Gillian Normand Consultancy

What is Coaching?

Coaching is a transformative process designed to help refine skills, overcome challenges, and support individuals in achieving their goals. It involves one-on-one sessions with a professional coach who provides insights, feedback, and strategies tailored to each individual’s unique needs and aspirations.

I believe that every individual has the potential to be extraordinary. My mission is to unlock that potential through personalized coaching that enhances mental clarity, improves communication, fosters strategic thinking, and promotes a growth mindset.

Why choose me as your coach?

Personalized Approach: The coaching programs are designed to meet the specific needs and goals of each individual.

Experienced Coach: With over two decades of experience in leadership and organizational development in the Financial Services sector, I bring a wealth of knowledge to support your journey.

Proven Results: I am committed to delivering measurable improvements in individual effectiveness, personal confidence, and action planning.

Benefits of Individual Coaching

Aspiring Leaders: Develop the skills and confidence needed to take on higher roles and responsibilities. Learn to navigate complex organizational dynamics and lead with impact.

Mid-Level Professionals: Enhance strategic thinking, improve decision-making skills, and foster better team collaboration. Coaching helps in transitioning from managing to leading.

Senior Executives: Gain fresh perspectives, identify blind spots, and refine leadership style. Coaching provides a safe space for exploring new strategies and driving innovation.

Entrepreneurs: Strengthen leadership capabilities, build resilience, and create a sustainable growth strategy. Coaching helps in balancing vision with practical execution.

Career Changers: Clarify career goals, build a compelling personal brand, and develop a clear action plan for transitioning to a new role or industry.

Personal Development: Improve mental clarity, boost self-confidence, enhance communication skills, and cultivate a growth mindset. Coaching supports personal and professional growth at all levels.

Coaching vs Mentoring

Key Differences Between Coaching and Mentoring

Focus and Goals:

Coaching: Focuses on specific goals and skills development. It is action-oriented and aimed at achieving measurable outcomes.

Mentoring: Focuses on overall career development, providing guidance and wisdom based on the mentor’s experience.

Duration and Structure:

Coaching: Typically short-term and structured, with regular sessions over a defined period.

Mentoring: Often long-term and less formal, evolving naturally over time.

Relationship Dynamics:

Coaching: The coach does not need to have experience in the client’s field. The relationship is about facilitating growth and development.

Mentoring: The mentor usually has experience in the mentee’s field, offering advice and sharing personal experiences.

Approach and Techniques:

Coaching: Utilises specific techniques, frameworks, and methodologies to help clients achieve their goals.

Mentoring: Relies on the mentor’s personal experiences and knowledge to guide the mentee.

The Power of reflection

Reflecting on experiences is a powerful tool in our personal and professional lives. This process can deepen your self-awareness and open doors to continuous growth and improvement.

Here’s how reflection can add value:

✅ Enhanced self-awareness – reflection helps us understand our strengths, areas for growth and the motivations behind our actions.

✅ Improved decision-making – by taking the time to reflect on past decisions, we can identify patterns, learn from mistakes, make more informed choices in the future. This is crucial in dynamic and fast-paced work environments.

✅ Greater resilience – reflecting on challenges and setbacks allows us to process emotions and experiences constructively. It helps us bounce back with a better perspective and a stronger mindset.

✅ Enhanced communication skills – understanding our own thought process and emotional responses through reflection can lead to more empathetic and effective communication with colleagues and clients.

✅ Continuous learning – reflection is a key component of life long learning. By regularly evaluating our experiences and seeking feedback, we remain open to our growth and innovation.

Incorporating reflection into daily routines doesn’t require much time but offers immense benefits. Whether it’s through journaling, meditation or simply taking a few minutes at the end of the day to process and order your thoughts. These practices can lead to significant improvements in both personal and professional life.

Time to Think – Nancy Kline

In the world of coaching, there are many methodologies, but few are as transformative as Nancy Kline’s Time to Think approach. This approach attributes ten behaviours that generate the finest thinking, and have become known as The Ten Components of a Thinking Environment, they are: Attention, Equality, Ease, Appreciation, Encouragement, Feelings, Information, Diversity, Incisive Questions, Place. Watch this short video with Nancy herself explaining the concept https://www.youtube.com/embed/HV7BpMlR7H4

Here’s why I believe Nancy Kline’s Time to Think approach is invaluable:

Deep Listening: At its core, this approach emphasizes the importance of deep, uninterrupted listening. By providing clients with the space to think and express themselves fully, we enable them to uncover insights and solutions they might not reach otherwise.

Creating Thinking Environments: Kline’s methodology centers on creating environments where people feel safe, respected, and encouraged to think independently. This fosters creativity, innovation, and problem-solving.

Empowerment: Time to Think empowers clients by recognizing that they are the experts in their own lives. Coaches facilitate their thinking process rather than imposing solutions, leading to more sustainable and authentic outcomes.

