So what exactly is coaching anyway?

If you’ve never experienced coaching before, then you might still be a bit baffled as to how it works and who can benefit from it. So I thought this week I would go back to basics and cover a few of the most common FAQ’s I get asked…

So what exactly is coaching?

Well coaching is all about helping you get to where you want to be in life. It's about setting and achieving goals, navigating life changes and learning how to thrive not just survive.

A coach is in a unique position, because unlike friends and family, they have no agenda. They can offer completely un-judgemental support of any action steps you may decide to make, as well as the occasional reality check as needed along the way!

Coaching sessions are dedicated time for you, to explore your thoughts, dreams, challenges and goals, and are a wonderful investment in yourself and your future.

How long does it take? 

Coaching is a process. Think of it like a gym for the mind. You wouldn’t expect to be able to run a marathon after going for one run? You’ll be learning new ways of thinking and behaving, so allow some time to practice these and be patient with yourself. I usually work with clients weekly or fortnightly for about 6 sessions, and then they book top up sessions as and when needed.

What issues can coaching help with?

All sorts of things! Romantic relationships, divorce, family relationships, parenting, stress, burnout, recovery from depression, money, career change, leadership, retirement, redundancy, starting a business, growing a business, health, sports, fitness, spirituality…

My own particular speciality is that I’m a Mindset Coach and I help women find clarity and confidence in their careers and businesses.

What happens during a coaching session?

Well every coach will have been trained in a certain approach and have their own techniques, but my sessions last 45mins take place over the phone or via Skype.

Your coach will ask you questions to help you to clarify what it is you really want out of life, areas where you’ve been unhappy, and work out how to move forward. A coach will create a safe, confidential space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings, and you will never be pushed or forced into making any decisions.

However a coach may sometimes gently challenge you or encourage you to reflect on negative patterns of behaviour, and help you explore how to make positive changes in the future and stick to your goals.

How is coaching different from counselling?

Counselling is an incredibly helpful process if you are experiencing mental heath issues and struggling day to day. It's really important that you reach out to your GP or a qualified counsellor if you are feeling overwhelmed, and in fact counselling and coaching can work very effectively side by side. 

How do I find the right coach for me?

You can search online locally or ask for word of mouth recommendations. There is also the Life Coach Directory (which I belong to) which only lists professionally accredited and approved coaches and has plenty of helpful guides and articles to help you find the right coach for you. 

So I hope that was helpful and provided a bit more insight into the wonderful world of coaching. Got more questions? Did I miss something? Then drop me a line, I could talk about this stuff all day long!

Speak to you soon,
Juliette xx

Resilience: Your 'secret weapon' in tough times

Man the workplace is a TOUGH place to be these days.

Back when I was still in my 9 to 5 in advertising, I remember only too clearly the constant pressure, shifting deadlines, and heavy workload that frequently pushed me beyond "mmm isn’t this exciting" stress, to "OMG I don’t know if I can cope" stress.

And I hear similar stories from my clients all the time, about how they are desperate to escape and find some balance, whether that’s in a new role or as their own boss. 

Although entrepreneurship isn’t exactly a cakewalk either. You have to constantly step out of your comfort zone, and get used to living with uncertainty. 

Which is why I was so glad to come across the topic of ‘Resilience’ during my studies in positive psychology. It’s a bit of a buzzword at the moment, and turns out to be the perfect antidote to modern day work and life stress. 

So what exactly is resilience?

In nutshell, resilience is our capacity to cope with, be strengthened by, and recover from difficult times. You may think that resilience is something that we are either born with or we’re not, but that’s not the case at all. We can all develop a resilient mindset, if we are given the right knowledge and tools.

Resilience is something we do, rather than something we have.

Another advantage of becoming more resilient, is that it allows you to not only bounce back from tough times, but actually bounce forward into something even better. 

This is especially important when it comes to handling failure. It could be that your proposal was rejected at work, or you were turned down for that promotion, or you lost a client, or didn’t get that grant you applied for. Or maybe you’re having a tough time in your personal life, and that is having a big impact on your work.

Any of these events can lead to to self-doubt, anxiety, burnout and depression. Which is why learning strategies to handle failure is so important, so that instead of spiralling downwards, we can learn from the experience, maintain a positive outlook, and move forward.

Here are three tips to get you started on the road to greater resilience:

1. Look for lessons learned. You’re in good company, as there are plenty of famous people who failed many times before they finally got it right. Think of Thomas Edison who made 1000 unsuccessful attempts before inventing the lightbulb. Hunt the good stuff. Ask yourself, "where can I improve here? What will I not repeat next time?".

2. Remember your strengths. This isn’t about being overconfident or arrogant. It’s about remembering what you ARE good at, rather than focusing on your perceived weaknesses. Lean on those strengths, and leverage them as often as possible, to get you through rough spots.

3. Gain strength from others. Make sure you have a great team around you, who believe in you. Whether it’s colleagues, mentors, friends or family, it’s crucial for your resilience that you have those people in your life who are there to catch you when you fall, and help you get back up again.  

Everyone can become more resilient. It’s about choosing a more optimistic mindset, and learning to turn any setbacks in life to your advantage. 

Speak to you soon,
Juliette xx

p.s Struggling with stress or burnout? Feeling lost, stuck or just unmotivated? Then book an introductory 45min coaching session with me for just £97, and get some support and accountability to help you figure out your next steps. 

What's your word for 2018?

I’ve seen a few of these ‘word of the year’ posts doing the rounds on Twitter, and it got me thinking… 

If you could choose a word or theme for 2018, what would it be? 

For me, it bubbled up pretty quickly: SIMPLIFY

Why? Well my last blog post explained why 2017 was my ‘annus horribilis’ (and thank you for all the kind comments and messages, the support was incredibly touching).

And that was just on a personal level. World events in general in 2017 were also frequently shocking, overwhelming, and bewildering for us all.

So in 2018, I’ve decided to focus on what feels good. On calm. On authenticity. On connection. And on simplicity. 

How does that translate into business? Well in the online world, there’s a lot of talk about the ‘right’ way to start and grow your business. Use certain tactics, hit certain targets, and a six figure income will be yours in a matter of months!

But for me, it hasn’t worked that way. Growth has been slow and steady, based on making genuine connections, and on learning and correcting as I go along. 

Yes there are definitely certain systems and structures that you can put in place to make growing your business a bit easier, and the ones that have worked for me are the ones I teach my clients. But I’ve tried others and they didn’t work. At least not for me.

So I’m going to trust my instincts more this year. Trust myself more. And trust that things will unfold exactly as they’re meant to.

In practical terms that looks like:

• Not planning too far ahead. 90 day goals are plenty and allow flexibility. Any longer feels overwhelming. 
• Creating a calm, realistic marketing schedule and not giving in to the “OMG I have to post on social media every single day otherwise my business will collapse!” fear. 
• Offering genuine value with all my content that feels good to share i.e does it pass the ‘would I want to receive/watch/read this?’ test. 
• Letting go of the outcome. There are 7 billion people in the world. Not everyone will be my perfect client. The right clients will find me at the right time.

So what’s your word for the year? And how does that translate into your life, career or business? What will you be doing more of (or less of?). I’d love to know.

Speak soon,
Juliette xx