In my Executive Coaching practice a common theme is discomfort with ‘self-promotion’.  Clients tell me they are working hard, doing a great job but are being passed over for promotion or exciting projects, not getting the recognition or reward they feel they deserve.  I ask “How do others know you’re doing a great job?” at which point there is hesitation “Er..my results speak for themselves” or “Um..I’d expect them to notice how hard I work”.  The real pushback comes when I re-phrase the question as “How do you tell others you’re doing a great job?”; instant response “I couldn’t do that – that’s boasting/ bragging/ showing off”.

In reality, finding a way of ensuring that others clearly see the value you bring, and your potential to contribute more, is essential to professional progression.  So I work with these clients to identify ways which feel comfortable to them to ‘own and promote’ their value.

Now, I need to take my own advice!  I plan to continue to grow my coaching business and I’d love new clients in 2024.  So I need people to know that I am an excellent coach who empowers clients to be the best they can be; I want people to choose me to coach them or members of their team.  One way I feel comfortable ‘owning and promoting’ my value as a coach is to ask clients to allow me to share with others their positive experience of working with me.  So here are the words of a recent client, an Account Director at an advertising and marketing agency; the agency engaged me as coach to support the coachee make a success of their increasingly senior leadership role.

“Irene and I worked together throughout 2023 exploring my leadership style and the barriers and opportunities in my career. From the first session, Irene worked to develop a really strong, trusted relationship with me so that each session was not only productive, but also fun and comfortable. We explored many different topics and would define tactics and strategies to work through challenges, reflecting each session on what was working and what wasn’t. Over the course of the year I learned so much more about myself, my values and my drivers. I developed a new level of confidence that really helped me grow as a leader and had a positive effect not just on my own career progression, but on my team and those around me. I learned new strategies to overcome challenges and tactics to handle difficult situations. Truly a beneficial experience and highly recommend to anyone looking to take the next step in their career, or simply enjoy their work more.”

If you believe that you or a member of your team would benefit from such a coaching experience please do get in touch.  I offer free-of-charge an initial session where we get to know each other, explore what the coachee would like to get from coaching, and discuss how we would work together.  From there we hopefully build a great coaching relationship, empowering the coachee to achieve their aims.  Contact me on 07803 848884 or by email at irene@craigelachie.org.uk

Posted in Four pieces of advice, drawn from my own experience and my coaching work