Personal and Business Coaching, Human Resource Advice, Support and Training
Welcome
Dr Freda McCormick is a personal and business coach specialising in interview and career coaching, and issues relating to human resources.
Freda has extensive experience in human resource management, and has worked at a senior level in the Health Sector, Local Government and Further and Higher Education. She is passionate about her profession and has shared her skills and knowledge with many voluntary and community groups. This experience is enhanced by her qualifications and broad skill base, which include the completion of doctoral level studies and a thesis on ‘Active Ageing and Later Life Learning’.
Freda is a very enthusiastic and motivated individual who strives to bring the best out in people no matter what their role in life or work. Successful coaching, Freda believes, is about closing the gap between potential and performance, and can add value in our personal, student, and business life.
Interview, Exam and Viva Coaching
Do you dread going for your next interview?
Are you nervous about a music exam?
Are you scared of your viva?
Perhaps you’ve never had a formal interview and you really want that job or university place. Maybe it has been years since your last interview, or perhaps you have never experienced an interview at all. With her extensive experience of the recruitment and selection process – especially competency based – Freda can help you prepare for and perform to your full potential in an interview situation.
Perhaps after many hours of practicing your instrument, or studying for your degree, the date of your exam or viva is looming and you need that extra bit of confidence and support.
If you would like more confidence and to learn skills that help you look forward to these situations instead of dreading them, Freda can help you. You will acquire ways to prepare, and also to equip yourself with the skills and confidence you need to increase your mental agility on the actual occasion.
Career Coaching
Do you know your direction in life? Over the years, you may have fallen into the trap of making decisions about your life and work, based on other people’s expectations of you. You would be surprised at the number of people who have followed a particular career route simply because it was expected of them by parents or teachers. Sometimes certain careers have also been disregarded because of gender.
Frequently you have probably made important decisions based solely on what you thought would make money or give you security, and then wondered why a sense of fulfilment eludes you.
Thankfully, there is recognition that it is much more fulfilling to base your decisions on what your heart is telling you. Freda can help you recognise what you most want to achieve, and help you achieve it. You will be set on your way to achieving your goals and aspirations in a way that allows you to reflect on your life and responsibilities without diminishing your own goals.
The method of coaching used by Freda is one that will empower you in a supportive and challenging manner, to bring about change and action.
Personal and Group Coaching
Sometimes in life you acquire a blurred vision of where you are going and what you are doing. You set out with the best of intentions to get things done and achieve things, but all too often it never happens.
Does this sound like you? If so, Freda can assist if you are looking for direction, seeking help with a life changing event, a work related issue, or experiencing ‘a block’ with your thesis or dissertation. Within the last two decades, the word ‘coach’ has taken on new meaning. Individuals now realise the value that a coach can add to their working and personal lives. This has been attributed to the value of sports coaches and the realisation that support and motivation are essential requirements for continued success. ‘Freda has a lovely still and calming presence when she is coaching and has excellent listening skills’. In her individual coaching sessions, Freda will utilise appropriate interventions to transform how you feel about yourself and the situation you find yourself in. A range of coaching courses can be tailored to suit groups. Sessions can also be delivered in schools to fit in with timetables.
Business Coaching
Coaching is often misunderstood and you may be unaware that it can be a solution to the majority of people-related issues. Such issues may include lack of motivation from an individual, a team, or an entire business or organisation. This could be caused by poor working relationships, or a failure to provide learning and development opportunities. Quite often an individual is referred for counselling or advised to undertake additional training to address these areas of concern. Whilst in situations where capability is questioned, this can lead to disciplinary action or even termination of the employment contract.
Rather than wait for issues to arise, why not use coaching as an ongoing feature within your business or organisation. You could also use it to prepare and support employees going through critical times, such as a period of major change. You may also find coaching beneficial to address staff survey results and improve performance, as well as facilitating continuous improvement.
The following words by Winston Churchill summarise coaching excellently: ‘To every man there comes in his lifetime that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the work which could be his finest hour’. – Winston Churchill.
Now re-read this quote and replace ‘man’ with ‘person’, ‘his/him’ with ‘your/you’, ‘he is’ with ‘you are’:
‘To every person there comes in your lifetime that special moment when you are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to you and fitted to your talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds you unprepared or unqualified for the work which could be your finest hour’.
You can now realise the value of transformational coaching in the workplace.
Human Resource Advice, Support and Training
Do you have a small business or charity that requires human resource support? Need your policies and procedures devised or updated? Require advice and support on human resource matters? Need bespoke training or workshops? Contact me for a professional and supportive service that suits you.
Professional Memberships
• Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
• Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management
Qualifications
• Doctorate in Education
• Masters in Human Resource Management
• Post Graduate Certificate in Personal and Business Coaching
• Licentiate of London College of Music (LTCL)