By Kelly Wood, Barefoot Coaching Director of Workplace Coaching
For years I’d heard people talk about the ‘magic of the Barefoot cohort’ and the profound, lasting learning that took place. Having met and spoken with many Barefoot Alumni, they shared first-hand the huge impact their fellow learners had on them as they trained to be a coach on our Flagship Coach Training Programme (PGCert in Personal and Business Coaching).
Many have remained friends, become business partners, and even written books together. Like others, I wondered what secret sorcery took place on the programme for this magic to happen. In July 2023, I got to experience and witness this for myself.
Eleven of us came together from all over the world, eager, open to learning and unlearning, a little nervous, but most of all, excited to embark on our coach training. Any nerves were immediately settled as our expert tutors welcomed us with warmth and open arms. Our trust in each other, our connection, and our sense of safety with each other led us to share things we had never shared before.
Fast forward to the end of our programme and having joined as strangers, each of us from different backgrounds and locations around the world – we left as friends. Actually, we were so much more…
Anyone who has completed the Barefoot exercise ‘Build Your Support Team’ will be familiar with the roles of:
Radiators: People who make you feel good and boost your confidence.
Role Models: People you admire and have achieved what you want to achieve.
People Who Can Help You: People with information, skills and contacts. No
Nonsense ‘Kick in the Pants’ Friends: People who will tell it like it is.
Well, we were all of the above – add to that mentors, business strategists and cheerleaders!
Twelve months later, in June 2024, a number of us met up in London for the very first time, with some of the group having flown in from around the world to join us. The magic was just as strong in person as it had been online. It was a day of firsts, including, for some, their very first Cream Tea! And, of course, there were no leading questions when it came to jam or cream first! It’s fair to say we all left a little heavier, full of treats, but most of all, our hearts feeling fuller.
Having had chance to reflect on their experience a year on, here’s how some of the cohort looked back on their time with Barefoot.
What impact has the programme had on you?
The programme has enabled me to extend our career development offering at work, helping our people work towards their professional goals. On a personal level, the learning and insights gained throughout the programme have certainly enhanced the quality and depth of conversations I am having with others.
How would you describe the experience of being on the programme and learning with this cohort?
I thoroughly enjoyed the entire programme and the support and guidance provided by the tutors was exceptional. They created a safe and open space to learn, which was reflected in the quality of coaching practice across our cohort. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to share this experience with.
Nadine Ackerman
Bedfordshire, UK
Joined the programme whilst working in Brazil
What impact has the programme had on you?
The programme has opened up a whole new chapter in my life and a whole new career for me. After 20+ years in the civil service, I was looking for a new path and hoped coaching might be it. Barefoot inspired me and helped me to develop a love of coaching as well as a fantastic grounding of skills and experience from the excellent tutors and materials.
How would you describe the experience of being on the programme and learning with this cohort?
I absolutely loved training with Barefoot. My cohort are a fantastic bunch of people and to learn so much from each of them. I entered into the programme because I loved connecting with people and wanted to train as a coach so I could help and support future clients. What I didn’t expect was to connect with ten other beautiful humans who I now get to call my friends.
Rachel Dubourg
Croydon, London
What impact has the programme had on you?
The Barefoot programme gave me the confidence that I have what it takes to deliver coaching at PCC level. More importantly, the tutors have instilled in me a deep sense of awareness that how we show up as coaches matters.
How would you describe the experience of being on the programme and learning with this cohort?
I would come out of every session feeling really, really happy, my heart bursting with joy. My husband said he’s never seen me like that. My fellow OL81 mates are simply amazing. Our journey was marked by a strong sense of mutual support and trust, with guest appearances from the empathic provocateur at strategic moments. I know that they will be my trusted friends for life.
Diana Gan
Malaysia
What impact has the programme had on you?
The Barefoot programmme has openned up the world of coaching for me in an approachable and comprehensive way. It has given me a valuable insight into what coaching can offer and how to integrate it into my working life moving forward.
How would you describe the experience of being on the programme and learning with this cohort?
The overall experience was one of learning but also enjoyment! The group sessions were always engaging and thought provoking but also with a lot of laughter along the way. As a result, I felt a real bond with everyone in the cohort after we had all shared so many personal stories and trusted each other with our experiences in order to have the best learning from the programme.
Joseph Velosa
London, UK and Mallorca, Spain
What impact has the programme had on you?
The flagship programme has been transformational for me personally, coming at a pivotal time in my life and career. It has helped me to develop the skills to coach, build my knowledge, given me the confidence to embrace coaching and find my own style and pursue a different direction with my career. An additional plus and completely unexpected, was the development of my own self-awareness as I was expertly coached by my fellow delegates and tutors and had time to reflect on my own personal journey. It was magical!
How would you describe the experience of being on the programme and learning with this cohort?
This cohort has been incredible, strangers at the start and now all friends with whom I have had the privilege of sharing this experience, each of us with our own journey that brought us to enrol, but connected by the passion and respect for all that coaching can bring. Supportive, encouraging, cheerleading, being vulnerable and feeling held safely, whilst being challenged to bring my very best self to my coaching practice. The programme has ended but the spirit of cohort OL81 continues, we continue to connect, and I know that my fellow delegates are alongside me celebrating milestones and continuing with the support and care that I experienced from day one.
Dawn Smith
Coventry, UK
What impact has the programme had on you?
The programme has had such a big impact on the way I work with clients, as well as my own inner dialogue! As a self-confessed development junkie, I was excited to do the programme but had no idea it would be such a life-affirming experience for me. I am not only more confident in my own skin, but I am also able to approach challenges in a totally different way to how I did before. My favourite saying from the whole programme is that the coachee holds the answers within themselves.
How would you describe the experience of being on the programme and learning with this cohort?
I feel so grateful to have met such a wonderful group of people. I had no idea what to expect when I started out working with them all, but I have learned so much from every single person!
Kate Cousens
Chester, UK
What impact has the programme had on you?
I understand more about who I am, I accept my foibles and feel ok with them. I’ve even got a name for my imposter, just so I can keep her in check. I’ve built confidence to try something new and different and I’m now starting a new chapter and career. Love it!
How would you describe the experience of being on the programme and learning with this cohort?
To be honest, I was sceptical when I first started the course. It was a group of eleven people who came together from completely different backgrounds, countries, and professions, and I wondered what I would have in common with them. These 10 people are probably the most authentic people I’ve come across in all my working career (the last 25 years). They are honest, supportive, bright and all with a desire to learn. Not only to learn about coaching, but to learn about themselves, which in turn created a ‘safe space’ to let your g suard down. None of us live near each other, but we will be friends and colleagues for life.
Marie Hannigan
Winchester, UK
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