Enhanced Decision-Making: By allowing clients to think through their ideas thoroughly, they make more informed and confident decisions. This approach reduces impulsivity and enhances strategic thinking.

Quality of Interaction: The Time to Think approach improves the quality of interactions in teams and organizations. It promotes a culture of respect, attentiveness, and meaningful dialogue, which are essential for effective collaboration and leadership.

Incorporating Nancy Kline’s Time to Think principles into coaching sessions can lead to remarkable transformations. It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes, the best way to move forward is to pause and think deeply.

Boost your confidence, Transform your life

Confidence is more than just a trait—it’s the foundation for success in every aspect of life. But for many, finding that confidence can be a challenge. That’s where coaching comes in.

Through coaching, I help individuals break through barriers, overcome self-doubt, and unlock the confidence that lies within them. This isn’t just about feeling good; it’s about making real changes that impact both your professional and personal life.

In your career, increased confidence can lead to:

• More effective communication

• Faster career progression

• The courage to take on new challenges

In your personal life, confidence helps you:

• Build stronger, healthier relationships

• Make better decisions aligned with your values

• Live with greater fulfillment and purpose

Imagine walking into any situation with the assurance that you can handle whatever comes your way. That’s the transformative power of coaching.

Embracing Feedback

A key to growth and confidence

Feedback is more than just comments on your performance – it’s a valuable gift that can significantly impact your personal and professional development.

I’ve seen how transformative feedback can be. It’s not just about understanding what went well or where you can improve; it’s about using those insights to build confidence and drive growth. Here’s why feedback is so powerful:

1. Clarity and Direction It provides clear insights into your strengths and areas for growth, helping you navigate your journey with greater confidence.

2. Boosting Self-Awareness Feedback helps you understand how others perceive you, allowing you to align your actions with your true self.

3. Building Resilience Embracing feedback teaches you to handle criticism constructively, turning challenges into opportunities for growth.

4. Continuous Improvement It fosters a cycle of learning and development, keeping you on the path to achieving your goals.

During my coaching qualification, the feedback I received was instrumental in shaping my growth as a coach. It allowed me to reflect on my achievements and refine my approach.

Why you should consider Coaching – for a short-term boost

I’ve been reflecting on the power of coaching, and here’s what stands out: coaching doesn’t have to be a long-term commitment. It’s really about learning tools and techniques that will help you coach yourself for life.

Even a short-term coaching experience can provide you with essential skills like:

Asking the Right Questions – Learn to shift your thinking by asking insightful, thought-provoking questions that lead to new perspectives.

Setting Clear Goals – Break down your goals into manageable steps and hold yourself accountable to achieve them.

Self-Reflection – Develop habits for regular reflection, allowing you to track progress and adjust your approach as needed.

Adopting a Growth Mindset – Turn challenges into opportunities for growth, paving the way for continuous self-improvement.

If you’ve ever felt stuck or unsure how to elevate yourself, coaching might be exactly what you need. It’s an investment that keeps paying off long after the sessions are over.

🌟 Unlock Your Potential: Transform yourself & improve your confidence with Coaching 🌟

Feeling stuck in your career, unsure of your next step, or struggling with confidence issues? Whether you’re making a career change, stepping into a leadership role, or looking for clarity in your future, I’m here to support you.

As a professional coach, I specialise in helping people:

💪 Build unshakeable confidence in their abilities.

🔍 Gain clarity and direction for their career path.

👩‍💼 Develop leadership skills for first-time managers and leaders.

🚀 Break through mental barriers holding them back from their full potential.

Through personalised coaching, we’ll create a clear action plan to overcome your challenges, boost your decision-making, and accelerate your career growth.

Today I read that butterflies rest when it rains because it damages their wings. It’s okay to rest during the storms of life. You’ll fly again when it’s over 🦋

🦋In life, perspective is everything. Storms will come – whether it’s career challenges, tough conversations, or personal setbacks – but how we view those moments before moving forward makes all the difference.

Resting and reflecting during turbulent times isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a strategic pause for growth and clarity. The key is shifting your perspective, and that’s where coaching comes in. Through insightful questions opening up new viewpoints, coaching helps you see the bigger picture, uncover solutions, and find clarity in uncertainty.

If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, remember: it’s okay to take a step back. With the right support and perspective, you’ll be ready to soar when the skies clear. 🌟

🌟 Reflection in Action or Reflection on Action – The Schon model 🌟

Lately, I find myself regularly engaged in reflection-in-action – adjusting during the moment, not just afterward. This has been a powerful shift brought on through deepening my understanding of The Schön model of coaching. The model emphasizes both reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action, guiding us to continuously learn, whether in the midst of a challenge or looking back on it.

This practice has become second nature to me, allowing for real-time adaptability and growth. It’s more than a coaching tool; it’s a mindset shift.

Staying curious and thoughtful in the flow of action creates powerful shifts in how we navigate decisions and embrace change.