Personal Life Coaching
The Situation
This client’s initial assessment of her work and personal life situation indicated the priority area was to address her return to work after having her second child.
After her previous experience, she was dreading returning to work. This was affecting her enjoyment of the last two months of her leave. She was determined it would be better this time but didn’t know how to achieve that.
Friends and family had suggested she look for an alternative position. She had been headhunted by another multi-national, but my client felt this was not the right time to make such a drastic change. She wanted to spend time with her children while they were still young.
The Initial Session
She talked about the situation within the team as being ‘toxic’ and pinpointed a couple of key people at the centre of her concerns.
We looked at what actions, thoughts, behaviours were inside her circle of influence and those which lay outside. She immediately saw what she could change to put her ‘into the driving seat’ again.
It was a beautiful moment witnessing her whole body shift into this new reality. She took a deep intake of breath, let it out slowly. Her shoulders dropped, her face relaxed, and she smiled. She could see a way forward.
That was our first 60 minute coaching session online. She was based in Europe and English is her second fluent language.
The Main Sessions
Throughout the next 4 sessions, she realised what part she had played in the dynamic at work and explored different ways to be.
She focussed on building rapport with her direct boss and communicating in an adult way (face to face, virtually and in writing) to the colleagues she had referred to as ‘toxic’.
She stepped away from Karpman’s Drama Triangle and into the Empowerment Triangle.
All the preparation she had done through the coaching before she returned to work meant that, whilst still a little apprehensive, she felt prepared for dealing with the people she had been so fearful of. The actual accountancy work was easy in comparison.
Our final session took place a good while after she had returned, giving her time to put into practice the action plan she had devised as a result of the fifth session. She had re-built relations with colleagues and leaders across the organisation, automated much of her work allowing her to be more proactive and innovative within the team. Her colleagues and boss responded positively to her new approach and their communication became much cleaner and more professional.
The Resolution
Six months after her coaching had ended, this client got in touch to share the impact of the coaching. She was thrilled to report that the ‘toxic’ relationships had completely changed. She cited her consistent use of Adult Language (as described in Berne’s transactional analysis thesis) as the key factor.
Her energy levels were higher and she was more productive at work. She managed her workload and time efficiently, giving her time and energy to spend with her young family, as well as herself.
If aspects of this story resonate with you, then get in touch to see how we could improve your situation at work or at home.
A discovery call costs nothing. It could change your life for the better.
