Coach in the Spotlight - Alison Rentoul

What brought you to coaching?

I have been interested in personal development and the power of positive thinking since first discovering Shakti Gawain’s book “Creative Visualisation” in 1996. Being made redundant caused me to do some serious soul searching about what I wanted to do with my life and, knowing I wanted to be in a ‘helping’ profession, my online research about teaching, counselling and other similar professions revealed coaching and as soon as I came to The Coaching Academy's introductory weekend I knew I’d finally discovered my true vocation!

What was your profession before becoming a coach?

I’d worked for many years in marketing and advertising in London, Australia and France as well as spending several years working within the luxury yacht sector both on board as crew and ashore in marketing.

What did you find most interesting to learn?

How to challenge and eliminate limiting beliefs – what an amazing revelation that was! I loved the question “When did you choose to adopt this belief” – as the first time I heard this I realised with a jolt that holding on to a belief was purely a choice – and if this belief wasn’t serving me, that I could just as easily choose to either let go of it or choose something else to believe!

What was the most rewarding part of the training/journey?

Qualifying and obtaining the distinction I worked so hard for!

Which bits did you enjoy the most?

Meeting so many wonderful like-minded people. Coming to accelerator days was like coming home – at last, a place where I was free to completely be myself and talk with people about exciting self-development techniques and ideas. I have gone on to stay in touch with and become very close with several fellow coaches and we continue to support each other along our journeys.

How did the qualification slot in with your current life?

I made Mondays my schoolwork days and was pretty good at sticking to this. Even now as much as possible I still make Monday a self-development day where I spend time immersing myself in all the incredible new resources and ideas that come across my radar every week!

What else did you have to consider whilst qualifying?

I was building my coaching practice at the same time as studying because I wanted to make sure I wasn’t starting from zero when I qualified. This turned out to be a good approach because by the time I finished my diploma I had already done a lot of very important groundwork and was ready to hit the ground running.

Where are you now? How are you using your coaching skills?

My practice is growing and I am lucky enough to have had great recognition in the niches I am working within. I have coached many wonderful people and have had the very rewarding experience of seeing them go on to achieve amazing things.

What is your favorite coaching question?

"What else is possible?"

What do you enjoy most about being a coach?

Watching wonder and enlightenment spread across a client’s face, when they come to a deep realization or a powerful breakthrough and a turning point that will truly change their lives.

What are your top tips for:

People who are looking at coaching?

Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re probably right... Seriously though, you have nothing to lose. Even if you don’t become a coach you will learn amazing tools that you can apply in so many different ways to unlock your own potential or that of those around you, to live the life you’ve always wanted.

Those coaches currently in training?

Nothing compares to the wonderful feeling of accomplishment on receiving your qualification, and it is wonderful for your confidence to know your hard work, capacities and efforts have been recognised.

Coaches that are about to qualify?

You’re nearly there! Put everything into the sprint for the finish line; you’ll enjoy the celebrations all the more when you get there.