Working with business leaders and coaches to grow rather than being knocked for six
Clare Norman Coaching Associates work with individuals, teams and organisations to embed new behaviours in the workplace. We also work with internal and external coaches to enable them to stay sharp and stay safe.
Our coaching philosophy:
- We (coach and thinker) are co-travellers, travelling into the unknown together, designing the map as we go, because there is no map for this person’s unique journey.
- The aim of coaching is to move the thinker beyond known thinking to new thinking.
- Therefore, curiosity is for the benefit of the thinker’s new thinking, not the coach’s understanding.
- The thinker is “creative, resourceful and whole” (Whitworth et al, 1998) and my job is to strengthen their thinking muscles, not do the thinking for them.
- We access the wisdom of multiple intelligences, not just the cerebral rational intelligence.
- We coach the person, not the problem (Franklin 2019, Reynolds 2020), meaning we focus on “who” the thinker wishes to be at an identity level, such that they can “do” things that match up to this person they wish to be, coming from a place of grounded beliefs, values and mindsets.
- To coach the person, we use a vertical (challenging old assumptions and testing new hypotheses of being) development approach rather than horizontal (building task expertise) (Petrie, 2014).
- Every coaching session is individualised to the in-the-moment needs of the thinker with whom we are working. No two session outcomes are ever the same.
- The coach’s responsibility is for the process, the thinker’s responsibility is for the outcomes.
Our coaching services include:
- helping passionate people to live their best story in times of change and in times of stability
- enabling business leaders with space and clarity to think objectively about goals and the direction of the business
- developing companies to support the necessary human transitions required for change programmes to be successful
- assisting companies to set up and manage executive coaching programmes, as part of a culture change
- supervising and mentor coaching internal and external coaches to stay sharp and stay safe.
Much of our work is virtual and we also have the great fortune of being able to offer walking coaching in the beautiful New Forest.
Transition coaching
We coach leaders through transition points, such as taking on a new leadership role with increases in scope and scale; switching organisations; being made redundant. During transitions, we help clients honour the emotional journey alongside practical considerations, recognising that meaningful change engages our full humanity—including grief, hope, and love.
Providing Transitional CoachingThe coaching conversations have enabled me to be more objective, systematic and thorough in my decision-making. As a result of coaching, the future is different because I now spend more time thinking about issues more strategically.
Leadership coaching
We help leaders reconnect with their humanity, understanding that technical expertise alone doesn't inspire teams. By leading with heart as well as head, our clients create environments where people can bring their full selves to work. We support clients in discovering and aligning with their core values, ensuring their leadership and life choices reflect what truly matters to them.
I will always remember you as the courageous voice for humanity. You inspired countless [employees] to think differently about what we and our company can be, and indeed changed us for the better.
Team coaching
Rarely does an individual operate in isolation. Team Coaching looks at what is happening between the individuals, and with other stakeholders, to ensure that the team steps up to the needs of tomorrow’s world.
When I started leading a new team, Clare helped me design and implement a team norming process. Many of my team members were very experienced and may have had concerns with a new person coming in to the lead them. Clare worked with me on a weekly basis to coach the team and to coach me on how I ran the team. Clare's approach directly contributed to my ability to get the team focused in the same direction and supporting each other. She helped me uncover some of my blind spots, enabling me to effectively lead the team.
Here's the link to an article Clare wrote about psychological safety in team coaching.
Action learning
Clare facilitates action learning sets, where leaders bring their issues for coaching from their peers. The group members learn to coach at the same time as receiving coaching. Participants also report an increase in trust between the group members, enabling more collaboration across functions. Find out more…
Really worthwhile, a rich learning experience.
My experience with the [Action Learning] programme really helped to boost my confidence in a way that couldn't be achieved in training.
Supervision and mentor coaching for Executive Coaches
Clare is a certified coach supervisor and supervises coaches to pay attention to what needs to shift in them and their clients. She also mentors coaches those applying for International Coach Federation (ICF) credentialing. Having worked as an internal coach myself, I am familiar with the ethical dilemmas facing internal and external coaches.
I am eternally grateful for the coach supervision Clare has provided me over the years. I know that because of my relationship with Clare, I am both a better coach and a better person.
Contact us to talk about your mentoring or supervision needs.
