Viewfinder coaching
As we move towards and through our 50s and 60s, the ways of thinking and the motivations, pathways and actions that characterised the earlier parts of our career may no longer feel wholly relevant.
The decisions that we make at this stage can set the scene for our next decades, through our remaining working life and beyond. We may be feeling the need to speed up, to slow down, or to shift direction.
Yet decision-making at this point can be hindered by lack of information, understanding or range of vision. It can be burdened with a sense of expectations, conventions and obligations. The result can too easily be inertia.
And whichever way we’re looking at the moment, it can feel as if time is running out.
We need support which recognises the nature of this period of our lives and careers, and which enables us to look at our future choices in a way that works for us, at our stage and in our individual circumstances.
How can we gain a better view of our possible futures?
My Viewfinder career coaching programme is specifically designed to support your needs at this critical point of your career and life.
Why Viewfinder?
A viewfinder is a tool used by artists and photographers to capture and test ideas, to identify the most engaging view and to plan the composition of their picture. It helps them to be selective and not get overwhelmed by either the scale or the detail of everything their eye can see. It enables them to manage the different components of the picture, so that the parts contribute successfully to the whole, while never losing sight of what they want to create.
This is exactly what you need to do with your career planning at 50+
You need to take time to test out different views of your future. You need to identify the desired components and the balance and relationships between them, before deciding on your preferred view and composition. And then you can work on the detail.
How we work together
Through 1-2-1 coaching and supplementary tasks and resources, we will work in a structured and collaborative way through six programme steps. These will enable you to gather the insight and information you need in order to think, decide and act to make positive changes at this point in your career.
Whether these changes are large or small, you will know why you’re making them, how to make them, and that they’re right for you.
What Viewfinder delivers for you
Following the programme will move you from feeling bored, frustrated, confused, uncertain, powerless or just plain unhappy in your current work to confidently owning and leading the design of the next stages of your career and creating a future that excites you (even if you have no idea what it looks like yet).
Viewfinder steps
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Assess
We start by exploring where you are right now and how you got here. How does the future look from where you’re standing and what’s brought you to talk about making a change?
You will gain understanding and appreciation of your motivations, appetite and ambitions for change. You will identify and evaluate your assumptions about your present and future. And you will recognise the assets which you can exploit in your next career phase.
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Identify
The next step is to get clarity about your wants and needs, and how these might change in the coming years.
By the end of this step, you will know what you’re looking for in your life now and at your next horizon and understand the role you want work to play at each stage. You will have the insight and tools to start designing, planning and acting.
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Experiment
In this step, you start to play around with your vantage point to take in some possible views which meet the wants and needs you’ve identified.
You will generate ‘sketches’ of how your future might look. You will assess your options and prioritise these in the light of what you’ve learned so far about yourself, your wishes and requirements.
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Design
Now it’s time to select your preferred view and design that future.
By the end of this step, you will have generated a feasible vision. You will understand how your assets can be exploited, how to handle obstacles and disruptions, and what further information you need in order to complete your design.
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Plan
This step is about planning for turning your vision into reality. By the end, you will:
know how you’re going to create your finished picture and by when
be clear about and committed to your next steps
be able to respond to new information, challenges and opportunities
be ready to stay focused and proactive.
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Do it
Finally, you need to put your plan into action. By the time you reach here, you’ll be ready for the continuous work and adaptation required as you move ahead and new views arise. You’ll see your design moving from the page into reality and becoming the future that you want.
How it happens
Individuals
First we have a discovery call - with no cost or commitment - to discuss and define your career question and explore how I can help.
The client-coach relationship is fundamental to effective coaching, and this call will also allow us to see if there’s a good ‘fit’.
If we decide to proceed, we will agree on the goals and timeframe for your programme.
The programme fee for private clients is £799, comprising 7 x 60-minute online coaching sessions (via Zoom), together with exercises, tasks or reading and listening for you to complete between sessions, directions to optional resources, and email support for the duration of the programme.
If you would prefer face-to-face coaching, we can discuss options, practicalities and additional costs. I am based in Reading, UK.
Organisations
I offer the following services for organisations:
1-2-1 coaching services for individual employees who need support to decide on the direction they wish to take within or beyond the organisation at this stage in their career.
Talks and workshops in support of employee career planning and wellbeing at 50+ and addressing age within the EDI agenda.
Consultancy and research services to provide observations and advice on organisational attitudes and practices, and to help you understand your staff and their needs at 50+.
You can find out more here or get in touch to discuss your interests and requirements and for further information on services, terms and costs.
For more information about my relevant qualifications and experience, please see About Me.