“I always struggled with my courage. I believed I wasn’t courageous. You helped me to see that that was ridiculous as I’ve done lots of brave things in my life.” Context: Sophie was in the second year of building her small business. We worked together for six, one-hour coaching sessions, meeting fortnightly to identify some underlying values and beliefs that … Read More
What is coaching? A partnership… Coaching is a partnership between two people (coach and client) or between the coach and a team of people. It is a professional relationship where both parties are equal but with different roles. The partnership exists for specifically agreed and contracted purposes. It usually lasts for a finite period of time. … Read More
“We have a clearer picture of our identity and our strengths. We feel more confident about what we can offer our local communities and the new partnerships which may be formed. We can see that a process of change begins with small steps. We came away with both an action plan for the short term … Read More
Mental health is a vital part of professional health and well-being. When our working environments and practices support good mental health, we are better able to connect, function, cope, and thrive. When they don’t support good mental health, this can have a reverse impact. For a comprehensive and valuable resource designed to inspire and inform better mental health … Read More
Four thousand weeks – the average time a human being has on this planet. Life is finite. It involves choice and sacrifice. We simply cannot have it all. As the back of this thought-provoking books asks, “what if you stopped trying to do everything?” Might we actually and ironically find ourselves being more productive and … Read More
I have had an opinion piece published in Chatterbox, the Black Isle’s local magazine (named Community Newspaper of the Year in the Highlands and Islands Media Awards 2019 and 2016 no less!). I’m reflecting on the increase of community-minded thinking and action that the pandemic has brought about in our local area, and with it … Read More
If identity and purpose were a map, values would stand as signposts at the junctions of who we are and what we do. When we know what our values are, they can help us navigate, provide accountability, and give clarity to ourselves and others around us. Core values are unique to the individual, the group, or the … Read More
“Over the months I was coached, I had the invaluable opportunity to reset, take clear, purposeful actions to change my present situation, and plan for a future with financial security and holistic wellbeing in mind.” Sarah wanted some coaching to help her think about her long-term career path. A lecturer in higher education, she was … Read More
Hope changes the structures by which and around which we live. Hope is a small but mighty word. What is hope? Where does it come from? Who brings it? And how might it take practical shape in our lives? A little thought I’ve been thinking over recently is this: Figures who bring hope to others are … Read More
Darkness to light. Constriction to freedom. Moving from narrow places to wide open spaces. I run down this path sometimes and especially when I want to remind myself of some of these themes. The path itself is lovely but dark because it’s all covered by trees. It’s not that scary, just a bit dark and … Read More