We love to celebrate the success of our qualified coaches here at The Coaching Academy and share your stories with our networks. Today we are celebrating the success of Christopher Catt, who is making a real difference in his niche by combining his expertise and experience and coaching practices in his coaching business.
I had been working in the Welfare to Work sector for over 20 years finding and supporting people with disabilities in paid work. I moved into management and realised that something was missing – “the buzz” of making a real difference in people’s lives.
It was about two years ago that I met a Coach and was struck that the advice and guidance model I had been using was flawed – we were doing things the wrong way around. I knew there and then that I was going to coach people with disabilities around work issues.
The GROW model and the small business models I found really interesting to learn. But I actually looked forward to all areas of learning. I just immersed myself in it and I started coaching pro-bono as soon as I got home from the 2 Day Intro. I really enjoyed the positive feedback from the telephone assessed sessions.
I took advantage of a mentoring session with Kris around my niche and I can still hear his words to this day, “what areas would others say you are an expert in?” This got really me moving and I needed this reality check. I enjoyed everything, but actually listening to the client and noticing the amount they achieved was the “buzz” that I needed to feel again.
I did the Personal Performance and Small Business Diplomas and these were the building blocks for my business. I left full-time employment whilst studying because I knew that this is what I wanted to do and I would regain ‘control’ that working for someone else had never really existed. I formed my business in September 2012 called The Life Coach Station. I became a limited company a few months later. Since then, I have come to realise that people buy what coaching can do, but they don’t buy coaching.
I have predominantly used coaching around career choices, supporting people with disabilities to set-up in business and around disability in the workplace.
My niche area is Disability in the workplace or disabled self-employed start-ups. I always wanted to do this and this is what others always describe as “you are so good at this”. I like making a difference and as I have a disability myself, the rapport building just happens almost without any effort on my part. I want to bring my skills and coaching in to larger corporate organisations where I think things around disability in the workplace can be done differently and provide better results. I want to become known as the expert in what I do throughout the UK and beyond.
"What have you already done so far?"- followed by... "how did it help?" What I enjoy most about being a coach is watching clients change and move from “I don’t know” to “my initial plans now seem to lack ambition, I now want…."
I cannot stress this enough: attend the 2 Day Introduction and you will find out if it is the right thing for you and you are the right thing for coaching.
Get a learning plan written down with realistic timescales and a completion goal date. Take a picture of you holding your Distinction Certificate (a piece of paper then). Do the theory modules straightaway and use the DVD/CDs at the same time. Keep asking yourself how can I use this information in my coaching? Don’t delay in booking your first pro bono client. If you are going to be a great coach, you must coach as much as possible. Arrange Assessments with clients and Assessors so you keep on learning and retain the motivation to get it all done. Talk to your partner/family and explain how much this means to you and that you will need their help and understanding at times. Always complete the learning logs as you go. Nobody’s memory is really that good. Above all else, join the E-Group and get someone to coach you around all of the above.
When preparing your Portfolio for Assessment make a list of what must be included, check it, get someone else to check you have done it. Start to think if you have not already done so, about what is next. Continue the journey of learning. Talk to coaches who have qualified and ask what they are doing now.
There is a great support netowrk here at The Coaching Academy- give me a call or another fellow graduate!
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