FAQs

Coaching is a partnership (defined as an alliance, not a legal business partnership) between the coach and the client. It is a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires the client to maximise personal and/or professional potential. It is designed to facilitate the development of personal, professional or business goals and to develop a strategy/plan for achieving these. The coach and client will work together to come to an agreement about the nature of the coaching focus.

As coaching can be an incredibly personal experience, regardless of your goals/objectives, it is important you pick the best coach for you. A coaching session should be your safe space. Somewhere you can be vulnerable, open and honest without fear of judgement or reprisals.

For any person interested in working with me, I encourage them to book a Chemistry Call. This is a free, 30 minute, no obligation call which is an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have and for us to get to know each other better. In this session I’ll be curious to understand more about your coaching objectives. After that, I’ll leave you to go away and have a think if you’d like us to work together. If I haven’t heard from you, I’ll follow up after about a week to check in.

There’s a wealth you can gain from coaching, some things I typically work with clients on are:

• Personal and professional development

• Managing career and/or lifestyle change 

• Building and maintaining confidence and resilience

• Leadership skills

• Self-awareness

• Personal vision and direction

To put it simply, time and value for money.

Both 60 and 90 minute sessions are effective and we will make significant progress regardless of how much time you would like to commit. However, I offer 90-minute session in response to client demand. Many people want more time to explore the issues, opportunities and/or challenges brought to a session. Many of my clients initially have 60 minute sessions and move to 90 minutes.

I have worked with a vast array of people, at different stages of their careers and lives including:

• Students/ graduates / early careers - I have worked graduate recruitment for over 3 years, recruited almost 500 graduates into graduate develop programmes and have mentored students and those in the early stages of their careers for many years. I am well versed in supporting people taking their first steps on the career ladder and the challenges that can bring 

• Senior leaders - right up to director level looking to take the next step up and those looking for a new career path across the public sector and beyond 

• Business owners - including founding directors of social enterprises managing the challenges of life alongside running and growing thriving businesses 

• Those managing a career / lifestyle change - perhaps one of the most common issues raised in coaching sessions. It is not uncommon for your career or aspects of your life to begin to feel less fulfilling. I worked with people at all levels to step back, reassess their lives and make positive, progressive steps to creating a more enjoyable life 

Typically, on alternate Mondays and on some weekday evenings to accommodate the needs of clients. However, I understand that people have differing demands on their time so, I work with each of my clients to find the best time for them which does sometimes include weekends.

This varies from coach to coach.

For all my clients, the expectation is we will have a session once every fortnight at most or at least one session a month. Having very long periods between coaching sessions can mean momentum is lost and progress is slowed. Having them too frequently can hinder progress, not giving you time to action what we have agreed. However, there is flexibility as sometimes in life, things emerge where more immediate support is needed or circumstances may mean you need some time away from coaching.

Mentoring is where a more experienced individual supports someone less experienced to develop their career. Typically, they’ll provide direct guidance, advice and, at times, instruction. The mentor will hold a position of authority and will often be available on a more ad hoc basis.

Coaching can be utilised beyond career development. Coaching is non-directive, working on the assumption that the client can find the right solution/action to achieve their goals. To aide progress, the coach will provide the client with a safe space to explore their thoughts, providing challenge and support to identify progressive actions to achieve their goals. Both parties in the coaching relationship are equals, and the relationship is more confined to sessions for an agreed period.

There are differences between coaching and therapy, so it is worth doing some research before deciding what path is best for you. If in a Chemistry Call, I feel your coaching goals are more aligned to therapy I will share this with you to ensure you get the best support.

Two key differences:

• Mental health – psychotherapists are trained to support individuals managing significant mental ill health whereas coaches, in most cases, are not. For example, if you’ve been diagnosed with severe depression or PTSD working with a therapist and/or GP may be a better option.

• Past vs future focus – generally speaking, coaching is more focused on helping you reach future goals and aspirations. This doesn’t mean there won’t be discussions about past experiences, but typically this will be in the context of how your past has contributed to your present and drawing on lessons that can be learnt. Therapy on the other hand is more focused on helping individuals process past experiences. This will often involve looking at changing self-destructive habits that may have been developed as a result of past traumas to help repair and improve relationships and work through difficult/painful feelings to create a more stable future.

I deliver all my coaching remotely as it allows me to work with people based anywhere, gives greater flexibility and, in many instances, allows for better privacy. I deliver coaching via Zoom, Teams, FaceTime, over the phone – whatever way suits remotely is fine.

This varies from person to person and can be discussed in a Chemistry Call. A big part of the coaching process is being a safe space for gentle accountability. At the end of each session, we will agree on action points which you take away and we review the outcomes in following sessions. 

Before we begin any coaching session, I will send you a coaching agreement. This outlines the roles and responsibilities of myself as the coach and you as the client. Please read this thoroughly before your coaching begins and refer to this as necessary.

Before a session begins, where possible give yourself at least 10-15 minutes to prepare and

• Get yourself a glass of water/a cup of tea

• Grab a notebook and pen so you can note down any actions/key reflections in the session

• Find somewhere quiet and comfortable to sit

• Try to clear your mind and get into a relaxed state

• Ensure your phone/laptop (depending on how we’re communicating) is fully charged/plugged in

• Pack away any distractions

• If you live with people, ensure you let them know you’re having a private conversation and wish not to be disturbed

• (where relevant) reflect on your previous session and how you have progressed the action points agreed

• Consider what you would like to get out of the session. This may involve making a note of some personal challenges/opportunities you would like to discuss 

Coming into a coaching session, calm, focused and prepared will mean you get the most out of the time.