Beyond the Binary Lies….Balance, Love and Brave

The Coach’s Journey Podcast presents Katie Harvey, Robbie Swale and myself as both the coach, and the presenter in it’s latest two episodes.

And in my fears….I have been reluctant to share them….!

But my goodness ‘where there is the most resistance, is the most opportunity for growth’ so totally applies here……. so here goes……

I have hardly put out any posts for over a year now. Many of you will know, I have been piloting my way through a huge life transition, and navigating that alongside my work as a Coach, Facilitator and Programmes Director at Freedom to Learn has been my focus. 

So…..you may have read in my last post, I am now a member of the presenters team on The Coach’s Journey Podcast alongside my wonderful colleagues Robbie Swale, Alex Swallow, Ruth Saville, Alex Whitton and Neil MacKinnon. Beginning this new venture for me has been a brave move in what is quite a moment in my own life. So I must admit my resistance to share on any platform has been very high!

There is a high level of vulnerability in knowing, what is essentially your own voice, is to be published to an unknown quantity of other beings listening! When I said yes to this, I’m not sure I was that clear on what an undertaking it would be.

Firstly there is the preparation. For my own interview it was about considering those listening who may be impacted by what I say. Consideration of how they may feel to be listening to stories that may involve them. As a presenter, it was about research initially, then inside the conversation I prepared in cultivating presence, respect and an open heart.

To do this I chose a framework that we so often bring to coaching, and are a key part of The Coach’s Journey Coaching Values: Courage, Honesty, Vulnerability and Leadership.

So, I had to carefully consider:

Courage: Sharing honestly! Being open-hearted and professional. Talking through the history of a huge chunk of my life and my work up until this point within the sphere of coaching. Bringing my ‘whole’ self, but with balance and integrity. Plus – Speak, publicly. Plus – It’s Recorded! Eeek.

Honesty: Being truthful, yet with careful boundaries. Over-sharing could lead to a whopping vulnerability hangover or worse – causing harm to others. So self awareness, and pace helped me steady my integrity.

Vulnerability: In my practice of chanting I see everyday that to face things within ourselves – those thoughts, words, deeds, memories, stories, feelings which make us vulnerable, ALWAYS opens the door to opportunity to strengthen and grow ourselves and our life force. But chanting is inside, in private. To be interviewed and to present on podcast that is recorded and listened to by others publicly – is seriously exposing! More so than I expected! And that IS vulnerable. I decided to embrace and expand the opportunity for growth and learning here. (erm….and sweat…!)

Leadership: It was clear I needed to take leadership in myself, to be disciplined, to prepare, to take time – Self Leadership. I also needed to lead in partnership, by preparing well with Robbie for my own interview, and with Katie – taking a lead sometimes in conversation, allowing for flow and trust. Aaaaaaand to keep. on. going. EVEN WHEN I wanted to stop doing it and give up as it felt too risky (which also takes courage, oh, and honesty to admit it here too, oh and vulnerability to admit it here as well – he he!!)

It turns out this process is a huge experience of Learning and Growth! Not just me providing a service, but once again, a hugely interconnected web of mutual little changes helping me, and hopefully helping others near me, and those who listen, all move forward just a little bit more…..

So, I give you, The Coach’s Journey Podcast! With its wealth of wonderful conversations. Not only the episodes I am involved in (59, and Katie’s just released today, episode 60) but also those of the leadership and integrity of Robbie Swale, the gravitas of Neil MacKinnon, and…..cannot wait to explore what Ruth, and both Alex W and Alex S will creatively offer the body of meaningful work.

I am also excited to share my next episode with Ruth Rochelle in a few months, who is completely magic in her heart led integrity and in which shares a wealth of the wonder of this craft we call coaching…..