Monthly Archives: March 2018

Employability Skills for Young People

I had a super time yesterday at Winchester School of Art, which is part of the University of Southampton.

EmployabilityUK invited me to join a team of professional people to present ‘Inspiration Extra’ to a group of 14-18 year old students from local education establishments.

The workshop enables young people to:

  • Develop confidence
  • Improve employability skills
  • Consider job/career paths
  • Improve their mental health and wellbeing
  • Create financial independence and self-reliance
  • Build self-awareness
  • Be more self-confident, successful, passionate and fulfilled
  • Create their vision board

The students worked individually and collaboratively on their goals giving them the opportunity to develop both their team building and communication skills.

The students found it very useful being able to tap into the knowledge from the varied skills and talents of the team with a view to their future careers.

The workshop is delivered in a familiar, fun and relaxed environment to encourage young people to gently step outside of their comfort zones.

If you know of any young people that would benefit from participating in ‘Inspiration Extra’ then please contact me.

Are You Using An Accredited Coach?

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I have been celebrating this week as I have passed my Master Coach Accreditation (AMC) with the IAPC&M (International Authority For Professional Coaching&Mentoring).

Kathrine Smith – AMC certificate

It has taken me just over 2 years to achieve the status of AMC so that I can demonstrate the highest levels of professional standards in the industry.

To achieve my accreditation I have had to provide the following documentary evidence:

  • 180 coach/mentor specific training hours
  • 1500 coaching/mentoring hours
  • 30 hours of CPD each year
  • 15 client testimonials
  • My personal mentoring and supervision details
  • Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance

On top of that I have completed:

  • A 50 minute capability based interview to show my understanding of Professional Standards and Code of Conduct
  • Completed a 50 minute coaching/mentoring session with a coach of a higher grade than myself
  • A reflection essay following my assessment and interview

So what does my accreditation mean for my clients?

It means that:

  • I have passed a recognised process of competence
  • I can provide a quality assurance of service provision
  • I demonstrate personal commitment to my training, certification, experience, capability, competency and integrity
  • It differentiates me from those that are not accredited
  • My clients have somewhere to go, if they are not happy with my services

Continually growing and developing my skills and knowledge is very important to me so that I am able to assist my clients in getting excellent results in what they want to achieve.

As Aristotle quoted “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit”

Since becoming a coach I have developed my coaching skills and moved up the professional levels of:

  • Associate
  • Accredited Practitioner
  • Accredited Senior
  • And now to Accredited Master

I am looking forward to continuing my development journey as I work towards my Accredited Fellow Coach (AFC).  Although perhaps a little break from studying and a period of celebrating and fun is in order before I move on.

If you are looking for a Master Coach that strives for excellence and will be pivotal in making successful change happen then please contact me.

 

 

Pressure and Stress – Is there a Difference?

It’s that time of year where lots of young people start to feel the pressure as GCSE and A Level exams start to become a reality and the clock starts ticking.

Coaching my students in this final stretch is always challenging and pressure and stress are words that regularly feature. What I do know is that the current school environment is very different to when I was at secondary school. The pressure on young people today to do well and achieve excellent grades is phenomenal. I agree that some of this can come from teachers and parents but it can also come from the young person themselves.

Pressure from social media, a competitive job market and high property prices were not something that I had to contend with, but they are certainly prominent in today’s environment.

Self-awareness and understanding are the main areas that I coach my students on to enable them to develop strength and resilience so that they can flourish as they progress through their education.

Knowing the difference between pressure and stress means they can then select the most effective tools and strategies from their toolbox in order to maintain a balanced life.

Pressure is what young people feel when they have deadlines and goals regarding coursework and exams. This pressure can be managed and is under their control as long as they:

  • Understand what sort of student they are, what makes them tick and what works for them
  • Completely understand what is required of them
  • Use specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-related goals
  • Use the 3 P’s – Planning, Preparation and Practice
  • Maintain a good work/fun balance
  • Remove interruptions (social media, phones and technology) so that they can stay focused

When stressed my students experience a lack of control and the fear of the unknown can be rather daunting. Quite often they are not sure what is required of them and they feel anxious and overwhelmed which can lower productivity and output. When stressed, the body releases a hormone called cortisol which reduces brain activity affecting attention span, concentration and can lead to short-term memory loss. Maintaining a manageable stress level is crucial if young people are to succeed in their exams.

If you know a young person that is feeling stressed about school and exams, and it is affecting their productivity and well-being then please contact me.