bigger, becoming re-energised and evaluating what else they want to achieve. I also get lots of referrals from clients who see fellow founders who can benefit from my work. Founders do not always understand the power of coaching until they experience it; in fact, one of the referred founders was initially sceptical, but he said he valued his friend’s advice so much he eventually decided to have a conversation with me. Now, having worked with me for three months, he said: “Tracy, thank you for so delicately and professionally encouraging me to talk to you. I can’t thank you enough, as our work together is transforming the way I lead, how my team is showing up and the rate that business is coming into our business. I never understood that coaching could be this powerful.” How have your years in corporate and entrepreneurial leadership informed your practice as an executive coach? My leadership and business experience has had a massive impact on my coaching, as my clients know I have been in their shoes and experienced their struggles and successes. I understand what founders need as they scale their business and take their company through an exit; I have felt first-hand the impact that I can have on the team and how shifts in my approach ripple through the company. I have seen how important it is to build a high-trust organisation that is highly aligned, energised and driven. In the build up to our ‘exit’, I personally discovered how transformational it is to have someone challenge and stretch my thinking. I also saw that this was key for my team to keep them challenged and engaged. It all gave me a glimpse into the real power and impact of understanding my psychology and that of my team. This transformational work really helped me understand the importance of blending the ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ skills to really gain the profits we wanted, whilst building an engaged team and creating a dynamic and powerful culture that attracted top talent. What does this award mean to you? It means the world to me. It is a wonderful recognition of the passion I have for my work, the excellence I aim for, the commitment to my own growth and that of my clients. In what ways has your work as an executive coach developed since 2016 and what plans do you have for the future? My fascination with unlocking potential at all levels has led me to deepen my knowledge and application of mindset, psychology and identity. Over time, I have added more and more powerful tools to my (already large) toolkit, such as the mind-blowing Enneagram, which helps my clients increase their self-awareness and go on a much faster journey of growth and transformation. While my initial work focused on founders, I am increasingly working alongside senior leadership teams, too, to create deeper levels of change and results throughout their companies. In the next few years, I plan on further focusing on this area to support the growth of my business and make a bigger impact on my clients. CEO Today Executive Coaching Awards 2022 - UNITED KINGDOM - - 63 -
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk3Mzkz