Cardene

Real businesses, real success stories

Over the years my coaching has acted as a catalyst, enabling clients to enhance their successes and make positive changes to their business approaches and their lives. I’ve had the privilege of seeing my clients address their challenges and find their own solutions. Here are just a few of their stories:

Case study 1: Realise your true potential
Case study 2: An objective sounding board
Case study 3: Intellectual capital
Case study 4: Understanding fears
Case study 5: From a different perspective
Case study 6: Find the key, unlock the answers

As coaching is confidential, names have not been given. However, if you would like to know more about Cardene coaching, we can arrange for you to speak to existing clients (with their permission).

Case study 1
Realise your true potential

The issue: Managing high-level political agendas had left a deputy chief executive lacking in confidence and direction
The route: An examination and appreciation of her skills and experience, an exploration of career options and analysis of the best route to move forward
Results: Increased confidence, awarded a chief executive role.

A very difficult period towards the end of a deputy chief executive role together with managing political agendas at the highest level had left the client low in personal confidence and lacking in direction. Coaching enabled her to appreciate her wealth of skills and experience, to consider her many options, and to analyse the most beneficial direction she could take at this point in her life. As she created her plans, her confidence increased. She now has a chief executive role.

‘The coaching is the most important thing I have ever done in terms of professional development. Ann helped me realise my true potential.’

Case study 2
An objective sounding board

The issue: A major career promotion and leadership doubts
The route: Unearthing skills that he already had and those that he would need in the future
Results: Awareness of skill set, enhanced performance and an appreciation of the real priorities in his business and personal life

The client was at a major change point in his career. He wanted to know he was making the right career decisions and that he had the right skill set for leadership. The coaching focused on establishing his current skills (not always obvious to him) and additional skills he might need. It also enabled him to appreciate what was really important to him in his business and personal life.

‘Ann gave me the objective sounding board I required and she encouraged me to focus on those areas where I needed to develop to maximise my potential. Often the changes identified were only minor, but changing my approach made a significant difference to my performance. Personal development is never finished and I am looking forward to working with Ann in the future.’

Case study 3
Intellectual capital

The issue: Dealing with the business and personal agendas that build up during the year
The route: Fine-tuning performance and provision of a coaching ‘health check’
Results: Building an ongoing relationship underpinned by trust and respect that delivers insightful, productive advice

Whilst many coaching assignments last for a limited period to help the client deal with a specific set of issues, some entail a long term association as a client progresses through his or her career. Coaching may only involve a few meetings a year, but they act as an important checkpoint and learning space for the client.

For example, one of my clients works on his career, business and personal agenda each time we meet – typically twice a year. Issues may include blockages, behaviour skills, strategy – any of the key matters relevant to where he is at that point in time. I asked him what he thought were the important attributes of a coach. His response included:

‘Firstly confidentiality – this is sacrosanct. Second – empathy. There needs to be a personal relationship of mutual understanding and respect – not exactly friendship, but an ability to think and operate on compatible wavelengths. Thirdly, intellectual capital. A good coach needs to be intellectually nimble and also have relevant knowledge and experience. Having been round the block is often useful, but alone is not enough. A good coach will invest in training and research to bring tools, techniques and depth to the task. To be most useful, a coach needs to be comfortable to contribute to both the business and personal agendas of the client.’

Case study 4
Understanding fears

The issue: Difficulty achieving partnership level
The route: Uncovering career paths and developing the impetus to move forward
Results: Development of an ambitious yet achievable action plan

The client was having difficulty reaching equity partnership and wanted to consider why he was not achieving his goals and to consider his options. Through coaching he was able to see that he had a wide range of professional choices and that he had to take action if he really wanted equity partnership. He created an ambitious action plan.

'The coaching skills I particularly valued were being able to understand my fears and put them in perspective.'

Case study 5
From a different perspective

The issue: Moving upwards to a strategic role
The route: Developing a clearer picture of what needs to be addressed
Results: A practical guide to realise opportunities in addition to more effective time management, better communication skills and an acceptance of other perspectives

The client wanted to raise his role to a more strategic one, to improve his project management, and develop strategies for communications with a broad range of people. The coaching sessions allowed him to get a clearer picture of what needed addressing and how to go about it. He learned to see the world from other people’s perspectives, understood much more about communications at board level including how to manage upwards, and got to grips with his time management.

'The things I carry from my coaching are: Stand back. Don't be defensive. Manage time effectively and look at issues from another person's perspective.'

Case study 6
Find the key, unlock the answers

The issue: Dealing with the challenges of a fast-track career
The route: The opportunity to objectively assess goals and devise methodologies
Results: More effective in business role, better work/life balance

The client is on a fast-track career path and sees me from time to time to work through the current issues she is addressing. Her issues are many and varied, and have included: managing energy, remaining strategic and not doing all the work, influencing superiors, creating an exciting and interesting career path, keeping the priorities in focus and managing a reasonable work/life balance.

'Ann has a wonderful way of asking just the right question to unlock the answers that perhaps deep down you knew but had lost the key. I value her non-judgemental style and the fact that even though there are times when it all seems too hard and I just want to be told the answer, she makes me work out what's right for me. Having the time to step back and reflect on what I really want to achieve and break it down into how to get there has made me much more effective in my role, and in maintaining some semblance of work/life balance!'