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Benefits of PROFESSIONAL coaching

You know that your people are talented and professional but you probably also know that everyone has room for improvement.

In both one to one and team coaching, I employ a collaborative and conversational style which allows the client(s) to stop and think and gives them the time and space in which they can express themselves, explore new ideas and develop their own solutions.

By supporting you or your team through a wide range of issues, we can unlock their full potential, improve retention levels and give your firm a competitive edge.

Both my colleague and I have used the principles from “Managing Difficult Conversations” this week and loved it. It really helped when composing a difficult email and made me feel really confident in what I was saying, so thank you.

Cath was great, made the whole room feel at ease and gave advice in a way that galvanised the audience.

1-2-1 Coaching for legal professionals

The coaching I provide is genuinely client-led. I won’t force you to work on anything you don’t want to work on but here are some examples of topics my clients have worked on with me:

  • Increasing confidence
  • Improving team dynamics
  • Managing difficult conversations
  • Communication skills
  • Preparing for leadership
  • Time Management
  • Tackling imposter syndrome
  • Returning to work following a career break
  • Presentation skills

Group Coaching for legal professionals

In my group coaching sessions you will be in a safe space with other lawyers and there will be time for everyone to be heard and for you to help each other. Group coaching can also be delivered in-house or to private groups:

  • Improving communication within the team
  • Time-Management
  • Work-life balance
  • Presentation skills
  • Applying for promotion
  • Overwhelm
  • Career-planning
  • Tackling a difficult situation which has arisen
  • Managing difficult conversations
  • Returning from maternity or paternity leave

Please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss how coaching might work for you or the members of your team.

Make the change

Coaching can be carried out in person, at a location to suit you, in Manchester and the North West of England, or by phone or video-conferencing, wherever you are in the world.

Please contact me so that we can discuss your requirements or book a free introductory call on Calendly.

Coaching FAQs

Who would benefit from coaching for lawyers?

Anyone who has an area of life they’d like to improve. If your life is perfect it’s probably not for you. But, if you’re not quite there, it might be. If you would like to achieve the goals you’ve always talked about but never quite got around to starting, or you’ve been putting off seeking promotion or asking for a pay rise, coaching could help you.

It is common for a company to sponsor the coaching for those heading for promotion, or partnership, or to improve productivity and performance within the team or the firm.

For the self-employed – including barristers – improving time management is a common theme, as well as practice management and moving towards Silk or the bench.

And, sadly, given the current challenges of practising at the bar, it is becoming more common for barristers to use coaching to consider the possibility of a career change or perhaps to work out what changes they could make to make it more acceptable to stay. (There was a time when that might have worked for me, perhaps)

Assignments could be focused on a particular goal – improving presentation skills, for example, or simply to provide support during a transitional period. We often see people become unstuck and achieve what they’ve wanted for a long time – coaching gets them there.

Isn’t working with a coach a sign of weakness?

As a former barrister, I have lots of barrister and solicitor friends who are showing various stages of bafflement about my new career as a professional coach, some are even, I would venture to suggest, a little bit suspicious. The implicit question seems to be, “Isn’t it just some sort of new-age quackery?” tied in with a little bit of “Wouldn’t it be a sign of weakness to employ help in this way?”

Although I don’t work exclusively with lawyers, I do understand their world, and I understand that many other people will have similar thoughts, so I thought I’d write some more focused questions, and then answer them.

What if I am self employed?

Are you facing change or challenge in your professional life? Do you have a decision to make but have been putting it off?
Would you like to be able to identify, recognise and take on more opportunities, or do things that previously scared you?
Make time for yourself, your career and your family through a supportive and collaborative coaching relationship.

If I haven’t invented a question that suits you, please get in touch and let me know: cathbrown@skilfulconversation.com

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