I reached out to Steve last year for coaching support, having caught my eye with his always-honest, often-brutal observations of leadership in the charity sector. I’d recently finished my PG Cert and as part of the reflective practice element, had graduated with a ‘to do’ list for self-improvement, including the recognition that I had early signs of professional burn-out and felt a bit stuck in a rut, wondering ‘what’s next?’. I was getting itchy feet to do more, not less.
As it turned out, over the weeks that followed, we ended up ignoring this ’to do’ list. Instead, we worked together to find the areas of work and home that gave me energy and help me to thrive, alongside having to do ‘business as usual’.
Steve helped me to see (literally in my diary) there are only so many hours in the day, and that it is my right and within my gift to put some boundaries back in for things I enjoy. Together, we uncovered the importance of creativity, being an advocate for causes I love, high levels of trust, responsibility and freedom, and time spent outdoors.
I’m still learning, adjusting and certainly have blips and bumps in terms of priorities, but I very much value having this new list to return to, focused on my strengths and preferences, and not my weaknesses.
Kirsty Telford, Deputy Director, Ministry of Stories & Hoxton Street Monster Supplies