Myth v Truth

Coaching

I need to have a mental health illness before I should work with a coach. MYTH.

Everyone can benefit from coaching, whether it be a student at school, a CEO of a multi-million-pound corporation, an employee of a small business, a parent looking for support, an individual who wants to increase their wellbeing or is looking for a change in career. Coaching can accelerate success! Many top performers from professional athletes to CEO’s all work with coaches to help them continue to make improvements in their life and career.

Coaching is different from counselling. TRUTH.

Counselling is a therapy that tends to focus on the past and can uncover potentially traumatic emotional issues that the counsellor will help you through.

Coaching, on the other hand, is very much future-orientated and is a solution-focused approach on the here and now, compared to focusing on problems from the past. Coaching helps individuals move from where they are, to where they want to be, in a motivating, safe and enjoyable process where results can be transformational!

I don’t need to make decisions, my coach will tell me what to do. MYTH

In the coaching conversation, a coach will never tell you what to do. A coach is there to support you with the decisions you want to make. By actively listening and asking powerful questions at the right moment a coach aims to help you create awareness of what you want and what you want to achieve. A coach will help keep you accountable to the decisions and actions you decide to take, you are empowered to take control of the direction of the coaching conversation and what you want to achieve out of each session.

Coaching is confidential. TRUTH.

A coach keeps the coaching conversation confidential. An agreement on confidentiality is made with the coachee before the coaching starts to ensure that everyone that may be involved in the coaching relationship, whether that be parents, sponsors, line managers or stakeholders are aware of what can and cannot be shared. For safeguarding, the only time a coach may have to pass on information is if the coachee shares something that could seriously harm or endanger themselves or others.

Coaching is worth the investment. TRUTH

Coaching can be truly transformational. Whether you are a student aiming to achieve their grades for further education, a parent looking for a better work/life balance or a manager looking to progress to the next level in their career, the personal results from coaching are in itself worth the investment. Many people who experience coaching come away with a new sense of confidence, motivation and resilience to cope with life’s challenges. For companies, coaching can enhance employee’s wellbeing reducing presenteeism and absenteeism, saving thousands. The cost of coaching is only a fraction of the return on investment you will see in yourself or your business.

I need to receive coaching in person. MYTH

Coaching is actually very successful online. Our lives are very busy and it can be time-consuming trying to fit in coaching appointments at work, after school, or when you have a childminder available. In-person coaching is great but if this is not possible, coaching sessions can take place through various technologies online and you can sit in the comfort of your own home!

Wellbeing & Positive Psychology

You can't improve your happiness and wellbeing, it depends on your circumstances and your environment. MYTH.

Although 50% of our happiness set point comes down to our biological genes, only 10% of our happiness is affected by our circumstances and our environment. This means we have control over 40%. We are able to positively impact our wellbeing by our attitude and the intentional activities we choose to undertake. Coaching and our wellbeing workshops can help you to identify the intentional activities we can do to increase our own wellbeing and the wellbeing of those around us.

Positive Psychology is about trying to be happy all the time. MYTH

Life is full of ups and downs, positive psychology focuses on how we can increase our wellbeing to live our best life, however it does not ignore adversity, uncomfortable emotions or challenges we face day to day. What positive psychology does is help us learn how to increase our wellbeing, but also learn the tools and strategies to build our resilience in order to deal with the adversity and challenges we face, so we can bounce back and grow and develop from those experiences.

Positive Psychology Interventions are backed by research and evidence. TRUTH

Positive Psychology explores the science behind wellbeing and there are many research studies which have shown to make a huge difference to individuals personally, within a school setting and across organisations and businesses. Positive Psychology interventions have shown to increase wellbeing, academic achievement, improve relationships, engagement and satisfaction at work, which in turn improves productivity, reduces presenteeism and absenteeism which costs the economy billions. The investment in wellbeing for yourself, school, business has a return on investment x 4.