Evidence based coaching

Evidence based coaching helps individuals align values and purpose with work goals to create meaningful work. Evidence based coaching is a brand new approach to coaching utilising a range of scientifically proven activities, questionnaires and techniques to raise self-awareness, align values and identify strengths and resources to leverage performance.

The opportunity to do meaningful work is the number one factor individuals want in their employment and yet many individuals have forgotten what it is they enjoy about their work creating stress and a feeling of dissatisfaction. Evidence based coaching gives people the tools to enable them to transform their working lives and fall (back) in love with their work.

Are you at a crossroads in your career and searching for a new purpose?

Evidence based coaching is perfect for any individual keen to refocus their energy and purpose within their company. This could be anyone who is at a crossroads in their career or is about to embark upon a particular challenge which requires their total commitment.

Alternatively, if you are ready to take that next step into a new career but want to make sure the choices you make are well in line with your values and play to your strengths, this approach could be exactly what you need.

It is particularly powerful for individuals who want to understand what makes them tick, what gives them purpose and what enables a sense of satisfaction in their work.

We help identify your direction, maximise your strengths and build your resilience

Mostly what individuals experience is a renewed sense of engagement in their work and their careers. This engagement comes from greater awareness of purpose and values as well as confidence in their ability to deliver through applying their strengths more effectively.

The techniques we use also help individuals build their resilience. In 2013/14 the total number of days lost due to stress, depression or anxiety was 11.3 million (HSE). We help individuals reframe stress as well as build skills to flourish through challenging times.

With Evidence Based Coaching we add value by tracking progress throughout the coaching engagement using a range of questionnaires administered pre, during and post our work together. In our experience using questionnaires as a feedback mechanism is the best way tailor our intervention: if we find something isn’t working, we flex our approach accordingly.

Another point of difference is that, unlike most coaching engagements which often end with an empty ‘now what?’ experience, each individual receives a confidential development report to sustain implementation of the techniques and exercises employed.
We know of very few coaching programmes which deliver these points of difference.

How does it work?

Whilst each engagement is tailored to the particular needs of the individual, the typical stages of the coaching include:

• Enhancing awareness
  Awareness is the most important pre-requisite for change. The first step is therefore to enhance awareness of the desired outcome by understanding values, personal goals, current resources and strengths. Alignment of values and goals is critical to releasing positive emotions, decreasing stress and increasing well-being overall.
• Using your strengths
  Consistent with positive psychology principles, we focus on identifying the strengths and resources individuals currently have at their disposal to overcome any potential barriers to change. These can be external or internal. Positive priming is employed throughout the planning sessions to point people in the right direction.
• Enjoying and sustaining your purpose
  This stage involves learning and practising positive psychology interventions (PPI) which enhance positive emotions. Positive emotions heighten our experience of meaning, expand our thinking and provide insulation when times are tough, helping to build levels of resilience. Depending on the needs of the client this could involve aspects of mindfulness, savouring, gratitude or journaling.

Why it works

Despite (or because of) the fact that positive psychology is a relatively new branch of psychology, it draws from many established techniques, refocusing them to optimise human flourishing.

For instance, we use a ‘free writing exercise’ (Pennebaker) which has its roots in helping trauma victims with their recovery to prime creativity and do some real blue sky thinking– with stunning results.

And meditation and mindfulness is approximately 3000 years old (although it is only now we are collecting scientific evidence of its efficacy).

The canon of research literature is growing on a daily basis and there are more than 200 research articles which attest to the beneficial outcomes of using strengths.

Our credentials

The coaching is led by Pam Kennett. Pam has an MSc in Applied Positive Psychology, an MBA in Human Resource Management, is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and has over 25 years of experience working with a range of organisations to help them get the most from the their talent. She is experienced in leadership development, executive assessment, coaching and organisational change.

Next steps

If you are interested in experiencing Evidence Based Coaching, please contact Pam for an obligation free chat.