This week's Coach in the Spotlight is Katie Aston, an inspiring life coach who has transformed not only her life but also those of her clients. Katie’s story is a testament to the power of coaching and how it can open up new ways of thinking, uncover hidden strengths, and challenge limiting beliefs. From discovering The Coaching Academy through serendipitous social media posts to setting ambitious goals and achieving them with determination, Katie shares her incredible coaching journey.
Since I started the Life Coaching Diploma I’ve learnt so much about myself, identifying and addressing limiting beliefs, uncovering unknown strengths and opening up new ways of thinking. I’ve been reminded that we are all different and there are no right or wrong answers in life – it’s about what’s right for you as an individual. This has given me the confidence to follow new paths myself.
I’d actually say The Coaching Academy found me. I didn’t know much about coaching, but found information kept popping up on my social feeds. For some reason I was drawn to a The Coaching Academy advert and then felt compelled to attend the free Introduction to Life Coaching webinar introductory session. About an hour in I knew coaching was for me – the rest is history!
I work full time, and have a busy family life, so the fact that I could attend study sessions in the evening or at weekends meant I was able to fit it around other commitments. The accelerators were so engaging that I always looked forward to them and it gave me a great opportunity to build a support network to help with my studies. Whilst I had three years to finish the course, in true coaching style I set myself the goal of getting it completed in 10 months and was able to do this easily thanks to the flexibility of the course.
There have been so many positives – meeting like-minded people; creating a new support network, learning new skills. But for me the most rewarding part has been seeing clients transform over the course of the sessions, taking charge of their destiny and looking so much happier as a result.
Having a bank of recorded webinars to refer to has been brilliant, as I’ve been able to listen to them in my free time, when out for a walk or in the car. They really do get me thinking and every time I listen; I learn something new or am prompted to look at situations from a new perspective. Even now I’ve graduated I find them a useful resource to keep on developing as a coach.
Outside of my client sessions I’ve found myself using my coaching skills both at work with colleagues and also with friends - sometimes I don’t even realise I’m doing it! Just last week I bumped into an old friend in the supermarket and after 15 minutes of chatting we both realised we’d slipped into a mini coaching session!
I often work with clients who feel “stuck” in their career and are trying to determine what to do next. Asking a simple question such as “What’s the most enjoyable job you’ve ever done?” is great for helping them home in on what’s important to them at work, as well as highlighting key skills they hadn’t considered. Often this simple question can ignite a spark they had forgotten about and give them focus on where they want to go.
I’ve been overwhelmed by the positive feedback I’ve received – from helping clients rediscover their "mojo" to supporting business owners in driving growth. But the feedback that truly stands out came from a client who told me they gained more from six coaching sessions with me than they had from years of counselling. The challenge, accountability, and forward-focused approach empowered them to make significant changes, which positively transformed their wellbeing. That was one of my proudest moments!
I’m really curious about the way people use metaphors and how coaching can help the client gain new perspectives and better understand their situation and goal. Metaphors allow clients to express themselves in a non-linear, creative way, which can be particularly useful when they struggle to articulate feelings directly.
One of the best things about coaching is its flexibility—you can shape it to fit your lifestyle and choose a niche that truly excites you. Currently, I'm pursuing an advanced diploma in Small Business Coaching, and I plan to leverage my years of business experience to help small business owners enhance their marketing efforts and customer focus.
Invest in training. With coaching becoming more popular, completing a certified coaching training program gives credibility and assures clients you meet professional standards. Also, don’t worry about finding your niche – it’ll most likely find you. Work with a range of clients and see which groups of clients or topics you most enjoy coaching.
Thank you Katie for sharing your inspirational journey with us!
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The Coaching Academy was established in 1999, and is now the world's largest coaching school.
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