How training to become a coach shaped my next chapter

I came across The Coaching Academy when I was at a real crossroads in my life.

In my mid-50s I took the opportunity to leave a secure well-paid job that I no longer enjoyed.

I wanted to use my existing business advisory, leadership, training and development skills but in a different way, and The Coaching Academy was offering a free Introduction to Life Coaching taster event to find out about life coaching. Attending it, three months prior to my leaving date, was a real turning point - it was such an inspirational experience.

The coaches were enthusiastic, positive but also realistic about what working through a coaching qualification with The Coaching Academy would mean.

The strategies used during the introductory event left everyone that was truly interested in moving forward with a set of goals and next steps in their own lives to put a plan in place. For me it was just the motivation that I needed to 'go it alone' and to get my own business development underway and at the same time to consider how the additional skills acquired from completing a coaching qualification could truly complement my business offer.

The timing was perfect. I enrolled on The Coaching Academy's Life Coaching Diploma programme, I researched consultancy work, considered the competition and secured a website designer/account manager. I started work on content including my business offers in my field (which at that time was childcare and education development and all associated areas). I also started contacting those I knew working in the sector to ascertain where the gaps in support available for them were so that I could look to fill them when I became available.

Taking the leap in my fifties

I left my secure job with most of the work completed for starting my business, took a much-needed extended holiday and hit the ground running on my return.

I had a clear timeline for the next steps with the aim of securing work.

I had set my own goals and actions for my return - all triggered by what I had gained from the introductory event and starting my coaching qualification.

Since my training and now going into my tenth year of running my business, I can say it has been a success.

Qualifying as a coach in 2017 and then being awarded for my work carried out in those early days with 'Coaching within Education' (2018) had the biggest impact. Both helped me to secure my biggest contract of work for a national childcare charity that at that time had secured a contract of work with a local authority BUT they needed a qualified coach that also knew the nuances of working within the sector. I had both. 

I am proud to be able to say that as an independent operator having tendered for the contract, I secured a six-month contract working with Early Years nursery managers and professionals to help them to develop support networks across their county in their immediate localities.

Coaching junior leaders to find their voice

What I enjoy most about my work is seeing others develop and achieve their personal and professional goals, making progress and most importantly growing in confidence.

A lot of the work I now do is coaching junior managers to help develop their leadership and management skills with a particular focus on 'soft skills' which I believe go together. Running workshops and peer support groups and being able to pass on the powerful use of open-ended questioning - for use in conflict situations, having difficult conversations and enabling junior and inexperienced staff to simply open conversations. To help them to also see and understand the importance of active listening, making eye contact, using clear, direct language and to support them in developing their own coaching skills to strengthen their teams' overall ability.

I constantly evaluate my work, encouraging leaders of organisations to also seek feedback from their staff so that my interventions, training and coaching can be adapted to give clients more control of their learning and so that it is 'fit for purpose' and that the aims and objectives of the business are met - using a coaching approach.

Caring for mum, and coaching myself through it

In more recent times alongside running my business, I also became the carer for my mum who had Alzheimer's disease. This was probably the biggest challenge in my life. Amazingly, I could see how much my coaching journey helped me with mum's care and looking after myself.

Setting SMART goals (with some flexibility!) was so useful as well as all the additional skills that a coach acquires over time; retaining a positive mindset, enabling clients to take full ownership, strategies for diminishing negativity, having a 'can do' attitude, showing gratitude, encouraging, reflecting - too many to mention.

The next chapter

My mum passed away in 2022 and I knew I wanted to continue with my work outside of caring for mum. As well as leadership and management training/coaching a lot of which is focussed on confidence building for individuals, I work with people that require help and companionship in their own homes. Often, they are struggling to live their lives to the full, something that I feel very passionate about. These are two very different roles but both so very rewarding because by using my coaching skills I feel that I can make a difference to people's lives, help them to find confidence to do new things or to do the things they once did but perhaps differently. I am so grateful for all that my training has given me and to be able to say that I am a coach. I am sure that I will continue to use these skills throughout the rest of my life and will enjoy doing so!

Thank you Debra for sharing your coaching journey and the impact becoming a coach has had on your life.