Do you ever notice that maybe you’re not caring for yourself as much as you’re caring for others? Having worked as an administrator for the police for more than a decade, caring for terminally ill relatives and juggling all kind of responsibilities, Sheleen finally decided to take the plunge into coaching while attending a funeral.
What inspired you to enrol with The Coaching Academy?
It’s an odd story really, but I decided to enrol whilst I was at a funeral.
The Bishop spoke about seizing the day, making choices that serve our future. It reminded me that I attended the free training with The Coaching Academy and I was procrastinating about making the choice.
Bizarrely, I left the funeral feeling so inspired and that was the moment I decided coaching was exactly what I had been looking for.
What was/is your profession before becoming a coach?
I worked for the Metropolitan Police as an administrator for 11 years
What was the most rewarding part of your training/journey?
I loved attending the accelerator days as they motivated and inspired me, it was great to meet likeminded people and practise the skills I was learning.
I also enjoyed the reflective element of the PDJ, it helped me get perspective on those days where I would be hard on myself and helped me see how far I had come.
The reflective nature of learning throughout the training has been phenomenal for me and is something I now use as part of my coaching approach.
How did you fit coach training into your busy life?
It was definitely challenging, I was working full time and a Carer to my elderly Nan. There were times when the training would take a back seat to what was happening in life, which I think happens for a lot of us.
However, I always had that desire in me to complete what I started and in the last year, I just went for it!
I committed my spare time and planned it in my diary and just used the Coaching Academy philosophy to coach everyone to see what worked. Any opportunity I had with friends and family I would be practising my coaching skills.
Where are you now? How are you using your coaching skills?
I left my full-time job in October 2019 to set up my own coaching business and in addition, I freelance with various companies. It has been a huge leap of faith in myself and my skills. But one I was more than happy to make. I use my coaching skills all the time now, in conversations with friends and peers as well as informal coaching sessions.
It has truly become a way of being for me.
What is your coaching niche and why did you choose it?
It has taken me some time to decide and it has changed throughout my journey so far. I finally decided to see what the universe was throwing at me and my niche became Self-Care, helping people prioritise themselves.
Having worked full-time for more than 11 years whilst juggling the responsibilities of being a Caregiver for three terminally ill relatives at that time, I know how challenging it can be to put yourself first.
Caring for myself wasn’t always high on my priority list, I had to learn how to value and look after myself too. My experience coaching throughout that time really helped me value myself and focus on myself more which is why I now want other Caregivers to know their lives, can be a priority too.
What are your top tips for:
People who are looking to become qualified as a professional coach?
Go for it! It’s such a rewarding job and you learn so much about yourself along the way. I never looked back since I found coaching. It has been life-changing for me in my thinking and my whole way of being.
Those currently in training with TCA?
Enjoy the process, don’t rush it and if life gives you lemons, keep going. It’s all part of the learning and experience that will help your personal and professional growth. Just remember, what you learn throughout this training isn’t just about being a Coach, it enhances all areas of your life.
You will get there I promise you
If you're interested in finding out more about life coaching, just like Sheleen did, start by joining us in our interactive live online training. Choose from available dates here.
The Coaching Academy was established in 1999, and is now the world's largest coaching school.
In that time we have trained over 14,000 people to become life coaches.
We are accredited by the International Coach Federation and the Association for Coaching, and we're rated 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot.
