The world was a different place when I booked my ticket in early March. 2020 was to be my first time at the UK ICF Conference. My diary had never cooperated in previous years, so this was going to be something completely new. As it turns out, by the time the Conference arrived we were all doing something completely new. Instead of smart clothes and name badges, we gathered remotely – all carpet slippers and jogging bottoms, children, pets, favourite tea mugs, dodgy bandwidth and Digestive biscuits.
A large percentage of the world is working from home right now, and I’d imagine most of those people are hating it. However, I’m a part of a small minority of people who actually enjoy working from home. Whilst I’m much happier in my own company and luckily not finding isolation as hard as other people, it’s important to remember that long periods of time spent alone, could be detrimental to you.
Over the last few days, amid such unprecedented and sudden change, I have found comfort and inspiration in the wise words of a random selection of people. I hope the quotes below are all genuine. If they are not, I apologise for the misattribution but in the end, I don’t think it matters if the messages resonate with you.
Barefoot Coaching have been shortlisted for the Small Business of the Year Award at the East Midlands Chamber Enterprising Women Awards 2020. On the 29th January 2020, at Haarlem Mill in Matlock, the finalists for the East Midlands Chamber Enterprising Women Awards were announced.
Last month, I did Jon McNestrie’s Visual Facilitation training with Barefoot Coaching – and feel compelled to share this secret with you – improving your visual communication is easier than you might think. I was enthusing about this to a friend – who asked what is Visual Facilitation?
Turned up day one, module one, green around the ears
There in the room fourteen other adventurers
Everyone with a story to tell
Why this course was right for the here and now.
Safe space to explore
Understanding self in service of others
Pause with purpose
Expanding our education
Restorative in all manner of ways
Vulnerable and willing to share
In the inimitable words of Leonard Cohen “There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in”. Thoughts about broken pottery and the Barefoot Coaching Winter Conference… Last week a gathering of coaches at various ages and stages of their journey invested in a day together at the Barefoot Coaching annual winter conference to share, learn and connect. As always, listening to thought leaders of the coaching world gave me plenty of food for thought.
Families – their joys and challenges are as unique as the people in them. The role of parent is undoubtedly my most challenging one. I’m an only child, brought up in a single-parent family and now I have a partner, step-daughter and three young children. Sometimes I feel strong, capable, joyful, occasionally like I’m getting it right.
I love learning, writing and believe in investing in my own professional development, so attending Jackee Holder’s Write Yourself well – Creative Therapeutic Writing in Coaching and Coaching Supervision CPD day put on by Barefoot Coaching was a no brainer.
