Coaching

We are often faced with challenging moments in our lives, whether at work or at home. Working with a coach when making decisions, or in trying to move forward after significant changes can help you feel more empowered and to have greater confidence as you take your next steps.

Life in academia has been challenging over recent years.  In juggling a multitude of tasks, many staff have lost motivation for a job they once loved. In addition,  researchers working with academics are often on fixed term contracts which can further contribute to stress.  Coaching can be a way to  increase awareness of personal strengths,  gain insight into the things that are important to you and identify ways to  move forward  in your career with a more positive mindset.

Teams often contain considerable expertise but do not  always have clarity of purpose, a shared idea of direction or an understanding of the breadth of their potential impact.  This can mean that groups do not act synergistically and rather function as distinct individuals each with their own agenda. Team coaching can lead to higher levels of performance and motivation towards defined, shared goals. 

Individuals often take on leadership positions with a view to supporting career progression but are given little training  for key skills means that success in the role is often quite variable. A group or individual leadership coaching programme can support strategic thinking, decision-making,  conflict-management  approaches and/or delegation skills,  making the entry into leadership more enjoyable and productive.

A lack of alignment between academic staff and  line manager outcomes  often means that annual reviews provide neither insight nor effective support. Development of more effective procedures, as well as one-to-one performance coaching can facilitate motivation and outcomes.

 Returning to a job after a period of leave, especially in fields that are fast-moving, can be very daunting. A person is rarely given personal support  despite the challenges that are being faced. A short programme of coaching can support individuals during this time and prevent downturns that can sometimes impact an entire career trajectory.