Coaching has made me braver & more ambitious!

What has led you to coaching? 

I have always believed that health and happiness are the most important things. I also believe that it’s absolutely possible to work/study and to look after your wellbeing. Work and wellbeing are not (and should not) be mutually exclusive. 

These beliefs have been challenged at times - especially during my experience as a PhD researcher. But this only strengthened my determination to help more people to work and study in ways which put health and happiness first. Coaching is a brilliant channel for this. 

How has coaching benefited your own life? 

Becoming a coach has given me a constant source of challenge, in a good way. I love having an ongoing passion project and there’s always more to learn. Coaching has also made me braver and more ambitious. I now know that I can achieve bigger things, if I break them down and get the right support. 

How did you discover The Coaching Academy?

I began searching for coach training courses and I attended The Coaching Academy’s free Introduction to Life Coaching webinar. I then attended the follow-up session webinar as I was still deciding whether to take the plunge and sign up. This really helped me to understand what The Coaching Academy's approach is all about and to see some more of the Coaching Academy trainers in action. 

How did the qualification slot in with your day-to-day life? 

I really appreciated the course being completely self-paced. I could choose whether I wanted to attend training in the evenings or at the weekend depending on my other commitments. I loved having so many opportunities to learn with other trainee coaches live on Zoom. Despite being an online, self-paced course, you always feel part of a coaching community. 

What was the most rewarding part of your Coaching journey?   

It’s amazing that from your very first coaching sessions as a trainee, you can make a real difference. One of the most rewarding pieces of feedback I got from a client was:     “Since coaching I feel like my anxieties about the future have decreased.”     It means a lot to hear that coaching has such a profound impact on someone’s outlook on life. 

What are the best resources that have helped you along your coach training journey? 

The best resource is the community of students and professional coaches linked to The Coaching Academy. I love the way that The Coaching Academy connects student coaches to each other through live training and social media. Being able to ask other coaches for their advice gives you a big confidence boost when you feel stuck. 

How are you using your coaching skills? 

I support my clients to work or study in ways which complement their wellbeing (rather than compromise it).   I offer 1-2-1 coaching as an independent coach. I also coach internally at the university where I work, and offer my services to school staff via Coaches in Kind (a community interest company established by Coaching Academy trainer, Rachael Bushby).

What is your favourite coaching tool or question to use?

I love to ask my clients: how would you spend your time if you didn’t need to work?  This gives my client permission to focus just on what they really love to do - the things which bring them happiness. Once we’ve uncovered that, we can find simple and practical ways to bring elements of their dream ‘work-free’ life into a realistic work-life routine. 

What types of feedback have you received from clients regarding the impact of your coaching on their personal or professional lives? 

My clients tell me they leave their coaching sessions feeling supported, confident, and in control. I’ve helped clients to boost their productivity, build better study habits, and learn how to break things down into achievable steps. 

What’s the biggest area in coaching you are curious about and why?   

I’m curious to see how the coaching industry will be viewed over the next 5 - 10 years. Coaching is becoming more popular. But compared to other support interventions (like counselling, mentoring, and therapy), I think fewer people are familiar with the coaching approach. I’d love to see more organisations and individuals benefit from coaching support. 

Where do you see yourself taking your coaching skills/business in the coming years?

I will continue offering 1-2-1 coaching as part of my own business. My focus is on helping individuals to work and study in ways which put health and happiness first. I’m very fortunate that the university where I work is also promoting coaching. As a member of the university’s coaching network, I will also support colleagues to find better work-wellbeing balance.

What tips would you give someone wanting to pursue a coaching career? 

Aside from practising coaching, I would recommend being coached (as the coachee). Having a coach can help you keep up momentum and motivation as you work on your coaching qualification and business. Even more than that, you will learn about the coaching experience from the client’s perspective. Notice how different coaching questions make you feel and think about what elements of your coach’s approach you’d like to implement in your own coaching. 

Thank you Rachel for sharing your inspirational journey with us!

If you are feeling inspired and would you like to have a coaching business you can run from the comfort of your own home, then do join us on our Introduction to Life Coaching webinar - choose from available dates here.     

Are you already qualified as a coach? Our wide range of coaching training events, webinars and courses will enable you to upskill in your career or grow your coaching business – you can see the booking calendar here.