As coaches we aim to raise our clients' levels of self-awareness and self-efficacy. Much of this is done by building rapport, offering challenge and asking impactful questions. But where is the line between challenging clients and allowing them to be their authentic selves?
"When presenting challenge, are we broadening clients' perspectives, or dismissing their experience?"
This Learning Lab will explore the balancing act that coaches perform at the intersection of wellbeing, inclusion and challenge. Alongside learning about some of the links between wellbeing and inclusion, this will also be an opportunity to explore the perspective and identities you bring into coaching. We will consider together different approaches that we can take as coaches to both support clients, recognise their lived experience and avoid impacting negatively on their wellbeing.
Things we will explore:
- Options to consider around potential tensions between inclusion, wellbeing and challenge.
- Questions and approaches that could help to balance this triangle.
- The impact of lived experience in a coaching context.
- The deep importance of listening deeply through others' lived experience.
This will be a fully interactive session blending expert input, shared insight we call 'Wisdom of the Lab' and opportunities to meet, reflect and collaborate with other coaches.
Expect to come away with:
- Increased awareness of yours and others' lived experience and ways to support clients (and other colleagues) with perspectives and identities that differ from your own.
- Ideas for your own practice which you can try out in the Lab.
- Energy for continued conversation and reflection around these themes.
- Solid next steps for your own development as an inclusive practitioner - adept at challenging - promoting wellbeing.
Our Facilitator:
Shanara Hibbert is a Careers, Wellbeing and Executive Coach, TEDx and keynote speaker, two-time British Championship Triple Jump medalist and Performance Lifestyle Coach for UK Athletics. ‘Shanara Coaching’, helps people achieve more in their careers without sacrificing their wellbeing and specialises in supporting those from global ethnic majority backgrounds and in EDI roles through training, talks, 1:1 coaching and consultancy.
Shanara is passionate about helping others achieve more than they believe they can while looking after their wellbeing, particularly after overcoming major injury, surgery and mental health challenges myself.
As a Performance Lifestyle Coach, Shanara mentors and coaches Olympic and Paralympic-level athletes in their lives outside of sport, including with health and wellbeing, career progression and personal development. Her prior work in Higher Education includes years of line management and roles leading a Marketing and Events department, in workplace wellbeing and in Equality. This has led to recognition including being a finalist in the SHP Rising Star UK Awards, Inspiring Herts Workplace Wellbeing Awards and being named in a National AdvancedHE Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence.