Coaching can change the world!

Coaching has the power and potential to change the world... for the better!

Having invested hard cash, time and effort to attain the Accredited Diploma in Transformative Coaching with Animas...and made the significant decision to move on from my role in middle leadership in Education, in part to pursue this passion...I'm willing to admit there may be a bit of confirmation bias here…be patient with me though!

A key wellbeing principle I have held since I quit fine lagers, fags and "fun-times" in 2018 is that we are all responsible for our own wellbeing in the main. Exceptions are of course abundant in terms of trauma, loss, and early years adversity. For the average functioning adult with capacity, tending to ourselves and our own state of regulation is key to any level of baseline satisfaction, happiness, flourishing.

If we only look outward with wellbeing in mind, we are missing the true essence of what will keep us well. Falling into the mindset that our wellbeing at work is someone or some systems responsibility is like to be a firm blocker to feeling good and performing well in life and work, whatever that looks like for you.

Coaching is the equivalent of the age-old adage of putting on your own oxygen mask first, seeing to yourself so you can see, and in turn see to, others. I am becoming more convinced of the possibility of a utopia where toxic leadership and systems could be eroded. If everyone had access to and embraced the undiluted thinking time and space coaching can offer. Switching on the light to what is going on under the surface and unpicking what needs to be noticed, processed, and actioned for the individual greater good.

In my experience in education the rhythm of the year meant that an entire team worked past the natural point of 'rest required'. Everyone becoming tired, jaded, and short fused at the same time, leading to a self-fulfilling cycle of frustration and angst as no one is really functioning freshly with clarity of though at the end of term.

Coaching may not be able to eliminate this aspect of working in schools. Although perhaps if our major decision makers took a session to explore changes to how our school year runs…

If individuals in challenging systems at challenging times are receiving regular coaching sessions, they can develop their awareness of the patterns of these seasonal fluctuations; pacing and planning accordingly – making incremental adjustments year on year. They can flex and adapt – lean into what is possible what just isn’t. Often those nearing burnout double down their efforts, experiencing a thirst to increase their activity, movement, speeding up to sprint towards an imaginary finishing line. Increasing individual awareness around this urge/symptom through regular checking in with self can serve as an early indicator around sustainability and longevity of our own capacity.

Can we take time to notice and consider if this surge of frenetic energy is helpful? Necessary? Affecting others? Could you use coaching sessions to be your early warning signal, to shine the light on your fluctuating energy levels? To allow you to clear the path of pitfalls and make genuine progress with wellbeing, sustained energy levels, balanced approaches, and improved performance daily.

Go on…I dare you!