Sarah’s area of expertise is supporting people to develop self-awareness and emotional intelligence; to connect with themselves, and inspire their teams, colleagues, and communities. She does this through one-on-one coaching, small group sessions, or workshops.
Sarah is organisationally savvy and adept at helping clients to understand inter-personal dynamics. She has strong strategic skills and an innate ability to create clarity from complex issues. She has an intuitive intellect and natural curiosity.
Sarah has a deep understanding of the human psyche and a focus on developmental coaching. This enables her to support transformational change in her clients. Her great interpersonal skills allow her to connect and create trust with genuine authenticity. She challenges people in a warm, supportive, and non-judgmental way.
Her areas of focus include navigating life and work transitions, creating resilience, defining purpose and values, finding an authentic voice, developing strategic abilities, and building stronger relationships.
Becoming an authentic leader with presence takes time. Developmental coaching focuses on building self-knowledge and adult maturity. It’s a process of deep reflection to understand ourselves. Making our strengths and values more conscious allows us to lead with greater confidence. Uncovering our hidden shadow qualities takes courage but ensures we can be more open, trust ourselves and be congruent. Coaching is a balance of working on development areas with enhancing strengths.
In the drive for delivery of outcomes it’s easy to forget
the people. To build a cohesive high performing team the leader needs to develop
the individuals and inspire the collective. Establishing clarity of vision, values,
and ways of working is essential to building trust. The team need to lean into
conflict, align behind a shared goal, and hold each other accountable. Results,
loyalty, and satisfaction will flow from getting the team dynamics right.
Responding to the call for change in our lives – new career direction, retirement or just a big shift – can frequently lead to a time of deep introspection. A questioning of the status quo, a search for more meaning and purpose, or merely a different way of being. Yet knowing where to start as we navigate towards the unknown can often be our biggest challenge.
Everyday life is entangling. It's so easy to get caught up in routines and obligations that gradually take over to set the course of your life. It may look goal-directed, but we know inside that there is no deep purpose to it. Then life starts to feel hollow, more about surviving than thriving. Coaching can support you to define your purpose and values, to bring clarity, meaning, and richness to your work and life. This podcast by Rick Hanson suggests some ideas for finding your passion and purpose.
Psychological safety is the belief that you won't be punished or humiliated
for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes. It’s about
interpersonal dynamics, and a shared sense of trust that the team is
safe for risk taking. Team members feel accepted and respected. Coaching can explore
the barriers to safety and identify ways to build a psychologically safe culture in your
team, workplace, or community. This TED talk by Amy Edmundson
explores the topic further.
Coaching is a co-creative collaborative endeavour. It is the art of asking powerful open questions which unlock the insights and growth. The underlying principle is that the client has the answers within them. The role of the coach is to challenge and create a safe space for exploration. The coach can provide an objective perspective by highlighting multiple positions for consideration. At times the coach may provide ideas and suggestions.
The overall purpose of coaching is to provide help and support for people in an increasingly competitive and pressurised world. The focus is on developing their skills, improving their performance, maximising their potential, and becoming the person they want to be.
Chartered Institute of Professional Development
Coaching is practical and forward looking. It uses an “Action learning cycle” approach. Plan – do – review. At the end of every session the client will set actions and experiments; these may involve trying out new behaviours and mindsets. We will then review learning and progress at the start of the next session. Many clients find that being held accountable for their commitments is an essential support for change.
Chemistry counts, choose a coach you feel a connection with in the first instance – the rest will unfold. Have chemistry sessions with as many coaches as you need to, until you find the one who clicks for you.
An initial session of between 90 minutes and two hours may be required. Follow up sessions will generally be 60 minutes.
Generally, a program will begin with a commitment of 5 – 6 sessions. There will be a review after the initial program, with an opportunity to re-engage for further sessions as required. Sessions are to be taken up within 6 – 9 months.
The timing of the sessions will depend on the actions that are to be taken. Generally, sessions every 3 – 4 weeks will provide the momentum and optimum support for the change to be sustainable.
Any specific information discussed, or issues raised during coaching will be strictly confidential. The coach will maintain file notes on the progress of the coaching sessions, and will ensure complete confidentiality of this information, except in rare circumstances where decreed by law or as agreed by the client for a specified purpose.
