Background
Coaching was arranged for Gemma, Head of Legal with a major British manufacturer of personal healthcare products and consumer goods. This was facilitated through our partnership with Browne Jacobson, offering the Space + Time programme.
This initiative is targeted across various business sectors including law, accountancy, professional services, public sector organisations, family business and SMEs. Throughout the programme, participants are encouraged to reflect on their performance, priorities and development needs.
Coach Selection & Chemistry Process
Following a Setting up for Success call, 10Eighty suggested some potential coaches for Gemma; the chemistry worked really well with Anna Smyth. Gemma commented:
“I knew straight away that she was the one. You don’t really know until you know, but she had a really calm and in control sort of vibe, which I aspire to.”
The Process
Gemma had no prior experience with coaching. Although she had previously worked with a mentor, she was not entirely clear on the role or purpose of a coach. She was curious and hopeful that it would be a good investment in terms of time and effort.
She did not have any preconceptions or expectations, but was curious as to whether coaching might support the development of her thinking and approach to her day-to-day work.
During their initial conversation, the 10Eighty coach, Anna, invited Gemma to identify her objectives and define what success would look like. Through discussion, Gemma was able to articulate six specific goals to focus on throughout the coaching engagement.
Anna encouraged Gemma to bring forward any topics she wished to explore, and each session provided the opportunity to revisit previous discussions, continue along the same line of thought, or shift focus to new areas. Gemma describes their work as a collaboration, both kept notes around the key themes they discussed.
The Benefits
Gemma had been concentrating on her career, without taking the time to reflect on how she was operating—her quirks and character, flaws and strengths—and found that coaching afforded her the space and time to talk about such things. That, in itself, she found really important because of what she learned about herself during the coaching process.
“What you don’t realise is that you’re operating in the dark until someone like Anna switches the light on again. I think everybody should have professional coaching.”
“There were some lightbulb moments. It’s like a metaphor of operating on autopilot, and not questioning why you do certain things, why certain things might trigger you, what you’re holding yourself back from—so that’s why I think coaching is a good investment of time.”
Gemma considered herself to be highly self-aware. The exploration into self-awareness with Anna helped her to dig into her beliefs and motivations.
The Results
With a deeper understanding of the value of self-reflection, Gemma now allocates dedicated time each week in her diary to reflect, focusing specifically on her coaching objectives. While achieving all these objectives remains a work in progress, she believes that consistent monitoring and self-reflection will accelerate her personal development and increase the likelihood of success.
Gemma reports that she is now more considered in her communication. Through coaching, her understanding of authenticity and honesty has evolved. She came to understand the importance of the style of communication and adapting that to her audience. Gemma now feels more in control of her destiny and how she represents herself.
From a business standpoint
Gemma believes that the insights gained through coaching will support her in pursuing promotion and taking on greater responsibilities. She has learned how to enhance her existing strengths—something she views as inherently valuable. She feels she now derives greater value and satisfaction from her work.
Key Learning
Gemma believes that the coaching has given her a better chance of longevity at senior level. While still making progress, she is much more aware of what needs to be done whilst maintaining authenticity.
Her manager agrees, noting that Gemma once surprised him by approaching a matter with more care. He participated in the initial tripartite and final three-way review as part of the coaching programme. While he was not particularly concerned with the specific content of the coaching sessions, his primary interest lay in ensuring that Gemma’s time was being used effectively and delivered tangible value.
Through coaching, Gemma acquired practical and robust techniques around prioritising more effectively. By exploring underlying causes and challenging some of her long-held beliefs, she feels more productive and experienced a significant boost in confidence. She now feels equipped with the tools and strategies necessary to take proactive steps in planning and progressing her career more effectively.
Conclusion
Gemma is enthusiastically engaging with her career, embracing opportunities, and setting clear objectives supported by fresh perspectives and increased self-confidence.
