Executive Coach of the Year 2016 - Claire Cahill

This week we had the opportunity to catch up with Executive Coach of the Year 2016, Claire Cahill to ask her 10 quick questions for this week’s Coach in the Spotlight, we hope you enjoy…

Congratulations on winning the award! How did you feel when you found out you had won?


I was ecstatic and over the moon. I was extremely proud to stand on the stage with Ann Skidmore who has been part of my coaching journey.

What inspired you to apply for an award?


Having not applied last year and reading all the success stories of the 2015 winners, I thought “this could be my year”. I have achieved big goals this year that I am extremely proud of and thought I could apply with enthusiasm and positivity knowing that I had been successful in 2016 and had lots to share.

How has Coaching benefited your life?


Coaching has benefited not only my life, but also those around me. I can question more effectively, listen and recognise when I am not doing so. Turn negative thoughts into positive ones and realise the connection between thoughts, emotions and behaviours. This has been extremely powerful in the corporate world when changing a culture so that individuals focus on the behaviours that drive the outputs.

What was the turning point for you to decide that Coaching was something you wanted to pursue as a career?


The turning point for me was after the birth of my 2nd son and I returned to work after 6 months. I very quickly realised I wasn’t ready physically or emotionally. Thus, I lost all my confidence and didn’t know who I was anymore. I went on my own journey of self-discovery and within 24 hours of attending the free 2-day Foundation in Life Coaching event, in the words of my husband “I have my wife back with the sparkle in her eyes”.

What inspired you to specialise in your chosen niche?

Having lost all my confidence and being a leader feeling lost, I recognised that I had a big market that I could tap into. The more I spoke to people, the more I realised that this issue I was experiencing wasn’t just me. Leaders feel lonely with their own thoughts and don’t always know whom they can trust to share their fears with. I soon believed that every leader needed a coach and every coach needed a coach.

What have been your biggest learning curves about turning Coaching into a business?

You must be emotionally resilient and don’t take the knock-backs personally. It’s business after all. Networking is important as people ‘buy’ people. Personal recommendations are a gift, which you should grab when they come along. Social media is a great way for people to get to know you so make sure everything that you say is positive, engaging and draws your followers to interact with you. Get help from others as part of our CPD and never stop learning so that you and your business continue to grow.

What have you enjoyed about training with The Coaching Academy?


I’ve enjoyed being around like-minded individuals who have a wealth of experience to share. I loved getting personal feedback through completion of my diplomas and I have maintained good relationships with trainers and Bev James. I’ve thrived from their passion, enthusiasm and constant drive for success.

What have been the highlights of your Coaching Journey?


Achieving Distinction in both my PPD and Corporate & Executive diplomas. Completing the DISC CPD with Bev James and using this in my coaching practice to get to know people in minutes rather than months. Watching my clients go on their own journey of self-discovery whilst achieving their goals and increasing their confidence. Writing and publishing my book Empowering Employee Engagement, which Bev very kindly endorsed and winning Executive Coach of the Year 2016.

What advice would you give to Coaches who will be nominating themselves for an award next year?


Make sure you include your client testimonials because this cements the difference you make. Include every detail about the value you add and have the confidence and courage to just do it!

What are you hoping to do next?

I am hoping to finally make a leap of faith and leave my employed job of 26 years so that I can launch my Ignite programme, which is the concept I have written about in my book in other small, medium and large businesses. I will work with a coach to set out my intentions for 2017 so that I can make it happen. A marketing strategy is going to be the key to success and I have identified supportive people who can help me along the way.

If Claire's words have inspired you and you feel that Coaching could be a potential full or part time opportunity for you, or if you would just like to know a little more about what Coaching is and how it can benefit you and the lives of others, please contact our Specialist Course Advisor, Jamil on 0208 996 4830 or email: jamil@the-coaching-academy.com.

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