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

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

The best gift you can give yourself

Hey there, I hope your Christmas was filled with fun, family, food and festive gifts!

With New Year around the corner, I’ve been reflecting on how things have changed this year. Starting the business has been a lot of fun and also a lot of work, and it has been hard sometimes to switch off.

I was scared that if I stopped working, my business would suffer.

However leaving my 9 to 5 to start a business was all about being able to live more authentically, and create more balance. So if I carried all the stress of my old life into my new one, what kind of example would that be setting for my clients? How could I coach people on creating a freedom-based business, if I then tied myself to my desk day and night?

So I gave myself the gift of time this Christmas

I’ve cut right back on social media. And checking emails. And writing newsletters (apart from this one!), and focused on seeing family, friends, and just being. 

Running your business should feel good. 

When you show up with enthusiasm, energy and genuine love for what you do, then your clients and potential clients will feel that instantly. But if you show up burned out, exhausted and resentful, they will feel that too.

Being your own boss means that you get to choose how and when you work. 

If you need a rest, then rest. And when you feel that fire in your belly again, then go for it! 

Wishing you a wonderful festive period,

Juliette xx

p.s If you’ve decided that this is the year you want to make some changes then my career coaching sessions could be for you. Click here to find out more