Today I am stepping out my comfort zone!! This is on the back of two lovely colleagues who, last week, said that I should be shouting more from the rooftops about my proud ‘Athena’ accomplishments over the last year. I’m more of a behind-the-scenes kind of person, preferring to focus on the outcomes and growth of others, hence this being very much outside of my comfort zone.
So, here goes – a glimpse into my ‘Go Me’ moments and the journey of Athena Coaching Solutions over the past year……
- Getting Athena off the Ground
After spending my entire career in salaried roles, taking the leap to start Athena Coaching Solutions was a monumental step. It has been a journey filled with hard work, learning new skills, and gaining knowledge in areas that were previously handled by various departments. I’ve embraced the challenge of becoming ‘all departments in one’ and, while I may still be a bit slow at times 😊, I’m making progress!! I’m also loving it. - Our Athena Services
Running a business is never just about assuming what the market needs; it’s about actively engaging, seeking feedback, and having meaningful conversations. What brings me the most joy is the opportunity to share my years of experience and expertise to make a real impact on the development of others. Athena is gaining traction, attracting interest, and has even expanded into the international market – a twist I didn’t foresee when I faced an unexpected hurdle that turned into an opportunity. The feedback has been heartwarming, and word of mouth recommendations has become our primary lead generator. - Tailored Approaches
We’re constantly evolving and creating alternatives that suit businesses and individuals best. Whether it’s our two-day face-to-face courses, modular online courses, or flexible 1-2-1 coaching programs, we’re committed to meeting diverse needs. And there’s something new in the works based on market feedback – watch this space for more details! - CPD Accreditation
Achieving CPD accreditation for our Effective Management and Train The Trainer Courses has been a proud moment. Our courses were created from scratch to address the growing importance of ‘human skills,’ and the positive feedback, post-course evaluations, and interest have been incredibly motivating. - Coaching Approaches and Key Skills
Coaching comes naturally to me. Gone are the days of simply ‘telling’ – it’s about really listening, interpreting body language, and asking powerful questions. Effective communication, rapport-building, active listening, motivating, and understanding human psychology are all part of my toolkit. In 1-2-1 coaching, I don’t provide solutions; I support, guide, challenge, and use positive psychology to empower individuals. Human skills are essential in all aspects of life. I’m a firm believer in and an advocate of continuous learning so I also ‘practice what I preach’. I visualise my objectives, break them down into manageable steps and, most importantly, align them with my true values. This alignment is the key to staying motivated through the challenges as well as the fab parts, of which there are many….
So, there you have it! If you’ve got this far…. thank you 😊
Reflecting on this past year, in summary and publicly, hasn’t been as scary as I thought it would be. The picture in this post sums it up really 😊!!
Thank you to all of you who have been a part of this journey, whether as clients, collaborators, or friends. Your support means the world to me, and I’m excited to see where Athena Coaching Solutions goes in the future. Keep an eye out for more exciting developments.
Here’s to taking those leaps of faith and embracing change!
What are you proud of that you should be shouting from the rooftops about, but don’t?
I’d love to hear your thoughts in response to this blog.