“we can’t become what we need to be by remaining what we are”
Oprah Winfrey
What Is Coaching?
‘Between stimulus and response there is space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom’
Viktor E Frankl
The International Coaching Federation defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. Coaching is therefore an incredibly powerful and practical skill set designed to equip people to build mental and emotional resilience to achieve the personal and professional outcomes they are looking for.
Just as physical training is about strengthening the body, coaching is like a “brain gym” that focuses the mind. The focus of coaching is always to serve clients in achieving the goals they want.
As an accredited coach, I do not impose my own agenda, acknowledging that you as the client are the expert in your life. Whereas counselling focuses on healing from the past, and consulting is about giving expert advice, coaching is about creating awareness within the client of the key issues that s/he needs to address in moving forward and facilitating progress through practical strategies. Coaching therefore focuses on the present and the future, not the past.
Coaching is always focused on your outcomes. As a coach I can assist you in identifying the outcomes you want for your life and the process to achieve these outcomes. These outcomes may include growing in leadership or other skills in professional development or improving aspects of your personal life.
I will journey with you as you identify obstacles or barriers to these outcomes, to discover the resources you need to remove or overcome these obstacles or barriers, and strategies to obtain and maintain momentum in pursuing your outcomes.
As a coach I am trained to ask the right questions to take you beyond the boundaries of your conscious thinking to discover the root cause of the challenges you face. Drawing on current neuroscientific research and practice, I will encourage you to identify underlying beliefs that may not be getting you to where you want to be.
You will have the opportunity to create new empowering beliefs which will in turn create resourceful attitudes, feelings, actions, and outcomes.
Coaching does not offer easy “surface” solutions, but rather deep transformational change and strategies to build resilience to pursue ongoing personal and professional growth.
About Jo
Professional Experience – I am a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and hold an Accredited Coach Credential (ACC). I provide coaching for clients in the cooperate sector, NGO’s as well as personal development coaching
In addition to coaching credentials I have completed a Diploma in Leadership and Management, a post graduate qualification in Social Work as well as foundation level in Family Therapy, counselling and Partnership Brokering.
I have worked for over 25 years in the Community Services sector in both Government and Not for Profit sector as a frontline practitioner. I have worked extensively with children and adults who have experienced trauma and relationship difficulties. I also have significant experience as a people leader, leading teams across Australia as a trainer, project manager and a National practice manager advising on, and implementing best practice.
Personal Experience – On a personal level, I have been through my own personal transformation, moving from the UK to Australia with my husband in 2014 and building a new life together. The move followed an unsuccessful fertility journey involving multiple IVF cycles. I choose to share this part of my journey as it is an area of life which can be difficult for some people to talk about and can prevent them from positively moving forward in their life.
I acknowledge that everyone who has been or is currently on this journey will have their own unique story. I am actively involved in supporting women on a similar journey and an international advocate for those living a childless life through circumstance, not by choice.
‘Owning our own story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do’
Brene Brown
My journey has given me a greater awareness and connection to those living a life they did not expect or hope for. Whether this is due to a health condition/injury, loss of a loved one, a broken relationship or a loss of a different dream, there are similar elements in dealing with grief, loss, navigating relationships and developing the confidence to dream again. This is an area of interest for me in coaching people; both men and women who are facing a different future to one they expected and hope for.
If you would like to specifically discuss any whether coaching in this situation would be the right for you, please contact me for a discussion.
Testimonials
Jo’s approach to coaching is client centred, strengths based and facilitative. She built rapport quickly and readily adapted her methods to meet my personality style. Jo’s inquisitive style helped me uncover roadblocks in my personal and professional development. She offered tools to move past these, and at my request, held me accountable to the practices I committed to doing.
Emma Larsen, Caritas Oceania Accompaniment Coordinator
I have had the privilege of working with Jo in two capacities: firstly I have facilitated workshops for teams which Jo either leads or gives oversight; and secondly I trained and mentioned Jo in her journey to become an International Coaching Federation credentialed Coach. I observed firsthand Jo’s highly relational and collaborative style in leadership, and her great capacity to build trust and buy in with her teams.
As a Coach, Jo is fully present with her clients. She exhibits exceptional listening and questioning skills, is highly intuitive, and partners with her clients on a journey to get to the heart of the challenges/obstacles, and move forward to maximise their personal and professional potential. Her capacity to build genuine rapport and trust, and relate to people of all ages and walks of life, is key to her effectiveness as a coach.
The combination of experience, skills and attributes as a senior leader, manager and coach, enable Jo to be a very effective Leadership and Personal Development Coach. I highly recommend her without reservation.
Mark Setch (MCC), Leadership & Personal Development Coach and Educator.
My coaching sessions with Jo provide a safe space to explore and challenge myself both professionally and personally. I discovered new truths about myself and was given some excellent tools and information to do more exploration. I have also great visual reminders for me developed through our coaching sessions, to challenge old behaviours and to remind me to seek new ways of developing myself as a leader, and ways to encourage others around me to do the same. Her positive approach was really appreciated and made me feel able to explore myself without judgement or giving advice.
Anita
Throughout my 6 coaching sessions Jo was able to walk me on a journey in a supportive and engaging manner that enabled me to reach a higher potential both personally and professionally. I highly recommend coaching and look forward to additional engagements within my career.
Jo Popplestone 