If you’ve clicked on this link you probably either want to know more about this site or about Jen Waller the coach who owns the site. To read specifically about the blog click here to find out More about Jen and her work keep reading.
Jen Waller
Short version:
Jen Waller has been a coach for nearly 20 years. As a Transformative Coach, she supports you in getting out of your own way so that you can pursue what you truly want. With an impactful nurturing style, Jen’s work is about providing a safe space to explore and play with looking at what you’d love to create in your life and those self-imposed limitations holding you back – which may not be what you initially think they are! Noticing your own wisdom and creativity are common themes that emerge, opening up a whole extra set of resources available to you at any moment.
In her spare time, Jen is a volunteer for the UK based charity The Cinnamon Trust who support elderly and terminally ill pet owners provide care for their pets. As a volunteer of many years, Jen has walked a variety of dogs all with their own characters for owners who physically often find that more challenging than they once did. As a pet owner herself, Jen finds it really rewarding to be able to assist an owner stay with an animal that is like part of their family – particularly when the owners mobility outside of their home is often more restrictive.
Jen also loves theatre and has been known to watch certain popular science fiction films and TV shows!
Longer version (The bit that goes into more depth about my coaching journey and the work I do now)
Let me tell you a secret – I didn’t set out with the intention of becoming a coach. For a long time, I didn’t have any context for that word outside of the sporting arena. It certainly wasn’t part of a great plan, at least one I was aware of, when I started out by first just reading books that fascinated me and then graduating to going on courses – just for the fun of it.
I think my colleagues at work thought I was slightly mad when I would book a week’s holiday to go on a course rather than spend it lying on a beach – but I loved my choice.
As I played and learned more, I brought more into my day-to-day job – first in management and then as a member of a training team. By this stage, I had learned about coaching and loved having coaching-style conversations.
A change in my employer’s ownership meant that I was unofficially warned that this new company usually outsourced their training, so I could be made redundant in a year. It actually took 18 months, giving me time to think about what I’d love to do and go from coaching part-time alongside my employed job to getting made redundant and, in effect, being paid to start my coaching practice full-time.
Looking back to when I first started as a coach, I let many scary thoughts get in the way of me actually doing the coaching I love. I felt my calling was to make a difference in the world using all these coaching skills, but I questioned if I was “good enough.”
I can still remember working with my first coach, who was also a skilled trainer, and being terrified that he’d immediately spot how terrible I was at all this and how unworthy I was to even consider calling myself a coach. After all, if I hadn’t got all this sorted, how could I possibly be of assistance to a client?
I had all these feelings of being totally out of my depth, unprepared, and uncertain if I could provide any sort of value. Let alone if I would ever be brave enough to consider asking someone to pay to have a coaching session with me!
I have since spoken to many others who have shared similar thoughts and feelings – so if any of this sounds familiar, please know you aren’t alone with any of that!
I also suspect that if I’d been told at the time that this wasn’t unusual, it may have been lovely to hear, but I still wouldn’t have known what to do about it!
In recent years my work has evolved further so that the style is more of a transformative conversation, one that allows a space of willingness, exploration and playfulness. It uses gentle conversational explorations in an impactful, nurturing style so that you can get out of your own way and pursue what you truly want.
My work often has two aspects:
1. Visible and Measurable Results and Performance: This is where people want to do things like:
- building and growing their coaching business,
- starting working with “real people”,
- increasing the income they create with their coaching,
- making more of a difference with their work,
- having a full coaching practice etc
2. The Internal Experience: This part is harder to describe, as each person has their own experience and language for it. For simplicity, and without getting bogged down in language and labels around beliefs, values, etc., most coaches will be aware of the impact of what’s going on inside our heads. So it probably won’t come as a surprise that at some stage our conversation is likely to focus on the nature of thought as well as any logistical issues. This aspect of my work looks at how we function as humans so that we’re not trying to push water uphill.
It’s the bit where we look at who the you that you’re getting out of the way is really – and I promise that isn’t as scary as you may be imagining.
When I’m working with someone, they are usually attracted to this bit because they secretly think that in sone way they are lacking – maybe they think they need more confidence or self belief. They often say that they are finding some thought of the next bit of their coaching journey really scary. I hear a lot of people secretly questioning if they are good enough, worthy enough etc.
Their description of the impact of this part of my work include:
- “connecting with the light inside”,
- “coming from the heart place, not the mind place”,
- “relaxing and being me”
- “connecting with an amazing space of flow”
- “getting really quiet on the inside”
- “being really comfortable in my own skin”
- “trusting myself”
It’s the bit that allows you to handle any bumps and lows you encounter with more grace and still really enjoy the “highs”.
As coaches, we are not all the same, you will find your own way of working with your own style.
In my experience, when a coach gets stuck they often try to self coach themselves – which is a great tool to have available to you. Sometimes you can be so caught up that you don’t see the question or conversation that’s going to free you up again. The chances are that you’ve got stuck in some thought that looks so real to you that it doesn’t even occur to you that there is another way, or to question the fundamentals behind the situation. A lot of my work is about providing a nurturing space to think and have a conversation from.
Before we start working together, we will have a conversation about what you want to get from our time together so we can tailor make our work specifically to you. It also allows us both to get a feel for if that “chemistry” is there
If you’ve read all of the above and feel drawn to find out more – let’s talk. I offer complimentary Discovery Sessions – a no obligation conversation where we can focus on you and your coaching. If you are new to coaching to book your session click here, if you are an established coach click here for a suitable session. In both cases you’ll just need to answer a few questions and set up a time that works for you.
The conversation will be unique to you and your situation and whether you’re just starting out or been coaching a while it can often cover what being a coach means to you, what you think is getting in your way and identifying (a) next step(s) for your coaching.
Established Coaches click here to book.
New Coaches click here to book.
What others have said about me:
“Jen is the kind of coach that other coaches aspire to be. She’s fantastic. Grab any opportunity to spend time with her.”
“Jen’s trained with the best of the best, undergone extensive coaching herself with many coaches, and as such has distilled and evolved her own skill set like few people can or ever do. I know Jen personally and can highly recommend her.”
(Jonathan Altfeld, Director of training, Mastery Insight Institute.)
“Working with Jen as been a fantastic experience. In just a few short sessions I have learned things about myself I never had realised before. Jen has helped me to identify what I really want and I have now defined some clear goals. I have set some objectives along the way to achieving my goals and I’m already beginning to see results!
Jen is pleasant and easy to work with. She is very skilled in her approach. I highly recommend Jen’s services.”
(Mike Gee)
“Although I was initially nervous about what to expect, Jen put me at ease and made it fun. After each session I felt so much better and ready to take on the world, with a toolkit of exercises to use as and when I needed.
I would recommend Jen as she is professional, very approachable and she gets results.”
(Sophie Wise)
“From the very first phone call I was amazed at how much Jen was able to draw out of me and just how motivated I began to feel. I feel positive about my future and know I CAN do what I’m planning without fear! I would recommend Jen without hesitation!”
(Deborah Roberts)
Want to know about my work? Then click here.