TAKE Amsterdam - Career Coaching - Life & Business Coaching

“What kind of conversations do I feel I will I be able to have with this person?”

…would be one of the most important things I’d be asking myself when looking for a coach.

Most coaches are trained to use a range of tools and worksheets and models, but you can’t train intuition, instinct, timing, or the click or the feeling you get when you know that you’ll be able to scratch under the surface and have some honest and confronting coaching conversations.

That kind of coaching work requires capacity to hold discomfort or uncertainty. They require that the coach doesn’t jump in to rescue mode or ‘let me give you advice’ mode. They require that a coach can intuitively feel in to when to hold back and when to share something about themselves…. and do it in a way that keeps it in service of the client and the coaching, instead of taking the narrative or power away from the client.

If you sense a coach can do that, that’s when you might get the sense that you’re going to be able to have some deeper, more mind-opening, challenging conversations that support more sustainable change to happen.

I loved this art work at the this weekend. It made me think about how we and life are always ongoing, and also how much I care about weaving that humanness in to my coaching work.

I’m not a coach who holds space like I have the answers. I can be resistant to showing up like an expert, tentative in assuming that I know what you’re thinking, and when sharing my own perspective will firmly put it back on the table for you to take & make what you make of it.

It’s not for everyone, but I maintain my belief in this as a conscious and intentional approach. And the clients who feel satisfied working with me feed back that they are grateful for my commitment to holding space where they can take back ownership of their feelings, thoughts, sense of self, perspectives, life and work (even if some wish I could give them the keys to a simple bish bash bosh coaching journey to easy clarity and solutions!)

This approach is based partly on
📚 my training, supervision and evolving reflection research and understanding of how coaching works and what makes it effective & sustainable, and
🌀partly from instinct and personal experience (along the theory that who you are is how you coach).

If you’re more interested in working with a coach who can create space that honours the courage and compassion required to accept that we are all works of progress, rather than performers that can be fixed, supercharged and optimised… You know where to find me - say hello! 👋

When I was thinking about creating a leadership gathering and concept for it, there were a few things that felt important:

🫧1- I wanted it to give off a feeling of lightness, imagination, and deep reflection because that’s the vibe I want to (co)create

🍃2- I wanted it to feel like going on a big walk through nature with people you can have a proper good honest chat with, be a supportive witness to each others stories experiences and perspectives, and not ‘give them advice’, but think along with them, coax their eyes open to other ways of seeing, and trust them to take whatever next steps feel right

🏵️3 - I wanted the magic to be in the communal element of it - a bringing together of thoughtful people who are also exploring and redefining what leadership can be and where it can show up (not just what is the stereotypical narrative, or the expected)

I loved the name The Skylight because I could really see myself sitting in a cosy space with likeminded people, and looking up out of a big sky window, searching, reflecting and considering other perspectives in the changing sky above. Some clouds moving energetically fast and some calm and slow. Some parts grey and heavy, some parts clear and bright sky. Reminding me that the world continues on, and there’s always time to look up and reflect on the bigger picture to find ideas and movement again. And this is how I remember many quiet moments and conversations with some of my closet friends that helped me appreciate myself and keep moving forwards.

So, if this does something warm, fuzzy, exciting or fortifying to you, come and join us for the first Skylight Gathering on Wed 3rd June! Tickets on Eventbrite via link in bio.

Whether you’re running your own business, teaching, collaborating, creating, working for an employer, trying to do things a bit different… you’re in the business of leadership, and you’re all welcome here!

The Skylight is a reflective space where we imagine, challenge, stretch and learn to embody what our versions of leadership are and can be.

We illuminate it and hash it out with and in front of others to help you recognise it, own it and embody it.

Thoughtfully questioning and loosening the hold that cultural norms and narratives about ‘good’ leadership have on you, and rewriting it for your own wants, needs, wellbeing, services and goals.

All the time, being held in a coach-guided space, with dedicated time to reflect internally, intimately discuss, and then open up perspective with the group.

-> JOIN US one month at a time or subscribe for 6 months.

Founders, leaders, freelancers, creators, employees, practioners… you’re all welcome here.

Carving out time to reflect on what your version of leadership is and how you continue to evolve.

Exposing it and hashing it out with and in front of others to help you recognise it, own it and embody it.

Loosening the hold that cultural norms and narratives about ‘good’ leadership have on you, and rewriting it for your own wants, needs, wellbeing, services and goals.

All the time, being held in a coach-guided space, with dedicated time to reflect internally, intimately discuss, and then open up perspective with the group.

-> JOIN US one month at a time or subscribe for 6 months.

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