PurpleLine Consulting

‘If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat them as they ought to be, we help them to become what they are capable of becoming’. ~ Goethe

"A coach will keep you so focused that walking away is not an option." ~ Deepak Chopra

"Executive coaches are not for the meek. They're for people who value unambiguous feedback. All coaches have one thing in common, it's that they are ruthlessly results-oriented." ~ FAST COMPANY Magazine

“Coaching is available to all of us and is not a profession but a way of being with each other.” ~ Peter Block

Coaching helps people to transform their lives, often in a way that they have been contemplating making for a long time. There is a lot of myth and mystery about coaching. The best way to find out if it is for you is to experience it for yourself.

I asked Chris, who I’ve been coaching for 18 months and works in education, a few questions:

What has your experience of coaching with me been like?

“The coaching has become a central support in my personal and professional life. I enjoy the sessions hugely and find Hilary to be welcoming, non-judgmental and extremely helpful. I was new to coaching before meeting Hilary and I've been hugely impressed with the power that it has.”

What makes it powerful?

“The fact that you come to your own realisations, make your own progress and decide on your own next step forward. You feel ownership of the choices and decisions and actions decided upon during coaching sessions. It is also a powerful tool of reflection.”

What benefits have you gained?

“Masses! I find myself more at peace, more centred in my own life, much more happy, able to see things in perspective and to visualise my next steps. I'm more confident in my own ability to deal with whatever life throws at me and feel excited about future challenges rather than scared.”

What do you think makes the coaching relationship work for you?

“Being trusted, being listened to, being allowed to speak and be heard and not judged. I also find Hilary's openness and honesty compelling and means I can relax and open up. I feel held and supported and able to tell Hilary anything. This is important in any kind of relationship but especially in a coaching one.”

Thank you, Chris! It’s very rewarding working with you too.

I work with people face to face, by telephone and Skype. New clients are sometimes sceptical about how coaching by phone or Skype will work.

Clare, who works as an internal coach at Accenture, does most of her coaching virtually. She explains what it is like here.

And another client, Kate, says:

“The phone sessions were effective and gave improved flexibility for the meeting locations. Sometimes it is easier to think when you are not in front of others and the concern for maintaining eye contact and all the other face to face etiquettes are removed.”

My aim for International Coaching Week has been to demystify coaching. If you've got goals you want to achieve, especially if you've been harbouring them for a while and now feels like the right time to take the next step, please get in touch. We can fix a time to talk and take it from there.