Why Work with a Coach?
Have you ever thought about working with a coach but not sure if it’s right for you or how it works? You may also be wondering what sort of coach you need - an Executive Coach, a Business Coach, a Leadership Coach, or a Life Coach.
10 Reasons to work with a coach:
Achieve more
The short answer is that a coach will support you to achieve your goals whether those are business objectives, personal development plans or making changes to your life such as a career change.
Coaching empowers you to reach your full potential. A coach will partner with you to identify where you want to be and how to get there, helping you to identify a plan and actions to make it happen and holding you accountable to take those steps forward.
2. You set the agenda
Coaching is all about your priorities. Together, you’ll identify the themes or challenges you want to work on, with the flexibility to bring in new topics as they arise.
Working with a coach begins with an exploratory chat to identify the topics or themes you want to work on over several sessions.
The coach will guide you through a series of conversations to dig deep into those topics. Of course, if other things come up you are welcome to bring those to the table The coach’s job is to make the discussions as constructive as possible.
3. Space for you
When business and life are so busy, it’s hard to step back and gain perspective. Coaching gives you protected time to reflect on what’s important, away from distractions.
Your time with a coach is space for you alone - it’s entirely non-judgemental, private, and confidential.
4. Feel heard
When was the last time you felt someone was entirely focussed on listening to you and had the time and space to focus on you? A coach is there to listen and support. Coaches are experienced in deep listening. You are free to talk about anything you need including things, that you feel you can’t talk about with your manager, your colleagues, your family or friends. A coach won’t judge or criticise.
5. Support and Accountability
A coach is there to support you and is always on your side. They will help you celebrate what you have achieved and hold you accountable for achieving more.
They act as a sounding board, ask thought-provoking questions, and offer fresh perspectives to help you navigate barriers.
Coaching helps you see challenges differently, overcome obstacles, and break free from limiting beliefs. Unlike therapy, which often focuses on the past, coaching is forward-looking and growth-oriented.
A coach will act as a sounding board to help you think through and clarify your thoughts or challenges. A coach will provide the structure of the conversation and will ask powerful and sometimes challenging questions to help you shift perspective, explore alternative scenarios and see things differently so that you can work through and beyond any challenges or barriers.
6.Clarity, New Perspective and Overcome Obstacles
Unlike counselling or therapy which tends to unpack the past, coaching is about the future. It’s about growth and development. Although it may sometimes involve exploring self-sabotaging thoughts or blocks that have held you back in the past, so you can move around them.
7. Focus on the Future
A coach will help you to identify and achieve goals. A business coach may work with you to identify business objectives, while an executive or leadership coach with work with you on the so called soft-skills you may want to develop such as boosting confidence, improving time-management, building better relationships or becoming a better leader.
8. Set Goals and Make Decisions
9. Motivation and Inspiration
Coaching is not only transformative but can also be enjoyable. A great coach inspires curiosity, confidence, and creativity while providing a relaxed and empathetic environment. Importantly a good coach will provide a relaxed, empathetic environment where you feel safe and can smile.
10. Reach your Potential
Coaching will help you to achieve your full potential. One of the forefathers of modern coaching Sir John Whitemore or Performance Coaching writes:
“Coaching is unlocking a person’s potential to maximise their own performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them. We are more like an acorn, which contains within it all the potential to be a magnificent oak tree. We need nourishment, encouragement and the light to reach towards, but the oaktreeness is already within.”
What kind of Coach do you need?
Executive Coach
For CEOs, founders, senior leaders and directors. A confidential space to think strategically while staying grounded and human.
Make confident, high-impact decisions under pressure
Strengthen your presence, influence and communication
Navigate organisational politics and stakeholder relationships
Build high-performing, aligned leadership teams
Manage stress, avoid burnout, and stay connected to your values
Career Coach
If you are ready for change, growth or the next step.
Explore a career change or shift direction
Prepare for a new role, promotion or challenge
Sharpen your interview skills and personal brand
Create a career development plan that suits your strengths and goals
Build clarity, confidence and momentum
Leadership Coach
For new, emerging or experienced managers who want to lead with confidence to support you to develop your style and motivate your team.
Develop emotional intelligence, self-awareness and motivation
Improve relationships and influence
Get better at time management and decision-making
Improve team performance, engagement
Reduce stress, build resilience and tackle imposter syndrome
Business Coach
For business owners and founders scaling teams and growing their company to help you clarify your goals, work more strategically, and grow your business.
Increase profits, productivity and competitive advantage
Recruit and retain the right people
Develop strategic plans and implement them with confidence
Improve customer satisfaction
Stay focused, energised and clear on your priorities
Life Coach
For anyone going through change, feeling stuck, or wanting more balance and purpose in life. Life coaching is about you, your goals, your wellbeing, and your happiness.
Explore life transitions or personal challenges
Improve work-life balance and focus on what matters
Reconnect with your values and what makes you happy
Build habits that support health, energy and purpose
Feel more present, resilient and in control
How to Choose a Coach
It’s important to find a coach that you can connect with and trust. Most Coaches offer a free initial chat - sometimes called an Exploratory or Chemistry Call, so you can get to know them before committing. Here’s what to look for:
Credentials
There is no single coaching qualification or accreditation, so ask a potential coach about their training.
Look for qualifications like an ILM Level 7 certificate or accreditation with industry bodies such as the International Coaching Federation (ICF) or European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC).
Experience
Coaches bring diverse experiences; their approach may be informed by business strategy, psychology, or leadership expertise, so ask about their background in business or elsehwere.
Connection
Trust your instincts—coaching is a personal journey, and a good rapport is essential.
Polly Robinson - Coach
I’m a Leadership and Executive Coach supporting leaders and senior managers. I am a qualified Executive Coach and Mentor (ILM Level 7) based in Bristol, I coach clients in a variety of business sectors, face-to-face and online. I’m based in Bristol but coach clients in London and across the UK.
My Coaching Approach
Coaching with me is about building a strong and trusting relationship where you feel supported, challenged, and inspired. My role is to:
Be a supportive partner—a listening ear, a trusted sounding board, and someone to lean on.
Help you focus on your values, what truly matters, and align these with your decisions and actions.
Guide you through constructive conversations, offering both encouragement and challenge to help you grow personally and professionally.
How Coaching Works in Practice
Exploratory Call
An initial chat to get to know your potential coach and decide whether there is a good rapport and if you would like to work together.
2. Coaching Programme
A typical Coaching Programme starts with 6 but sometimes extends to a year or more. Coaching takes place online or in person at a time to suit you and usually lasts 60-90 minutes.
3. Follow Up & Resources
Your Coach will follow up each session with tools, reading, podcasts and other resources to support you and give you more insight and ideas.
Chat to Polly about Coaching
polly@pollyrobinson.co.uk
07966 475195
Book an Exploratory Call below: