Coaching Pace with Free Coaching

It’s amazing how the right energy creates huge awareness that deepens learning. Out of the depth, my clients create new and inspired actions, resourceful solutions with authentic meaning. Sometimes space and time is needed to allow the client to go deep and search around for wisdom. Other times a fast energetic pace works better and allows the ‘sparks to fly’.

Knowing which approach to use and when is down to the skill and focus of the coach.

I am very comfortable creating deep and spacious energy for the clients. Therefore, I’ve been working on my speed and sparking energy recently.

To hone this skill I split some of my coaching sessions into 3 distinct sections, each about 20 minutes long. I’ve even challenged myself in my co-coaching sessions (coaching other coaches to practice skills and get feedback); we run a whole coaching session in just 6 minutes! This creates huge bursts of energy and clear actions! Although, it’s not something that I would do with my clients, unless for some unknown reason they request it.

What about the free coaching?

The 20-minute coaching sessions that I run are completely free and held in public spaces for anybody. Where the public can ask to be coached on anything. Providing that it’s real, meaningful and involves a move towards positive change.  

People are coached on real life problems and create real positive change. I will deepen their awareness of the real challenge they are facing. And, we will create a clear path through the transformation with specific goals (Yes, in 20 minutes!).

There’s no sales pitch or data capturing, the client takes away my notes from the session and that’s the end of it, unless of course you wish to come back for more. Which honestly would be great.

What questions do people ask a coach?

It’s interesting that we all have such unique lives and yet the questions that come up again and again are generally similar. Usually business-related questions, relationship questions, family questions, people wishing to change careers, and a lot of people looking for new creative outlets. I started to summarise the questions into:

• How do I create this change?
• This keeps me up at night, what should I do?
• What is my life purpose?
• How do I overcome this barrier?
• How do I stop listening to my negative self-talk?
• How do I make this dream come true?
• What do I need to become successful?

I’m pretty sure at least one of these questions has some resonance with you.

Where do I coach?

Anywhere really; in popular walking areas where there is a suitable bench or intimate spot to sit. It’s a pop-up basis when the weather is nice and when I have a spare day. I quite often set up along the promenade on Seaford Beach. I’m often in Rottingdean or Brighton on the undercliff path. I go to parks in Eastbourne, Lewes, Hove, Hassocks and also Hastings.

Cafes that allow me to use a suitable space can be great, sharing a coffee with people is something very close to my heart.

Offices offer me use of a meeting room where I offer free coaching to any staff that would like it.

Finally, I work with wellbeing centres who are open to holistic approaches to wellbeing, which let’s face it is 90% of them.

What’s the future for free coaching?

Let’s be honest, as I take on more paying clients and my workload increases, I will have to drop some of the free things I do. This might be the ‘off the cuff’ 20-minute coaching or the Pro Bono concession coaching, hopefully not both. Unless of course another source of revenue from free coaching reveals itself. I’ve thought about vlogging and social media presence but this doesn’t resonate much as the thought of asking ‘off the cuff’ clients to be featured online doesn’t sit well with me. I’ve also thought about a book, but this feels like a long way off for me. So for now, book me in whist it’s free!