I can hear you asking, "Deirdre, I have heard about coaching over the past few years, can you tell me more about it?" 

 

I sure can, please watch this video, or read an interview with me in PORTICO Jackson Magazine.

 

Why work with a coach?

Our lives can feel fragmented in many ways. It’s as if we don’t know who we really are, or what aspects of ourselves to identify with or believe in. There are so many contradictory voices, feelings, and dictates vying for control that we become scattered in all directions. There’s no focus, no grounding, no equilibrium. To cope we often put on the proverbial blinders, plodding ahead to get through the day. We’re pretty much on autopilot.

Taking the time to step back from one’s self, and one’s mind we can bring attention to the various “to do’s", voices and feelings clamoring for attention. Clearing away the clutter becomes possible. We can make sense of all the information coming our way, silence the mental chatter and make conscious decisions. We exercise our personal agency and pair down to the actual priorities of real importance; those inline with our genuine selves and core values.

 Clearing away the "mental clutter" and focusing on key priorities, demands investing in yourself and interests to make the most of your assets, experience and quirks.  You'll live with integrity and replenish the resources necessary to care for yourself and loved ones.

Using a coach can help you create or refine your life to work in harmony with your values, passions and purpose. Coaching may address a variety of goals, including transitions in personal or professional life, stress management, specific project completion, making time for your interests, job performance and satisfaction or other aspects of your life, business or profession. You'll create a personal plan grounded in your goals, and take actions that make the most of your natural talents and creativity.

What is Coaching?

Coaching is about generative transformative change. It’s an ongoing professional relationship that enables people and organizations to feel and function at their best.  You focus on priorities, capitalize on your experience and assets, stretch your abilities to pursue to realize life's full potential.

Coaches help you to get in motion and stay on your path with the knowledge, tools and encouragement to make decisions about what changes to make, how to make them and develop strategies to maintain the changes you make. Coaches: 

•   Focus on your vision, goals, needs and values. 


•    Elicit personal motivation for change or development- if you really don’t know why it is important to you, not your husband, doctor, boss or anyone else, but you, to change something, the change won’t last or won’t happen in the first place.

•    Support you as you improve your capacity for change by working with you to increase your resilience, self-efficacy and positivity. 


•    Encourage people's strengths, abilities, creativity and inner wisdom while balancing this with critical examination of what is and is not working for you.

 

What type of coaching do you offer?

I offer Personal of Life coaching as well as Career/Business coaching for individuals, groups and organizations.

 

Personal Coaching:  Much like the athletic coach committed to taking athletes to higher levels of performance, a personal coach empowers you to achieve personal and professional goals that result in a more meaningful and fulfilling life.  Coaches help people be more efficient and productive.  In coaching we will focus on strengths what is working already as well as your key priorities and assets, clearing away the clutter to successfully move forward. Coaching may address a variety of issues, including:

• Tackling a stretch goal
• Stress management
• Taking control of your health and wellness
• Priority setting and keeping
• Creating a dynamic work-life balance
• Transitioning to a new career/job
•  Making difficult choices at personal cross-roads
• Other aspects of your life, business or career. 

 

Career and Business Coaching:
 The responsibility of a coach is to grow and develop people. Coaching is increasingly being used by organizations as part of a leadership and management development strategy. Respected as a tool to help leaders enhance their skills, it is a powerful means for people to learn and achieve their potential.  Executives and business leaders benefit from working with a coach to develop and accomplish strategic plans, enhance decision-making, handle difficult people and work situations, help meet sales goals, clarify priorities, and stick to the plan.  Do you feel that business could improve if your employees were more focused on their goals and distinguished their image from that of the competition? Coaching helps professionals reach their potential and maintain it by working through challenge areas, such as:

• Communication
• Goal Setting
• Innovation and Creativity
• Strategic Planning
• Stress Management

 

Why does coaching work? 


Coaching works because we use a strengths-based approach that focuses on where you are now and where you want to be in your life. We work as a team, to make smart decisions that support your vision, goals, needs and values.  Coaching involves two critical components: 1) reflection, an opportunity to think about and clarify one's visions, values, goals and hurdles; and 2) action, a commitment to take self defined steps to move towards one's goals.

Is coaching the same as counseling or therapy?

Coaching is not psychotherapy or clinical counseling. These are different activities and professional relationships. Coaching is not a substitute for either, but can be a complement to them, if you are engaged in either.