I received a testimonial from a client I'm working with and I decided it would feature as content on my blog because it describes really beautifully how many people think and feel about the different stages of coaching; before they sign up, during the coaching relationship and the incredible impact coaching can have.

It was Steve's manager who first suggested that he might benefit from some coaching. Steve's job involves dealing with IT incidents in a large corporate organisation and he is often under a lot of pressure to provide answers and solutions fast.

Steve was enjoying his job but struggled to manage his stress levels and would respond to demands from other departments in a defensive manner, in full body armour, ready to fight off the situation. Feeling like this was draining and stressful.

In our first coaching session, I just let Steve talk. And he did; it was almost as if he lifted the lid on his emotional pressure cooker and he was able to share a whole stream of thoughts and feelings.

Listening to Steve and observing his body language I started to probe a little further; how did he feel when these situations happened? What would happen if he did things differently?

Slowly we started to understand why Steve reacted to certain situations in a specific way and together we discovered other ways that Steve could start to think to do things differently, opening up new neuro pathways which Steve may not have discovered by himself. 

Here is Steve's testimonial. This is why I'm a coach. This is why coaching is amazing:

"To try and describe what has taken place over recent weeks in my coaching sessions with Maria, is actually very difficult, why well I shall try and explain….

Firstly one has to get over the barrier, how can coaching work for me..?

This is a trial in itself, you have to be in a place where you’re ready to be coached, and that involves a lot of searching, trying to understand this is a great start, what do you need help in..?

Secondly you have to also get over the barriers, what if I can’t do this or what it won’t work for me…

Once again the resistance to coaching raises its objections and dances a merry dance with you, don’t listen to it!!!

Thirdly, you have to trust the coach, and this is vital without the trust you can go nowhere, the journey that you have taken up to this point has been phenomenal so well done..

What Maria does so well is to come along and guides you and your desire, your strength, your determination to see a better version of you , and does some wonderful things, it’s very simple but lost to many…

She encourages, builds, empowers facilitates, motivates you to carry on in you journey, nothing more nothing less….

It’s all you. Maria works quietly in the background guiding & helping you along life’s path…

Finally, whatever views, faith or spiritual belief that you may have, the coaching that you receive from Maria , will not comprise your belief system and may if you let it enhance it,

if you desire to do so.

It is without a shadow of doubt that I wholeheartedly recommend Maria to anyone who want coaching in any area of their life…"

If you're inspired to seek coaching from myself or someone else - GO FOR IT! What's stopping you?

Thank you Steve, for sharing your experience.