Coaching Stories
Katrina Dickson
Katrina's Coaching Story
My interest in coaching started around 8 years ago, and I have completed several certifications since then, involving coaching others as a coach and being coached as a client (or coachee). Coaching is different from mentoring or consulting because while a coach may occasionally offer suggestions, the coach’s prime role is to ask you questions that enable you to grow and develop, to see things for yourself. The coaching that I do is concerned with what is “behind” your story, not the story’s content per se, making it applicable to anything, including career development, workplace change, relationships, and personal growth.
My initial training was in Developmental Coaching. This form of coaching is very useful in understanding thoughts and behavioural patterns of ourselves and others; in other words, what makes us tick. This includes our mindsets, emotions, beliefs, and the framework of personality governing these things. Many of our thought patterns are habitual, and these are often unconscious. Many of these go back to early childhood, when we were “told” what to think and how to behave: they were “gifted” to us by our parents, teachers and society. This means we may not see them in ourselves, and therefore don’t question them. That is why coaching is so valuable – it helps us see things we cannot see in ourselves, and then helps us identify options for change. It helps us change “the inner game”, which means we can then change “the outer game”. This can improve our relationships with ourselves and others; at home and in the workplace, helping us to become more understanding, flexible, relaxed and happier, while also achieving more.
Through training in Holistic Counselling and Psychotherapy, I am expanding my capacity to work with clients and thereby enhancing their capacities for change and growth. Based on process-oriented psychology (also known as process-work), this allows me to work more fully with the emotions, uncertainties and body symptoms that may arise in clients when they move beyond their comfort zones. Crossing this edge is where real growth can occur and the support of a process-work coach can accelerate this growth in a supported space.
I am also an Action Learning Coach (certified with the World Institute of Action Learning). This is a specific form of coaching in which we work with a group of 4-8 people (often in organisations) to find solutions to individual or group problems. Sessions are approximately 90 minutes and run to a specific structure. The main ground rule is that statements can only be given in response to questions. It is amazing how this can bring out the wisdom of the group, level the playing field in terms of power differences, and result in creative and innovative solutions to problems. More information is at https://wial.org/action-learning/
When I look back on pivotal things that have changed my life, although there have been many things, I would say doing my MBA and undergoing the self-development required to become a successful coach have been highlights. When seeking a coach, it is important that you feel comfortable with the person. You should know in around 15 minutes if you are going to feel relaxed and open with a coach and if they are going to be able to help you. With coaching increasingly practiced on zoom, the best coach for you may be in anywhere – even in another country. I now have a business called Leading Edge Consulting and Coaching – feel free to contact me for further information about what I do or to chat about possibilities, either through my UNE email, my personal email Trini.Dickson@gmail.com or 0429 461092.