Case Study: The value of coaching and mentoring
Here at AskRIGHT all our directors are experienced coaches and mentors.
We love working on a one-to-one basis with clients to support them as they navigate the opportunities and challenges in their roles on a day-to-day basis. This month we’re proud to showcase some of the journeys we have been on with clients through coaching and mentoring.
Looking to solve some challenges at work? Or perhaps you’re driving your professional development forwards. Maybe you’re looking for a mentor who has walked this path before you to help with some expertise and advice?
Whatever your goal, a coach or mentor can be a valuable asset to help you as you move towards it.
Challenging your thinking, offering a different perspective and driving forwards your growth and development. This is why if you haven't got a coach or mentor, it's worth considering working with one. It could be for a short time to help you achieve a specific goal, or over a longer period to establish a constructive working relationship with an external person who can support you.
Below we have curated some testimonials from clients we have been proud to coach offering three different examples of how we approach our coaching and mentoring outcomes.
How could coaching and mentoring help you to…
…Navigate your professional development
Coaching and mentoring implicitly support your professional development as they use tools to help you grow and develop in your role. Leadership and management growth can strongly benefit from the support of a coach, as can softer skills, such as influencing change and building confidence.
We worked with Lucy to support, challenge and guide her as she delivered a fundraising strategy, homing in on some specific deliverables to make the sessions practical with tangible takeaways. Offering a safe space to explore new ideas, these mentoring conversations not only offered guidance on the strategy and its outputs, but also empowered Lucy in her leadership role.
“Through AskRIGHT’s mentoring program, I've not only found guidance, but a compass to navigate my professional journey. I am grateful for the invaluable mentorship Clare provided that has empowered me to further develop my practice."
Lucy
…Find great solutions
Problem solving is a great topic to bring to coaching sessions, either on its own as a focus or as part of a wider look at challenges in your role. An external coach offers an impartial ear to listen to any issues that are being raised and can ask thoughtful and provocative questions to help explore all the potential solutions in play.
We worked with Ashley on a monthly coaching basis to see what challenges she was facing in her role and offer constructive support with overcoming them. Our experience across a wide range of fundraising areas and channels meant we could offer critical viewpoints whilst creating a supportive space. Conversations that became collaborations helped drive Ashley’s coaching, giving her clear ways forwards in delivering her work.
“Everyone needs a coach like Louise at AskRIGHT! I really benefited from our practical and insightful fundraising conversations. Louise has a deep understanding of the challenges of fundraising; she actively listens and together we found many solutions to help me achieve my goals.”
Ashley
…Challenge and cheerlead
Coaching and mentoring can be all about the timing. There are certain points in your career when external support can help boost results. Starting a new role, returning to the workforce or undertaking the lead on a new project. It can be helpful to have a sounding board or critical friend to bounce ideas off, and a cheerleader to boost your confidence as you embark on something new.
We worked with Kerry as she explored her leadership journey when she returned to the workforce. Big picture coaching sessions helped design future focused goals that led to a plan of action in the present to build skills and confidence. A combination of high challenge and high support helped create a nurturing environment for growth.
“Being mentored by Fi over the last four years has been transformational for me both personally and professionally. I met Fi when I was refocusing on career after having my family. I was lacking in confidence and direction. Fi inspired and empowered me to be ambitious and believe in myself. She has been a sounding board and coached me through pivotal moments in my career. She has been my challenger and cheerleader. As a person, Fi goes above and beyond to make you feel genuinely cared for and supported. I wouldn’t be where I am in my career now if I hadn’t met Fi.”
Kerry
How to get the most out of a coaching and mentoring session
- Work out what you wish to achieve with coaching and mentoring. It can be helpful to have a long term vision of what you want the outcome to be to help you decide on the sort of support you require.
- Come prepared to talk about what you want to achieve in the session. Make it a SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, timely) goal and try to bring only one or two things to each session so as not to dilute the conversation.
- Be honest – your coach will keep your conversations private and is there to support and work with you and your needs. They can only do this if you are able to share fully and work with them holistically on all aspects of your development.
Find out more about our best in class coaching and mentoring services