About me & coaching
I'm Sparky; after 15 years at Google as a manager and software engineering, I pivoted to executive coaching because I believe that it can unlock powerful change in people and teams. LinkedIn profile
I'm also a gregarious American currently based in London, UK.
ICF coach
Practitioner Diploma in Executive Coaching from the AoEC
Co-Active coaching
Lego Serious Play
Circl Leader as Coach
My coaching is rooted in providing a foundation of trust for the client to talk through their goals in a way that facilitates new ideas and insights. I ask open-ended questions that give space for you to fully explore a topic with the focus 100% on what you want. In a world where time is a precious commodity, an hour of coaching focused entirely on you can be a transformative experience - no interruptions, no distractions, no avoiding the topic. You have all the ideas and solutions to creatively and consciously solve your own problems, I bring time, space, and gentle focus to help you access those solutions.
What does a coach bring that you cannot get with an hour of self-reflection on your own? My role is to push you to challenge your usual patterns of thinking and view your situation from angles you wouldn't normally consider. As an external observer, I can observe and help you explore your word choices, metaphors, and non-verbal cues such as body language or tone that may signify deeper meaning. And I can keep our focus on the uncomfortable topics or feelings* that you may naturally try to avoid.
One of the most important tenets of my coaching development is that there is not one right way to coach. Each client + coach dynamic is unique, and it is important to have a broad palette of coaching tools to use as appropriate for the client and conversation.
I believe coaching must be holistic. While discussing your goals, we may talk about your personal goals or challenges as much as your professional ones. It is impossible to consider one of these aspects of our lives without appreciating the influences and demands of the other. Professional success should always include a balanced and happy life, not be achieved at its cost.
My coaching style blends several methodologies, including Co-Active, Gestalt, Ontological, and Solutions Focused Coaching. You'll notice that different types of coaching techniques help us find new perspectives on your experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Some of the techniques may feel silly (doodle your feelings!), which is why I ask that you have an open mind initially, give me feedback about what is and is not resonating with you, and encourage that we explore a topic from several angles rather than using a single technique.
* A coach is not a licensed therapist. Issues involving mental illness, self harm, or other topics at my discretion may be considered inappropriate for coaching and I will encourage you to discuss it with a mental health professional.
What is Coaching?
There are as many definitions of coaching as there are coaches, but generally they include:
non-directive - coach does not offer advice or solutions.
client-led - the client (and their employer, for corporate clients) set the goals and pace of the coaching journey.
trusted space - the client and coach create a safe space to discuss and explore.
More about my personal philosophy of coaching is described above.
Who do you coach?
I coach all sorts of people from students to corporate executives. Everyone can benefit from a coaching conversation!
It is important that there be a good rapport between coach and client, and that my coaching style align with your goals. That is why I ask that all potential coaching clients start with a 15 minute fit call.
Coaching should only take place if both the client (you) and coach (me) agree after that call. This relationship will be reviewed after 2-3 sessions to ensure that we are working well together.
How frequently should we meet?
That depends on the client and situation. Weekly, fortnightly, monthly, one-off, or on demand are all possible. A 15-minute coaching fit call is the right place to discuss that, and we can also adjust our frequency depending on how much progress is being made.
Can I schedule just one session?
Yes. Right here.
Lots of clients only have time for a single coaching session, or just need one hour to talk through a specific issue on their mind. That is something that we can discuss in an initial fit call, or start with one session.
Clients with larger topics or long term goals may want to start with a fixed number of sessions and we can adjust the duration and schedule based on progress.
Be mindful that much of the "work" of coaching is done between sessions - the thoughts and awareness that comes after a coaching conversation. Some clients who have a single session find it useful to schedule additional session(s) to check-in a few weeks or months later and explore these new patterns.
How many times / frequently will we meet?
Coaching sessions are usually one hour each, but 90 minute or longer sessions may be possible for clients on an individual basis.
Executive coaching is usually more effective over multiple session; 6-8 is the recommended number for most clients. However, there is no "best" or right number of coaching sessions. We use regular progress check-ins and goal alignment to make sure the coaching is worthwhile, and can change the frequency or duration of coaching as needed. Payment is per session, so you won't be out money if we wrap up in fewer sessions than planned.
How much does coaching cost?
I run a sliding scale for clients based on their needs and resources, from £75-150 / hour.
Multi-session discounts of 20% after the first session.