Coaching: The Accidental Career Move (Feat. Mild Panic)

I have been mentoring and coaching people through my role as a leader for the best part of 15 years. Yet, it wasn’t until I embarked on my own coaching journey in 2021 that I even considered becoming a “proper” coach. Actually, I didn’t consider it at all—my coach did (thank you, Sarah Needham!).

Midway through our fifth session together, she calmly, and in hindsight rather knowingly, asked if I had ever thought about becoming a qualified coach. She saw in me the mindset and temperament for it. My initial response? A very British scoff. But by then, the seed had been planted…

Since that pivotal session, my life has shifted dramatically. I transitioned from the Aerospace sector into the Energy sector, expanded my team significantly, and celebrated many successes along the way. I gained a counselling qualification, started to mentor for the incredible charity Mentor Mums, and navigated the ever-elusive work-life balance for my family.

As a family, we’ve faced mental health challenges, particularly in the wake of challenges with my youngest child’s school following a diagnosis. We’ve weathered disruptions to “normal life”—including a home extension during the pandemic—endured soaring highs and crushing lows, and, through it all, grown closer than ever.

And now, here I am. Four years on, with more life experiences than I might have welcomed, I’m finally one month into training to be that “proper” coach.

What I’ve Learned So Far:

🌟The Good:

The learning process is completely within my comfort zone – I love diving into the content and justifying all the extra reading!
I thrive on working with people, whether it’s my fellow trainee coaches or my clients. The connections are what fuel me.

💩The Bad:

Sales and marketing – ugh. This is not my natural skill set… yet. Any hints or tips? Please send them my way! (on the back of a postcard is optional, a e-message will suffice 😋).

😬The Ugly:

I feel exposed. Vulnerable. There’s a nagging voice whispering that I could fail very publicly—and that thought is terrifying. But I’m doing it scared. Feeling the fear and stepping forward anyway. So, I invite you to come along for the ride – witness the highs, the lows, and help keep me honest.

Blog number one? Done. A promise to myself kept. Hopefully, they’ll get better from here.

Next, I’m offering a small number of individuals the opportunity to work with me as I progress through my formal coaching training. If you or someone you know would benefit from coaching, drop me a message. Let’s chat about what you need and how I might be able to support you.

Here’s to the journey! Who’s coming along with me?