General – 4PositiveGrowth

Coaching is a tool that is used to empower individuals and help them reach their goals; it is a structured conversation between the Coach (me) and the Client (you). During a coaching session your coach will walk by your side to help you to reach your ultimate goal and aspirations. They will listen to you, ask questions, find out what your challenges are and inspire you to reach that end goal.

You will be encouraged to make decisions and take responsibility for these decisions.

What coaching is not

Coaching is not about your coach giving you suggestions or advice. They are not mentoring or counselling you. If you commence a series of coaching sessions and it is deemed that coaching is not the correct support mechanism for you at this moment in time this will be discussed with you directly to find a suitable solution to support your onward journey.

How does coaching work?

Different coaches use different models to structure their sessions. A popular model is the GROW model which is an acronym for the areas explored, Goals, Reality, Options and Way forward. This model keeps you moving forward towards your goal. Your coach will be asking you questions, listening to your responses, challenging you whilst all the time remaining non-judgemental regarding the details and not offering you any advice.

How do I know if coaching is right for me?

Do you feel that currently you aren’t reaching your potential and feeling fulfilled?

Is there a gap of where you are now to where you want to be?

Do you sometimes feel you don’t have the skills, resources or confidence to get something complete?

Do you feel stuck and put off making decisions or fail to stick to those decisions you have made?

Are you ready to entertain new and fresh ideas?

Are you willing to be accountable for what you desire?

If you answer yes to any of these questions then coaching can most definitely support you to be the best that you can be.

What will happen during a typical coaching session?

Coaching is predominantly carried out over the telephone, zoom or face to face. The usual procedure is that the client will contact the coach after arranging a convenient time and date.

The duration, content and process for the coaching session is entirely flexible. We are working together to meet your needs and desired outcomes.

Typically however, you will be guided through a 6 point process:

1. Review the previous session and the actions that you completed

2. Set the goal for that session

3. Consider where you are at the present moment with this goal

4. Consider your options in meeting this goal

5. Agree on some actions

6. Summarise the session before completing the session.

Each session will be for 60 minutes unless a longer session has been agreed. The coach will manage the timing of the session and ensure you gain full value from the session.

Who else will know what has been said?

A coaching session is completely confidential. I agree and comply to the Coaching Code of Conduct which you can also access on my website. Only in extreme circumstances will this confidence be breached. This includes the intent to cause harm to yourself or others or criminal acts.

What does the coach need from me during a session?

To make sure that your time is being well spent with your coach you are expected to come to the session fully prepared and with a goal or aspiration in mind that you would like to work towards.

Preparation is very important for the coaching session so you are encouraged to spend 15 minutes prior to the session taking yourself to an environment where you will not be disturbed, with a drink and feeling refreshed to relax prior to the start of the session. You will also need to ensure that you have a pen and paper to hand and any other items that you may think will be useful such as a diary.

I want to start coaching now. What do I do?

You just need to contact me by phone or email to arrange our first session, when we will discuss your requirements in a little more depth and find out how you would like to be coached.

We will focus on talking about you and your aspirations, where you are now and, what you would like to get out of our coaching sessions. We will then agree a time and date for your first coaching session!

If you are feeling overwhelmed by emotions that are not resourceful to you, that are stopping you being at your best, take a moment to name the emotion you are feeling. This changes the brain activation levels, lowering the emotions in the amygdala and raising the prefrontal cortex.

Now that really is a very valuable piece of Emotional Intelligence wisdom for these rapidly changing and challenging times! Daniel Goleman* shared this ‘nugget’ in his recent WBECS webinar – Training the Brain: The Key to Developing EI.

The prefrontal cortex is the brain’s executive centre.

It’s the part that takes in information, understands it and responds. It’s the part of the brain that makes good decisions, strategizes and learns.

The amygdala is the brain’s trigger for emergencies and crises.

In the face of present challenges, more and more executives and leaders are finding they’re in emergency mode, in the amygdala. Also known as fight or flight mode, it captures the prefrontal cortex, fixating attention on what it thinks the emergency is, narrowing the range of choices, which causes us to make bad decisions.

Right now, it’s more important than ever for us to be able to manage our emotional ‘state’, so we can be our most resourceful self, at home and at work (one of the same for many, and that’s one of the challenges!)

According to Daniel Goleman, a recent global study found that the most important skills leaders need today are emotional intelligence, leading teams, developing people, influence, relationship management and leading change.

It’s worth noting that all of these come down to Emotional Intelligence (EI).

Working with a coach can be indispensable for developing EI and raising Self-Awareness; vital to good decision making, knowing what you’re feeling, knowing why you’re feeling it and knowing how it impacts your performance. These can help you control how you choose to respond to people, situations, your own thoughts and emotions.

Vital skills for you to be at your best, to help yourself and those around you, today and into the future.

If you’d like to work on developing your EI or raising your self-awareness or, would value coaching support for you and your team, in adjusting to the new world, I’d love to hear from you caroline@4positivegrowth.co.uk . I offer Personal Performance and Team Coaching as well as a range of online coaching sessions, to support personal growth, development and wellbeing.

Wishing you health, Caroline @4PositiveGrowth

Thanks to Daniel Goleman for sharing his insights as part of the World Business & Executive Coach Summit 2019 * Daniel Goleman has been nominated twice for the Pulitzer Prize and received the Lifetime Career Award from the American Psychological Association Award. He was named the 2011 and 2013 Top Business Guru by Accenture Institute for Strategic Change for his 1998 article “What Makes a Leader?” is one of the two most requested reprints in the history of Harvard. The Wall Street Journal named him one of the Top 10 Most Influential Business Thinkers.

What is Coaching?

Get unstuck – name the emotion

If you are feeling overwhelmed by emotions that are not resourceful to you, that are stopping you being at your best, take a moment to name the emotion you are feeling. This changes the brain activation levels, lowering the emotions in the amygdala and raising the prefrontal cortex.

The prefrontal cortex is the brain’s executive centre.

The amygdala is the brain’s trigger for emergencies and crises.

It’s worth noting that all of these come down to Emotional Intelligence (EI).

Vital skills for you to be at your best, to help yourself and those around you, today and into the future.

Contact us – Let’s talk about how we can help you

Get in touch either using the information below OR send us your details and it would be our pleasure to give you a call