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    Dr Chris Gifford


     

     

     

    Career Development Coaching for Leadership and Growth

     

  • Coaching with Chris

     

    Welcome to Coaching with Chris. I specialise in coaching people through the transitions that shape our working lives such as a promotion or a career change. Such times are opportunities for re-imagining our working lives and realising our potential for leadership.

     

    As a coach I will validate and respect who you are now and who you want to become. In six to eight sessions we identify what you want to achieve and how to get there. Through questioning and feedback you will find purpose and clarity.

     

    Coaching will empower you to move forward in your career and is especially helpful if you are:

    • Wanting to develop your confidence and skills as a leader and manager
    • Looking to improve your work/life balance and put down some boundaries;
    • Feeling stuck or undervalued and considering a career change;
    • Starting out on a new career and looking for direction.

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    Dr Chris Gifford

     

    Ph.D, Sociology London School of Economics

     

    MSc. (Econ). Sociology London School of Economics

     

    Chartered Management Institute Certificate in Strategic Management & Leadership (level 7)

     

    Institute of Leadership and Management Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring (level 5)

     

    Associate Member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC)

     

     

  • How I coach

     

    I provide a caring and empathetic space where you are respected as the expert on your life. You will discover solutions and strategies that help you to grow and flourish. Using thought provoking questions, careful listening and helpful feedback, we co-create a positive and practical vision for your future.

    • Initially, we identify the changes you wish to make. We agree some positive outcomes that you would like to see happen by the end of our time together. What plans can we put in place now? What specific steps can you take?
    • We may explore context, the wider organisation and culture within which you work and how it can both allow and constrain you moving forward. Over what do you have power and control? If you have power how can you use it consciously?
    • We clarify your values and how they align with your job and employer. What is making you uncomfortable? What do you need to stop doing?
    • We may name and describe relationships and behaviours that are preventing you moving forward. What quick changes can you make to address them?
    • You will gain key insights into the opportunities in your everyday life.
    • We will build an authentic and honest relationship in which you provide me with feedback as we review your progress.

    Although this may sound serious, infact it is often very enjoyable and enlightening to discover new ways of being in the world. Indeed, new ways of being you!

     

     

  • Testimonials

    Chris is an excellent listener who positively challenges; in just 6 sessions my confidence was boosted, and development path clarified. As a result, I successfully applied for promotion and am much more positive about my future opportunities. I wouldn’t hesitate in working with Chris again and wholeheartedly recommend him.

    Jo, Head of Skills Development

    I highly recommend Chris as a coach. I was at a difficult point in my career when we started working together, and I wasn't sure which way to go next. He gave me the space and encouragement to consider my options and decide on the best solution for me. Following our course of sessions things are so much better. I've rediscovered my passion for the work I do and made positive changes to my work work-life balance.

    Rebecca, MBChB, PhD.

    Coaching with Chris helped me to prioritise and streamline my thinking. It helped me to set objectives, manage my time and think about my career pathway. It cleared a space for me to think about and focus on the things that are important to me. Before coaching I got involved in trying to fix everything – through coaching I was able to step back from this and stop getting involved in trivia and discern what was important and what wasn’t. I always felt really uplifted, energetic and enthusiastic afterwards.

    Claire, PhD, Subject Leader in Marketing

    Having Chris as my career coach was one of the best things that happened in 2020. He helped me to harness my strengths, enhance my self-efficacy and remain hopeful in the attainment of my career goals, which are being progressively achieved till date. Chris is a tactful and excellent professional coach. In sum, his approachable personality and coaching style are laudable

    Ijeoma, PhD, Business Leadership Researcher

    Coaching helped me to understand what I really want from my role, and how to work towards it. I gained a lot of professional confidence through the process and valued the opportunity to define clear actions for myself.

    Jodie, PhD, Acadmic Reader

    I have much to thank Chris for as a result of his coaching. Chris helped me to define my goals, evaluate my progress, understand my barriers and navigate around them. With Chris' patience and facilitation, I transformed from a daunted middle manager to a confident senior leader with clarity and ambition.

    Chris is a calm, perceptive and respectful coach. Thank you, Chris!

    Lee, Creative Design Manager

     

    Chris Gifford is an excellent coach. He helped me to work through several people-based issues with strong listening skills and the ability to perceptively and constructively challenge my thinking, in a very safe and confidential environment. I am grateful for both his perspective on working out what’s important and the focus on agreeing actions so that progress takes place between sessions. I would recommend Chris highly for executive coaching assignments.

    Sue, CEO

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    Why I'm a coach

     

    When our working lives aren't going well we can easily think there is something wrong with us. Indeed we live in a culture where many voices are happy to tell us we're not good enough. Coaching showed me there was a different way, that supports and values the person without judgement. I coach for self-leadership, so we can make positive choices in line with our core values. In short, whatever we do we can be our own boss! Whether you are considering a complete change of career or to find new ways to grow within your current job, you can take charge of your future. My approach has led to significant results and I have been delighted to support so many coaching clients to be promoted and take charge of their careers

     

    Before becoming a coach, I held a number of senior management positions at a UK university including Head of Department in Behavioural Sciences and strategic leadership roles in postgraduate programme development and international recruitment. At the same time I was engaged in the core academic duties of teaching and research. As a sociologist I believe that we are fundamentally social beings and flourish when we are contributing positively to the lives of others. In fact, it is why I became a coach.

     

     

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