COACHING FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP
WHEN SOMETHING IN YOUR WORKING LIFE NEEDS TO CHANGE
You may know that something needs to change without knowing what the next step should be. Perhaps your work no longer feels right, you are weighing up a new direction, or you have taken on responsibilities that are stretching you in unfamiliar ways. You may also be enjoying your work and want to think deliberately about where to take it next.
I can help you untangle these questions, understand what matters to you and work out how to move forward. My particular focus is career development, career change and leadership. You might recognise some of these situations:
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You want a change, but are unsure what would suit you or how to weigh the risks.
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Your interests and roles pull you in different directions, and you want a more coherent working life.
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You have stepped into a new role and are finding your own way to lead.
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You are putting off a difficult conversation or getting caught in an unhelpful pattern with a colleague.
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You find it hard to recognise your strengths or communicate what you bring.
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You are meeting other people's expectations while losing sight of your own priorities and limits.
You do not need a fully formed goal before we begin. We can start with what is troubling you, what you hope for, or the decision you keep returning to, and find a useful focus together.
"My coaching with Carlos was extremely beneficial to me as I was able to identify subconscious patterns within myself that I would not have been able to do alone."
Maria (Actor, Director, Educator)
WHAT WORKING TOGETHER IS LIKE
You will have time to think aloud without needing to make everything sound tidy or resolved. I will listen carefully, reflect back what I notice and ask questions that help you look more closely. Sometimes I will challenge an assumption or suggest another perspective. We will pay attention to whether that feels useful and to what you need from the conversation.
We will begin each session by considering what would be most useful to explore. If you bring a difficult conversation, for example, we might look at what you want to say, what makes it difficult and what you imagine the other person expects. You could try out a way of expressing yourself, consider a different response or decide what you need to understand before acting.
With a career decision, we might explore what you want to retain, what has become unsatisfying and what constraints you need to work with. Together, we can identify ways to test a possibility before making a larger commitment.
We will also consider the relationships and working conditions around you. This can help you distinguish what is yours to change, where you can influence a situation and where you may need support from others.
Towards the end of a session, we will draw together what you have understood and agree what you want to do with it. That might be a practical step, something to try or a question to keep noticing. When we meet again, we can explore what happened and adjust our approach.
"I found it very helpful indeed. I found that hearing what felt like ramblings, summarised and reflected back to be surprisingly powerful. I came away from the session with a very strong sense of what my priorities are now"
Julian (Head of Department)
WHAT YOU CAN WORK TOWARDS
We will agree what meaningful progress would look like for you. Depending on what you bring, that might mean:
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Clearer criteria for a career decision, and a realistic next step.
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Greater confidence in describing your strengths and the contribution you want to make.
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A way to approach a difficult conversation with more purpose and less avoidance.
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Leadership choices that reflect your values and the needs of the people you work with.
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Clearer boundaries and more deliberate decisions about your time and energy.
We will return to your priorities as we work, so you can assess what is changing and what still needs attention. The aim is for you to leave with insight and ways of thinking you can continue to use independently.
Coaching focuses on your development and the choices you want to make. It does not provide therapy or mental health treatment; we can discuss the scope of the work in our initial conversation.
"You helped me to see some of the situations and feelings I had in new ways and from new perspectives, kind of like zooming out with a camera to see the bigger picture. I now have clear ideas, and this week I have been a lot more proactive and fearless with it all, and generally had more energy."
Jenny (Head Teacher)
PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS
Getting started
I offer a free 30-minute consultation by phone or Zoom. We can discuss what brings you to coaching, how I work and whether we would be a good fit. We will agree the focus, format and fees before beginning paid work.
Sessions and timing
We agree the number and frequency of sessions around your needs and circumstances. Sessions are usually spaced between weekly and monthly, allowing time to reflect and try things out between conversations.
I normally coach through Zoom or by telephone. Occasional in-person sessions in Walthamstow, London, can be discussed.
Choosing the right amount of support
A series of sessions gives us time to explore an issue, act on what you discover and review how things develop. A focused conversation can also be useful for a particular decision or question. In our initial consultation, we can discuss what amount of work would be appropriate for you.
Coaching programmes
The programmes below are starting points. You do not need to choose one before getting in touch. We can discuss the support you need and the time you can realistically give to reflection and any activities between sessions.
Focused 4 hours
Four one-hour sessions.
For a particular question or challenge you want to give attention to. You might want to clarify a career decision, prepare for a difficult conversation or change a recurring pattern at work. We will explore the issue, identify something to try and use subsequent sessions to learn from what happens.
£600
Development 8 hours
An initial two-hour session, with preparatory work, followed by six one-hour sessions.
For a transition or several connected questions that need room to develop. You might be settling into a new role, returning to work or finding a more sustainable way to lead. We can revisit your choices as circumstances change, helping you put new insights into practice and work through the difficulties that arise.
£1,200
in depth 12 hours
An initial two-hour session, with preparatory work; nine one-hour sessions or six 90-minute sessions; and a one-hour follow-up session.
For a significant change of direction or a fuller exploration of what you want from your working life. We can clarify your values and strengths, explore possible directions and test options over time. As your direction becomes clearer, we can work on how you communicate your experience, approach opportunities and build professional relationships. The follow-up session gives you space to take stock after putting changes into practice.
£1,800
Individual top-up sessions are available at £150 per hour.
Arrange a free coaching consultation
If you are seeking space to reflect on your work as a coach or mentor, explore my supervision offer.
"I was able to reflect and recognise which areas I can control and those that others need to be responsible for. This was quite a breakthrough for me, thank you!"
Anon. (Head of Safeguarding)