My week has been an interesting one which has seen me taking a different coaching approach, and putting on my trainers.

Understanding my students and listening to what makes them tick always gives me ideas to do something different and have some fun. In this case it certainly enabled me to move my student forward.

Football has never been one of my strengths although for one of my students it is a talent and a passion. I decided to change the format of our session by having it outside on the school playing field and asked him to coach me in order to improve my football skills.

I really struggled to stop any of the balls he kicked and he scored a goal every time.  He was quick to notice that I was losing focus on the ball as it came towards me so I had no chance of stopping it.  He gave me two pieces of advice:

• To keep my focus on the ball all the time
• To  turn my foot out and stop the ball with my instep

Having listened to his advice, I applied the knowledge and then managed to save three of his shots at goal. My improvement was significant and we discussed the difference that focus can make if we want to improve and achieve our goals.

Our session finished back in the classroom reflecting on what we had both learnt from doing something different. My student initially thought that he was not a good teacher and that improvement takes time. From our football coaching session he now knows that:

• He does have some teacher/coaching skills
• Change and improvement can be instant if we listen and apply new knowledge
• Staying focused enables you to achieve your goals

It was fantastic for me to see my student smiling, laughing and doing something he enjoys. And he now fully understands the importance of staying focused if he is to succeed in school and in later life.

I thoroughly enjoyed stepping outside of my comfort zone by doing something different. If you know of a young person that would benefit from life coaching then please contact me.

Have a great half term, I will be practising my new football (and focus) skills and having fun with family and friends. See you in November.

My week both at school and home has been busy and challenging and my students have made me work hard in order to move them forward and get results.

Reflecting over my week has made me realise how much I use my listening skills and how important that skill is if I am to be an effective coach and parent.

Listening actively and consistently is a huge part of my job.  It is vital if I am to make a difference so that my students achieve their goals. If I am listening 100% then I hear everything that they are telling me which enables me to ask the right questions. This then prompts them into thinking how they can specifically move themselves forward and what action they need to take to succeed.

What active listening also does is allow me to hear what is not being said! This can be the one thing that people really need to do in order to move forward.  It is usually what they prefer not to do or feel uncomfortable about doing so they do not talk about it. Listening actively allows me to hear what that is and make sure that it does not get missed.

Having also worked with parents and teaching staff  to help them communicate effectively with teenagers, listening skills are usually the main area we agree needs to improve.

So how are you listening?

Are you missing out on what is not being said?

If you would like to listen and communicate effectively with your children/pupils/staff then please contact me.

Have an outstanding week.

Recently I attended a lecture at Reading University by the psychology & clinical language sciences department regarding ‘The Secrets of Healthy Ageing’

I had not realised that the brain starts on its cognitive decline after the age of 20. This seemed very young to me although if we do the majority of our learning in the first three years of our lives then I suppose starting to decline from this age is reasonable.

We were told that the main areas we need to concentrate on if we are to assist ourselves during the decline are:

• Brain Training
• Nutrition
• Exercise

Professor Ryuta Kawashima spoke about daily tasks that will assist the pre-frontal cortex part of the brain and improve metacognition, memory and attention. He advised us to:

• Read newspaper articles out loud and as fast as you can for 5 minutes each day
• Play games like rock, paper, scissors as fast as you can
• Play number memory games with family members and partners, like repeating number sequences and reversing the order

He also stated that too much television affects the brain and will assist the cognitive decline.

Professor Jeremy P.E. Spencer spoke about nutrition and how certain foods with ‘flavonoids’ in them can improve blood flow and have a positive effect on brain function.

He advised that foods such as Blueberries, oranges, broccoli and the skins of apples and pears contain flavonoids and help to lower blood pressure.  Dark chocolate is good for vascular and cognitive health.

He also recommended drinking green and black tea, red wine and champagne (in moderation) and eating citrus fruits is good for the heart.

To maintain a healthy brain we need to:

• Eat a diet rich in fruit and veg (5+ a day) that is brightly coloured and astringent
• Check food labels and avoid being misled by commercial terms around ‘Superfoods’
• Aim for variety, don’t over consume and combine with exercise

Carien Van Reekum Ph.D talked about exercise and how it can help the brain with speed, reasoning, memory, and vocabulary.

One of the best forms of exercise is cycling to help promote cognitive function and changes in our well being. She talked about the Cycleboom Trial and how it positively impacted our brain cognition compared to several other exercise activities.

The presentation was very informative and I am sure it will assist me and also my coaching clients concerning their well-being.

If you want to make some changes and are struggling to reach your goals then please contact me.

Have a great week!