1:1 Coaching

In today’s environment with many calls upon our time, I notice many individuals need space to think, to unpack their thoughts, feelings and ideas. When people are given a safe space, a listening free from interruption and judgement, it is remarkable how far they go with their thinking and self-expression.

I offer coaching based upon the principles and components of a Thinking Environment. This is the context for everything I do and it requires a certain way of being with you to deeply respect and support your thinking and feeling in support of what you want to accomplish for yourself.

Consequently, I find that coaching clients move faster to the heart of their situation and discover solutions that best work for them. They progress their challenges and reclaim their own mind in thinking well for themselves with rigour, courage, imagination and grace, enabling them to lead more effectively.

In this way the coaching session becomes a safe and important leadership space – for the practice of leadership at a profoundly personal level.

What does a session look like?

To begin, we’ll check-in, confirming our purpose, context and approach. Then I’ll start by asking: What do you want to think about and what are your thoughts? In this way, you can explore the aspect of your coaching outcomes, a question or recent experience that is most important to you.

If your thinking subsides, I’ll invite any further thinking. And I’ll do that for as long as there is any – or there’s none and you tell me so.

If that happens, and there’s still time, I’ll ask what more you might want to accomplish in our coaching time. This might include:

  • Exploring a different topic.
  • Examining assumptions to remove a block on a topic already explored in depth.
  • Inviting reflections or any knowledge or experience I might have.
  • Reviewing feedback or information from a colleague, sponsor or other source.
  • An exercise or activity, for example, preparing for a difficult conversation.
  • Dialogue (thinking together) on a topic or question of your choice.

At the end, you’ll have time to wrap up and write down anything you wish. Then I’ll close by asking for your reflection on what has been most valuable and by recognising a quality I have appreciated in you as I have been listening.

To have an initial conversation to see how I might support you:

“Thinking for ourselves takes courage, discipline and practice. If we dilute that practice before we have really learned to trust it, we may hijack our independent minds for ever.”

-Trisha Lord (in Nancy Kline, The Promise That Changes Everything)