Coach In The Spotlight - Merete Langler

What were your first thoughts after attending the first 2-days taster weekend?

I would like this for me!  The phrase I use all the time is ‘I only look back to smile!’

What was your profession before Coaching?

I was a teacher for 20+ years a Deputy Head in the last few. I had taken my Headship qualification and spent a term as an Acting Head for a school that was waiting for their new Head Teacher to start.

What area of Coaching do you specialise in?

I work with Small Businesses and also with Young People.  The businesses are varied from accountants and solicitors to carpet fitters, plumbers and even a chimney sweep! On the Youth side I work with 17-23 year olds on ‘Big Decisions’ and then what to do with those decisions once made. This is very much about transition in every sense. The two sides of the business occasionally come together when I am asked to work with a young person on an aspect of their working life they are struggling with.

What difference has Coaching made to your life?

I now am back to loving what I do. I was beginning to lose sight of that when I was still teaching and the passion was being swamped. As a coach with my own business I have control over when I work, how I work and who I work with. I am queen of my own diary and have time for the people and the things that are important to me in a way that I couldn’t have before. Coaching has provided me with a better income and one that I can timetable to suit me. I earn more from coaching than I earned as a Deputy Head and spend fewer hours doing it.

Has Coaching given you a sense of purpose?

I’ve always been pretty good at finding purpose, but what I have noticed is how it has affected my relationships on a personal and professional level. I am back to doing what makes my heart sing.

How did you make the transition into being a full-time Coach?

I trained while still working full time which I found very manageable. My first paying client was one of my ‘practice’ clients who knew that I was about to qualify. She referred me to others and so I gave up my teaching post as I qualified and became a supply teacher. In the early days about 95% of my income was from teaching and about 5% from coaching. The balance soon shifted and after about a year it was 50/50. By the 3 year mark all my income was from coaching and this has remained true. The only change is that my business has grown year on year.

What did you enjoy most about gaining your Coaching qualification?

For me one of the biggest joys was training with like-minded people, many of whom quickly became good friends and who are still good friends to this day.