Coaching journeys
Every coaching experience is unique, blending a different balance of coaching and communication techniques – from overcoming writing anxiety to building a coherent professional identity, developing a strategic narrative, or working through a complex work situation. Here, some of my clients share their coaching journeys.
Forging a career change
“I’d been in a really difficult work situation for some time and was struggling with depression. I was already having counselling and wasn’t sure if coaching would work with that, but I wanted to focus on my career using a more problem-solving, action-focused approach.
Eleanor was really supportive. She listened carefully and introduced me to some tools to help me step back from the situation to examine my options and decide on a path forward. Over time, I learnt to separate my work situation from the decision-making process so I could move forwards.
Our sessions provided welcome clarity and accelerated my progress no end. I was surprised how well it complemented my therapy. Work is still difficult but I have tools to get through it and have started studying for a career change.”
Ian Dewhurst*
Communications officer, Met Police
Building a ‘proper’ business
“As a new consultant, I’d hit the ground running without time to build a proper business and it was affecting my confidence. If a problem’s straightforward, I’ll just fix it myself but I could see I needed support to develop my approach and processes.
I wasn’t sure if coaching was the answer, but once I met Eleanor I knew we’d work well together. She gave me structure and challenge, to help keep me focused, but I could also let down my guard with her.
As soon as we started, things began to feel more contained. I started enjoying work more and as my confidence grew, I felt less competitive. What I didn’t expect was to feel more grounded generally, and to have a new perspective on what I am doing and my place in the world. Working with Eleanor was exactly what I needed.”
Serena Verdenicchi
Behaviour-centred strategist
Finding my narrative as a leader
“I contacted Eleanor looking for support as I stepped into a new CEO role. Usually I manage to reflect and work things through on my own, but I was in a complex situation with no support at work, and I realised I needed a second perspective.
I gained much more than I anticipated from our work together: support, guidance, space to talk freely and focus amidst the chaos, tools and gentle nudges to help me see things from other perspectives, and homework to embed learning.
Over time, I developed increased confidence in making decisions for myself. Through working with Eleanor, I found my voice to communicate clearly and with courage.”
Tackling low confidence and burnout
“I came to Eleanor looking to improve my performance as a communications manager. I’d been awake at night with work stress for almost a year. I felt I wasn’t performing well and my confidence was at an all-time low.
I’m not someone who usually does things like coaching, but something had to change, and I liked the idea of working with someone who understands how communications works.
It was so valuable having ringfenced time to think and reflect. Eleanor helped me examine the situation from all angles and I realised that the problem wasn’t me – it was the organisation. Communications projects had become a free-for-all and I had no support from leadership to put proper sign-off systems in place.
Eleanor helped me rediscover my confidence. This gave me a sense of purpose and motivation to change my current situation, in ways I hadn’t expected. Now I’m secure in my professionalism and clear what I need to do.”
Sunita Raj
Health communications manager