These examples, extracted from coaching programmes, are anonymous but real.

Senior project manager
New to this level, she wanted to significantly improve her already considerable management skills. The coaching programme covered what kind of a leader she wanted to be and helped her to be clear on her values. This enabled her to do a similar exercise with her team, resulting in a more motivated set of people who felt they knew far more about each other and the way the projects should be led than before.

"Very focused on what I wanted, and was always very flexible during the sessions - changing approach according to what was working."

Managing Director
Having just sold her successful company, she was working for a year for the new Board, and was still adjusting to the situation. The coaching sessions focussed on seeing the new reporting relationships from different angles, and getting insights into how the new Board was thinking. This enabled her to attend the Board meetings with confidence and perform with the flair which had attracted them to her business in the first place.

"Jane has many years experience at a senior corporate level, coupled with a good ’ life’ experience, which is why I decided to work with her as my coach. I was coached by Jane regarding a change in my business structure leading to me reporting to a Board rather than myself. Not an easy cross-over when you have worked on your own for so many years. On one occasion I had a board meeting to attend with an agenda that I was not feeling very self confident with. Jane helped me see things from a very different perspective which led to the meeting being incredibly positive. I was buzzing when I came out! Had I not been coached by Jane prior to the meeting, I can confidently say that it would not have been as positive.”

Senior manager in a blue chip company
The coachee had just been promoted and was fed up of going through the debilitating anxiety which such occasions normally provoked. The coaching focussed on creating a better state of mind, and enabling the coachee to access it whenever needed. The sleepless nights vanished.

“I came to Jane with a real lack of confidence in my ability at work. I can now hear the positive feedback I receive and tackle issues assertively and with confidence. I can’t believe how far I have come in just a couple of months.”

Regional manager in a large company
The coaching gave her ways to manage people at a distance and to request and accept help from others. It dealt with the way she managed her time, or rather managed herself. It helped her with handling interruptions, getting herself ‘unstuck’ on certain tasks, and increased her confidence as a leader.

“Jane Kitchen has a wonderful coaching style. You get encouragement, support, ideas, strategies and challenges to the status quo. Each session seems to conclude with better results and outcomes than expected.”

Senior executive
A husband and father of three was desperate to be able to go home from a busy, stressful day at work and not shout at his kids. Through coaching he realised that he had a choice in the behaviour he did, and was instantly able to change. His wife (and the children) are very grateful!

Middle manager
Convinced she was being overlooked, and knowing she had more to offer if given the opportunity, she sought coaching. The coaching worked systematically through what was holding her back, both practically and confidence-wise. Weeks later she rang to say she had just had a long meeting with her boss, and he had been very impressed with the way she had come on, and the self-development she had been doing.