In this episode, Sarah is joined by Sandra Whiles, a coach, mentor, and author. Sandra shares her journey from a long and successful career in public service, including twelve years as a Chief Executive of a council, to becoming a professional coach. She discusses the motivations behind this significant career transition, the importance of leaving a role well, and how she found a new way to make a difference. Sandra also talks about the process of writing her new book on coaching, The Coaching Tools Compendium.
Key Takeaways
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Understanding your core values, such as challenge and security, is crucial for navigating career crossroads and making decisions that feel aligned with who you are.
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A successful career transition involves practical planning. This can include getting qualified, seeking support from a coach or network, and giving yourself time and space to explore what comes next.
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When starting a new business, it is useful to focus on the activities that generate energy and connection, like meeting people, rather than getting distracted by perfecting things like a website early on.
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Building a support team is just as important in self-employment as it is in an organisation. Recognise what you are not good at, or get no energy from, and find others who can help.
Episode Highlights
03:20: What first drew Sandra to a career in the public sector.
05:35: The realisation of the impact a leader can have on culture and people, and the desire to become a Chief Executive.
11:30: The external prompts and internal realisations that led to the decision to train as a professional coach.
27:00: Lessons learned from starting a business, including avoiding "comparisonitis" and the distraction of shiny objects.
38:10: The philosophy behind Sandra's book – moving beyond a simple list of tools to help coaches develop their own practice and confidence.
About the Guest
You can connect with Sandra via her website and on social media:
Episode Links
I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please find me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahfoxcoach/).
This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft (lucylucraft.co.uk)
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!
