Now there's a question! What is it that you need from a coach and why would you choose me?
This is a blog about my experience and what qualifies me to work with you as a transition coach. In my own life I have made many transitions and have learnt an enormous amount as a result of this. Whilst my circumstances are not yours it certainly allows more empathy with your current circumstances.
I moved from Hove to Jakarta in 1993 to a new job, on my own, never having visited Indonesia before. From here I went on to work in Bangkok, where my daughter was born and then to Singapore.
Whilst international travel is not so much of a thing now and we can remain in touch (for free) with loved ones very easily, it was not quite the same thing in 1993! Actually I was very lucky to be part of a small group of people who I got on very well with. Not only that but after a week or so of settling in, finding our way around and adjusting to jet lag we had a really useful talk from the British Council in Jakarta. It went into detail about culture shock and the phases of adjustment. So much was fascinating us. So much was different and so much was challenging us.
Why did people say 'yes' to us all the time when they didn't understand?
What was loss of face?
We're open and honest people. Why can't people be like that with us?
Oh we had so much to learn...
In the international schools, where I worked for 16 years, I was part of a highly transient community; there was a constant coming and going of work colleagues, students and friends. The schools themselves underwent some huge organisational changes in management and style too with arrival of new principals and managers and leaders.
Even when I wasn't moving, the community around me was and, unlike communities that stay rooted to their home, this was constantly shifting. New people and families arrived constantly and each time the dynamic of the group shifted slightly. I worked in three amazing international schools, with up to 2500 students and staff on campus. When a principal of the school left, there was often a (perceived) need to bring in a new broom and sweep out the 'old ways' - job roles and titles changed. Often uncomfortable, it meant we as staff needed to redefine our role and job spec.
Returning to the UK just over 11 years ago was one of the hardest moves I have ever made. Reintegrating back, meeting new people and feeling alien in the country where I grew up.
Without doubt the hardest move of all. Arriving in a new city, I didn't really know anyone and found it very hard to integrate at first. My daughter was in secondary school, so no school gate meetings at morning and afternoon drop off and pick up. I certainly felt weird and didn't belong. I missed several cultural references. TV shows or music that I didn't know about; it's surprising how ingrained they are in our lives! Expatriate communities love a new face! They organise a lot of social events to get to know people. I had got used to this and now had to make much more effort myself!
I changed career from teacher and retrained as a coach just over 8 years ago leaving a highly structured and timetabled way of working to setting up my own business.
A new role, a new stage in life. I truly loved my teaching but it was time for a change and circumstances almost forced me to do so. I took a leap into the dark by starting my own business. I knew I had a lot of skills to draw on with work ethic and motivation etc. I hadn't given the word 'sole trader' much thought though! Hence another major transition and adjustment.
My training was in N.L.P. - more of that in another blog!
Of course this is my story. Yours will be yours. Whatever you bring along in terms of making a transition I will listen. I will help you unearth the ideas and plans or the changes you might want to bring about.