My Approach
I want to help people when they are searching to rebalance their working life. I make sense of this process using the Kaleidoscope Career Model, created by Sullivan and Mainiero. It says that people's careers are shaped by three main factors, authenticity, balance and challenge. These three parameters are always present in our lives and careers but they shift in priority as we change life and career stage. If we are looking for a career transition, it often means the balance is changing or that a new factor is taking centre stage.
What is most important for you right now, and does your career need to change to reflect that?
Kaleidoscope Career Model
Sullivan, S. & Mainiero, A (2007) Kaleidoscope Careers: Benchmarking Ideas for Fostering Family-Friendly Workplaces, Organizational Dynamics, Volume 36, Issue 1, 2007, pp 45-62
Challenge
is ‘seeking stimulating work as well as career advancement’
It's not just the admin and practicalities that hold us back, it's what's going on deeper in our mind that's holding us back
Don't get me wrong, figuring out the admin is part of the struggle, but what really holds us back from change is a lack of confidence, negative thought patterns, family expectations, a fear of the unknown or confusion at what step to take next. My coaching approach brings together
Identifying these unconscious elements so that you can move past them
Using positive psychology based exercises to explore your strengths and to imagine potential futures
Navigating the possibilities and constraints of the real world
Building a plan and goals for you to work towards
Keeping you focused and accountable
Balance
is characterized by choices made to reach ‘equilibrium between work and non‐work demands’
Authenticity
is about the career choices individuals make to be ‘true to themselves’
How Does This Work In Practice?
Stage One - Working Together
Stage Two - Your Starting Point
Getting to know each other and building a relationship. Here we define how we will work together, agreeing our respective roles and responsibilities
Finding out more about where you are in your life and your thought process. Is there anything holding you back from change?
Stage Three - Where Do You Want to Go?
Stage Four - How To Get There
Working out what you want, looking at your strengths and values, and engaging with possible new scenarios
This stage is about goal setting, engaging with blockers that come up and reviewing progress so far
There are four main stages of work to my coaching model. As each client is different my approach is flexible and responsive, including revisiting stages as we go through the process.
My Coaching Philosophy And Ethics
As a coach I am committed to continuing professional development and to external supervision. Supervision means regularly talking things through with another coach, which ensures the quality, safety, and ethical standard of my coaching.
I am committed to ethical practice. It is important to acknowledge when coaching that the world is not a fair and rational place. Discrimination and inequality are real, and are not the fault of an individual. These have to be acknowledged because they have a tangible effect on our careers and our outcomes.
