Why use me?

Ian Hanreck, Life Coach

Two words: Realistic & Practical

After eight years in financial services and another eight years with a number of media and communication companies (not forgetting six months on a beach between the two!) I came to coaching formally in 2003, although in many ways it’s what I had been doing with colleagues informally for many years – that archetypal person people would feel comfortable talking to and opening up to.

I wanted a new career and knew that I’d want it to involve helping others in some practical way. I shied away from counselling as I felt it dwelt to much on the ‘whys’ at the expense of the ‘whats’ – what steps you need to take to change, move forward and improve your lot (something since echoed by some of my clients). Which is where Life Coaching comes in as it focuses on the practical steps needed to move you forward to a better place by making steady incremental changes.

I undertook my initial training with the European Coaching Foundation, although any coach worth their salt knows that developing their coaching skills is an ongoing and continuous process of improvement, just like it is for my clients.

Areas I tend to specialise in are confidence building (the biggie!), careers (career change and career development) motivation (ie, doing what you say you will do when you say you will do it) and new business start-ups. I also contribute to The Late Show on BBC Radio London.

My style of Coaching is informal, practical and down to earth – with a dose of humour. There’s no waving of crystals, navel gazing or obscure coaching jargon. I work with you to help you understand your present situation, and together we work on possible options for moving forward… then it’s time for you to take action. What I like to call homework.

This, for me, is the crux of Coaching; offering practical assistance and support with the ultimate aim of living a happier life where you have a real sense of balance and fulfilment.