Executive Coaching Case Studies

“Elizabeth provides an excellent service and is a highly personable and effective coach”

 The following case studies from just a few of my clients will give you a sense of the kind of issues that executive coaching can support, how I work, and the end results of the coaching.  Names have been changed to protect the clients’ confidentiality.

“Form my thoughts and make important decisions”

As MD of a busy internet solutions company, I sought help because I recognised that stress was having a negative impact on myself and others in the management team, both personally and professionally.  How we were operating was unsustainable – I’d been off for 2 weeks because I’d worked myself into the ground.  I wanted to get the management team back on track and working fully effectively again – firing on all four cylinders if you like – so we could improve the productivity of the company.  I also wanted help with the transition of the staff into a new team structure.

During the time Elizabeth worked with me and the management team, we made significant improvements to the team structure and the way we worked including increasing the management team and growing the company.  My managers became more focused at work, better at managing their time and communicating and started to look after themselves better.  I found it really helpful to get an outside view, have someone to listen and bounce ideas off so I could fully form my thoughts and make some important decisions.  I found more time for myself and my partner and spent less time out of work on work things.  I was able to take better control of things, become more effective as a leader, build on my strengths in the company and develop much better working relationships.  Through this professional development I was able to look at medium and long-term term plans rather than, as we had been, just fire-fighting to limit damage.  I even found time to get married!

The coaching has really worked – it’s been a very positive experience. 

Richard, Company MD

“I could talk myself into being brilliant”

I sought out Elizabeth when I realised I needed to reduce my stress levels, improve my confidence in work meetings and presentations, and increase my motivation for work.

Through the coaching I became much more self-aware and began to take greater control of situations.  I realised I over-prepared for things, needlessly increasing my anxiety levels and wasting precious time that could be more effectively spent elsewhere.  I discovered the different ways I habitually tripped myself up, adding to my lack of confidence, negativity and stress.

Elizabeth taught me various stress reduction techniques and how to create for myself the right conditions to ensure a much calmer and more positive approach.   I found I could improve my own mood and become much more effective, focused and productive.    Just having the time and confidential space to think through my thoughts and bounce ideas around was invaluable in helping me move forward.  Things began to feel much more comfortable and I started to approach work meetings and presentations with a much greater sense of positive anticipation and to feel in control when there.

I came to realise that the person getting in the way of my effectiveness at work was me.  My attitude to situations could either set myself up for being nervous and lacking in confidence or I could talk myself into being brilliant.  I realised that in the past I had fallen short of my potential simply because of the way I tripped myself up.

I found the coaching sessions with Elizabeth extremely helpful.  The greatest benefit was the thorough self-evaluation; understanding how stress and a doubting mindset can build and have a negative impact on my performance.  I discovered what I needed to do about it and was then able to put my new learning into practice.

I feel I’ve made huge progress and achieved all the things I set out to achieve and more.  There’s been an impact on the business too because I now have more focus and concentration, and my performance in meetings is better.  I still need to work on my stress levels, and making these new, more effective skills a natural part of me, but I’m much more aware of myself and have the tools to do something about it now.  It’s been a great success and the tools I now have are for life!

Duncan, Company MD

“Feeling calmer, more positive and in control”

I felt I was failing in every aspect of my life – as a career woman and with my family and home life.   I never seemed to get the balance right – holidays were a juggle, my husband and I were constantly ‘passing the baton’ over parenting our children and rarely seeing each other, and work was taking over my life.  I wanted to feel less stressed, more in control of my work and enjoying both work and family again.  I had a responsible job which I was good at and enjoyed but it was overwhelming me and the only way out seemed to be to leave my job and become a full-time Mum (which I privately dreaded).

I can’t believe how useful I found it having the opportunity to talk and think things through and Elizabeth quickly helped me put my professional challenges in perspective and learn to take small steps towards making my life easier.   Straight away she was able to hone in on the sources of my stress and give me strategies for dealing with them.  She taught me simple relaxation techniques that I was able to put into practice to help me feel calmer.  I was able to identify the things I was doing to contribute to my stress and  learn how to change my habits, overcome my limiting beliefs and take control so I minimised the stress I was under.

I began planning my work better, setting myself realistic goals, delegating where appropriate and learnt to say ‘no’.  Elizabeth helped me deal with my nerves over giving presentations and for the first time I was able to give an important presentation well – I’ve never had so many people say positive things about a presentation.  I started sleeping better and for the first time ever I was able to relax when we went away on holiday.  I was feeling calmer, more positive and in control and found I was still achieving at least as much as before.  I’d glimpsed a different world from the one I’d been living and it felt good!

I’ve had to put in some hard work over the coaching – it’s not easy changing habits that you’ve engrained over years or even since childhood.  But it’s all been worth the effort – I can’t believe what a difference this makes.  I’m getting so much out of the coaching.  It’s worth every penny!

Fran, Senior Accountant

“A first class solution”

I invested in some coaching for a senior member of my staff who was going through a tough time.  When something similar had happened a while ago, it had a big impact on our productivity and I wanted to prevent that from happening again.  He’s a respected member of the team – I wanted to support him and he needed someone independent and impartial to talk to and to help him rebuild his life so he was back on top form again.

Elizabeth quickly gained his respect and trust, and helped him recognise his abilities and feel successful again.  His life is back on track, his motivation and enthusiasm has returned, his general demeanour is excellent and his self confidence is at an all time high.  This obviously reflects positively on his working life.   The early intervention provided a first class solution for our business.

The last time this occurred we lost weeks of work – this time we only lost one day.  A successful outcome! 

Peter, Company MD

 “There is so much more in my power than I thought”

I knew that things needed to change. Despite having a responsible job, I felt afraid of what other people thought and struggled to take tough decisions.  My life was stressful, too busy, and I had forgotten how to enjoy myself.  I wanted to become a confident, positive leader in my professional life and to live life more fully.

Elizabeth helped me look at what was important to me and how to make my priorities reflect that.  She showed me some practical time and diary management techniques which helped me use my time better and feel less stressed.  I learnt how to deal assertively with others, how to face and challenge my own fears and assumptions, and how to set realistic expectations of myself.  I discovered how to be the real me and how balancing my life better meant I could achieve better.

Through the coaching I’ve taken control of my diary, which means I have time for my professional commitments and my personal life.  I’ve learnt to stand up to others and to say ‘no’ without losing their respect or allowing guilt to take over. I am now able to lead others positively at work, and have the fun back in my life.

This has been really important.  There is so much more in my power than I thought.  Elizabeth’s coaching has helped me lead a much more effective and fulfilled life.  I feel more in control of my life and more able to find the solutions I need.  I feel resourced for my journey.  I feel greatly affirmed as a person.  Above all I have been listened to, taken seriously and helped by someone who knows how to hear and respond.

Charles, Church Leader