My best bit is that I’m being more conscious of my different mental states and how to deal with them. Thank you”
“Prior to my sessions with you I was lacking in confidence and not particularly positive about my future career plans. I now have a lot more confidence in myself and have set myself future goals, which I aim to achieve in the not too distant future.
I started our sessions with an open mind but I didn’t think I would have gained as much out of it as I have. The process of working with you has been very easy – you are a very approachable and open person who I found no difficulties opening up to and revealing my hang ups and woes!
I feel I am more confident in my ability to perform my current role very effectively and I now have a goal ahead of me that I am striving to achieve. I have learnt that anything is possible and I can turn a negative like ‘I can’t’ in to ‘I can’.
The best result for me was when I walked in to my session one afternoon and was literally in pieces over an exam I was taking the following week. I was so full of negativity and doubt and verging on giving up. 90 minuets later I walked out the same room with a ‘I can do this’ attitude and truly believed that I could do and I did do it! This was truly amazing and I can’t begin to tell you how much better I felt going in to that exam with a totally different attitude. I passed my exam and I want to thank you as I couldn’t have done it without your help.
I would just like to add that it was an absolute pleasure to work with you and can’t thank you enough for your help, guidance and advice and also you’re empathy. I have benefited so much from the 6 sessions and feel everyone should have them as this is such a positive approach. Life can be very hard at times for so many of us and to have the opportunity to take this ‘time out’ to look at myself and my surroundings was such an incredible experience for me”
“I had previously had 6 sessions of coaching with you and came back for an additional 3 as there were some more elements that needed working on. I found it difficult to get back in to coaching mode in the first session, however I completed all my actions and found the experience very helpful and enlightening and it has left me with some things to consider going forward.
Coaching has helped me to be ok with asking for help, to be more pro-active in prioritising my workload and taking more time at home to get things done. I have felt more in control since having coaching and have more insight in to the reasons behind how I react and interact to certain situations.
Having these additional sessions allowed me to explore some more elements from my initial coaching sessions and have provided building blocks for me to take forward”
“I was very guarded and kept my emotions to myself. When I felt under stress and pressure I would go very quiet. Now I feel confident in showing emotion and letting my team know how I am feeling. I can ask for help without feeling vulnerable.
I always had an open mind about coaching. I have found you to be able to facilitate me to look inwardly at myself and enabled me not to fear being vulnerable in the workplace as this is not a sign of weakness but of strength. I am more open with my colleagues about my feelings without fear of criticism. I am a lot happier at work and this bounces off the people I come in to contact with.
My best bit is being more aware of how my behaviour affects others within my team. You were an excellent coach and facilitator”
“Before we started to work together I was very busy with a build up of stress based on workload and the need to get everything finished and perfectly under control. I am now less stressed and more likely to take a step back and assess what needs to be done, and re-prioritise my workload. The need to feel I’ve done every little thing has lessened and I’m more willing to focus on the bigger and more important bits of work I need to do, rather than getting bogged down in emails and less important tasks.
I wasn’t really sure what to expect of coaching and I think I expected something more directive, so I was pleased that it was more focussed on introspection and considering and challenging myself on assumptions and actions. Working with you has been positive and allowed me to think about things constructively; it has definitely impacted the way I work and the importance I place on things. I feel it’s returned a balance to work and private life whilst still showing me that I enjoy the work I do.
I am better at prioritising and switching off from less important tasks in order to focus on the bigger picture. I certainly have less anxiety about not being able to respond to everything and resolve everything very quickly and it’s given me a bit more courage to let things go while I get on with other things.
I have learnt that I am motivated by pleasing people and I need to focus less on that side of things. I like to feel that I am doing a good job but I am more motivated by my own perceptions than other peoples! My best result from working with you is prioritisation and perspective. I have found it a useful experience and it gives a bit of space in the middle of the work week. It also prompts you to think about why you do things the way you do, and act how you do. I wouldn’t have done that on my own and I wouldn’t have improved”
“I was at a very low ebb in my life with some very personal problems when we met. I am now in control once more and life is more positive. You introduced some tools which helped me in my working life and personal situation enormously.
I like the way you adapted your coaching to me and my circumstances. No judgement, just lots of empathy and understanding with one or two solutions. I employ the tools you gave me – with some results. I am now ready for the challenges ahead.
I have learnt not to be so critical and I don’t feel I have to stay in control. The best benefit I have gained from working with you is calming tasks and a model to help with my future prospects. The coaching was perfect for me”
“I was lacking confidence and believed I wasn’t good enough at my role. I also put up a lot of barriers to people as I didn’t want to get hurt. I now believe I am good enough and have broadened my horizons. I have let down some of my barriers and I have noticed that people are now more willing to approach me. I am better able to deal with issues that before would have caused me to demonstrate undesirable behaviours, in a much more positive way.
Working with you has been positive and allowed me to think about things that before I did not want to address. It made me understand why I behaved the way I did. It has definitely impacted the way I work, especially when interacting with others and made me more willing to accept new challenges. I am more patient with others and willing to let new people in to my life rather than building barriers, which gave people the perception that I was unapproachable.
I have learnt that I am good enough and gained the ability to be more open to allowing people in to my life”
