My coaching philosophy

Our coaching conversation is intelligent, adult-to-adult, and grounded in my belief that we all have the ability and agency to change. I will help you do your best thinking. It is deep work, and certainly not for everyone. But if you are curious and courageous, enjoy the clarity that comes from understanding complexity, and have the desire to change, then we will do good work together.

In whatever context we meet, together we will explore your ambition, what success looks like for you and how you want to change and grow to achieve your potential.

We will also consider if anything is holding you back – within your own internal world, or in your relationships with others. What might you be able to introduce into your life? What do you find difficult? Which relationships need to change? Where is your impact felt the most keenly?

I am lucky, I think in systems: in connections, patterns and relationships. Those systems include our own internal processes, our patterns of relating, and our connection to others. Once we understand the impact of those connections, we can make better decisions, choose intentionally and make the radical change we seek.

This connectivity is why I choose not to promote an Executive version of my practice, call myself a Business Coach, adopt a Life Coach label, Career Coach or other ‘single problem solution’. I have studied Systems Theory and bring this approach to my coaching practice.

Also…

I am a therapist too, which means I can work at psychological depth if required and have a robust understanding of the influence emotional issues can have on achieving potential. But this is not ‘therapy-by-stealth’; I usually work with clients who have a good level of emotional strength and have a level of 'coachability' which makes them ready for the challenge that comes with working towards enduring change.

Some people have described this dual-skilled approach as ‘coaching mastery’, which I quite like.

And…

I have spent my whole professional life working with the psychology of what makes people tick; understanding behaviours, identifying patterns and challenging motivations. My corporate background is in branding & marketing, and subsequently CSR & sustainability (hence the systems lens); leading teams who worked hard, succeeded and were recognised as successful too. I bring this experience of succeeding under commercial pressure, in high-intensity, face-paced environments to my work as a coach.

Specifically…

I am an EMCC Accredited Senior Practitioner Coach with a background in Therapeutic Counselling, for which I am BACP Accredited.