The first thing to realise is that coaching isn’t “a process”. There was no sign of a sausage machine approach to any of the sessions. While the discussion might start off in one direction, Sandee has an absolute skill at making sure we would end up talking about the things that actually matter and, more importantly, could make a difference to how to approach a situation, how to manage a problem, how to make an outcome achievable. I feel I have some additional skills to deal with the myriad of issues that arise in the workplace and outside the workplace – in life.
There are a number of situations where I’ve reflected on the coaching sessions and believe that a change in my approach has actually yielded the benefits I was seeking – at work and in my volunteer life.
This is probably the best part – while my desk is still a mess and the ironing is still not done, these are not things that cause me any concern at all. One of my goals was to make sure that I make more time for the important things – and most of those things are in fact people. So the desk and the ironing can wait, within reason, but spending time with people can’t. That said, my desire to achieve as close as possible to perfection in my professional and personal goals hasn’t waned at all – but there are different ways of achieving an end, and I’m currently on a much more comfortable path.
Sandee – I would be lying to say it wasn’t a bit of hard work. But it was valuable work and enjoyable work. I hope that at some time we might be granted the opportunity to work together again. THANK YOU!
Director Corporate & Commercial Development
Perth Zoo
Sandee Banks 