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Q & A with Cindy: Empower Your Leadership, Transform Your Impact

 

Cindy's​ statement as an Executive Coach in leader development:

As a leader, taking time to focus on yourself often feels like a luxury and yet, it’s the key to unlocking your full potential. If a leader is leading without a self-awareness resource, this can create a leader who becomes unwell, unaware, and/or unwilling. For me, navigating today’s complexities can be daunting, and I know that I am not alone in making that vulnerable statement. A leader that will exceed all expectations is a leader that will raise their hand for wanting to know more. They use coaching as a strategy to uncover root causes of disconnect. It maximizes their time to amplify insights for decision making. Leaders must maintain their relevance and value to the business' and people they serve. Why? Self and Organizational Well-Being

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Cindy, what inspired you to coach and be a leader?

One of the best gifts I received in life from my parents, my softball coaches,  teachers, and mentors was what I see today as "tough love". It was often given to bring self-awareness to things I could not see for myself (feedback to feed me forward). As we grow up, our behaviors change, and so do our experiences that increase awareness and mold how we show up. At a very young age, my parents taught me that everyone deserves an opportunity. If a heart is willing and strong enough to press forward, keep going, and always maintain a connection and awareness of the people supporting you along the way. Why coaching? It's really who I was raised to be. It organically fits my curious personality. I had those human-to-human checkpoints in life, and now I have credentialed myself to be that for someone else. 

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Cindy, how do I know I have the right coach?

Coaching success depends on the connection between the coach and client. A coach, if professionally credentialed by the ICF (a coach governing body that I feel has the highest standards to date )is trained by certain ethical standards and has passed a competency test to be of service to the coaching industry at a certain level (ACC, PCC, MCC). It accredits a coach according to the hours of work they have provided as a certified coach. They do not need to be an expert in what you do. Why? They are trained to be curious, not to provide you with advice. Consultants and therapists provide advice. I will say that coaches can wear different hats, and sometimes a client might need to be consulted, or hear advice, or be guided through breathwork to settle into their session. When I train coaches, it is really a coaching session if they are listening more than speaking, ask questions 70% more than providing advice, and the session is exactly what you want, versus what they feel you need. If they say that they are not the right fit for you, listen to them. The coaching world is small enough that we recommend clients to each other. Interview them for 10 minutes, if that will support your decision. Some coaches do not offer a pre-interview, so I encourage you to review their bio and glean what you can from their social media presence. 

 

Cindy, what does it take, from your lens, to be coached? 

It all begins with you committing yourself to the process (you have to want to be coached, not be forced to do it) and holding yourself accountable to the process. About 98% of the time, we unpackaged things that clients never think about until the question opens it up. Every client is an example of their self-care, self-awareness, engagement, and accountability. Be willing to stretch yourself. If you are being forced by your organization to be coached, talk about that with your coach. It can be uncomfortable for you both and needs to be rightsized so that the process of coaching can be honored. You are your legacy. Your best work comes from being your best self and recognizing the value you bring to what you create.