Welcome to the 2nd instalment of ‘Happi coach focus’ – a brand new series of curious conversations with the More Happi coaches – demystifying coaching with their own unique experiences and insight.
“Sian helped me to navigate a tricky issue. I felt she really listened and prodded me towards some valuable practical next steps.”
– Anonymous, Carterwood
Today we’re talking to Sian Carlisle Ex-corporate marketeer turned coach, empowering her clients to confidently embrace big life transitions.
Hi Sian, what’s something unique to you that not many people know?
After a 15-year corporate marketing career, I took a family-focused career break after becoming a widow when my husband died suddenly at 43. A long life is not promised to any of us, neither is it a dress rehearsal… I’m on a mission to help people get the most out of their life, whatever that means to them!
Thank you for sharing such a personal experience. I’m inspired by your mission to help others live life to the fullest despite the challenges you’ve faced. Can you expand on how this, and other life experiences, have uniquely shaped your perspectives and coaching approach?
I bring a holistic, nurturing approach but also have the benefit of corporate leadership experience so I can see the whole picture. I left my corporate role after feeling out of place and burnt out after returning to work after maternity leave. My husband’s early death has significantly influenced how I see life.
I’m on a mission to help people get the most out of their life, whatever that means to them!
Using 3 words or less, tell us how someone might feel after coaching with you.
- Heard.
- Clearer.
- Inspired.
Those three words capture the powerful experience you aim to provide. Can you illustrate with an example how you’ve helped a client gain clarity through coaching with you?
A simple one but during a coaching session with a client who was overwhelmed and on the edge of burnout we talked about switching off notifications. They came back to the next session to say that doing that had fundamentally improved how they felt about their job.
How would you explain coaching to someone who has never experienced it?
Coaching is a powerful way to design and reach your version of a successful life, with your coach as a supporter along the way.
Imagine you’ve got access to your very own billboard – one that’ll be seen by people considering working with a coach for the first time. What would it say?
Be open-minded and ready to do the work to explore what’s really going on for you right now and how you can design your dream future.
In your experience, what are common misconceptions about seeking guidance from a life/career coach, and how do you address them?
People often expect mentoring or a guidebook – for me to tell them what to do, rather than looking inside themselves. I also often get asked, “Can I bring an outside-of-work topic?” I coach the whole person and think all these things in different compartments of our life are often related!
Coaching is a powerful way to design and reach your version of a successful life, with your coach as a supporter along the way.
It’s SO important to coach the ‘whole self’. That’s one of the reasons we’ve been offering employees coaching on ‘Parenting’ topics, as well as the popular ‘Work’, ‘Relationships’ and ‘Purpose’. If you had to pick 3, what would you say are the most popular coaching themes you coach on the most at More Happi?
- Burnout.
- Productivity.
- Confidence.
Looking through the lens of your life experiences and with burnout, productivity, and confidence being such common coaching topics, what values do you prioritise in your coaching practice?
- Well-being
- Work-life balance
- Celebrating success
- Optimism
- Connection
How do you like to stay updated on the latest coaching trends and insights to provide relevant tools for your clients?
- I also love reading PSYCHOLOGIES Magazine
- Listening to Elizabeth Day’s How To Fail podcast
- I’m a self-help / personal development book junkie, so I’m currently reading Gabrielle Treanor’s The 1% Wellness Experiment.
- Oh, and More Happi newsletters obviously 😉
What has it meant for you to be able to coach on More Happi?
Coaching for More Happi has helped me build the necessary experience to gain ICF accreditation and figure out what coaching work I’d like to focus on in the future.
It’s wonderful to hear you prioritise continuous learning across diverse sources like newsletters, magazines, podcasts and books. Can you share a favourite piece of insight that has influenced your coaching practice and interaction with clients?
“You’ve got one life – live it well.”
It influences interactions by helping clients get to the heart of what they want and they can get out of their own way / remove other barriers to get there
That mantra “You’ve got one life – live it well” beautifully captures the essence of your celebratory and optimistic approach. All coaches have a coach. Can you name one that has significantly influenced your life?
It’s really hard to single one out, but Nicola Rae-Wickham (ICF Coach) stands out for me. I started following her on Instagram a couple of years ago and through her found Optimus Coach Academy – who I ended up training with. I had a few sessions of supervision with Nicola last year which were really empowering.
Nicola sounds like a wonderful human and we’ve heard great things about Optimus Coach Academy! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and insight with us, Sian. Can you leave us with a memorable lesson you’ve gained from your coaching journey that has had a lasting impact?
The power of truly listening to someone and being in that moment with them is so powerful.
Follow Sian Carlisle on LinkedIn and Instagram (@siancarlislecoaching) for more coaching insight and lessons.
🔥 What burning question do you have for our coaches? Let us know and we’ll include it in our next feature.
Who are the More Happi coaches?
Our qualified coaches have trained with the top International Coaching Federation, EMCC UK and Association for Coaching (AC) accredited schools. After the 4-part recruitment process, they are continuously verified by More Happi to ensure high quality, and receive further monthly training and supervision from experts in the field.
More Happi enables qualified, professional volunteer coaches to rapidly achieve further ICF credentials, enabling them to achieve their own career goals in half the time.
With over 100 available coaches, covering 15+ specialist skill sets, you can work with the same coach continuously or move around and try different styles to see what works for you. You’re in control.
It’s a win-win for everyone involved.
Discover your perfect coach at https://app.morehappi.com/coaches
