• Coaching with Friederike focused on...

Before I started working with Nicole I was somehow frustrated, but didn’t know exactly why. I knew I was able to do good quality work, but didn’t know what I was exactly good at and didn’t know how to say what my number one ability or quality was. I didn’t know what to answer if someone asked me why I want to have a leadership position. I knew I had a problem with visibility, but I didn’t know why and I had no idea how to solve this.

Through coaching, I wanted to solve the question: Why do I want a leadership position? Am I really qualified for one? And I want to be on the list of people who are discussed for leadership positions in my company.

I tried solving this on my own first. I’ve done 360° feedback surveys, discussed my abilities and talents with colleagues and friends, and searched for courses on LinkedIn Learning (I found some, but did them more half-heartedly).

I got to know Nicole through one of the free sessions she offered and thought “why not give it a  go…” Before I saw her offer I had never really thought about doing coaching.

But I was hesitant if this is the right time for an on-going commitment, because I was quite in a bad mood due to the pandemic and lockdown. I wasn’t sure if I could handle coaching on top.

To be honest I have quite some prejudice against some types of “Coaching” people, who can be totally over the top or even manipulative. Plus I was a bit demotivated by some “Power Talks” I heard of some successful women, who I could never identify with. Because they were not how I wanted to be, had the career I wanted to have, felt how I feel about my job. I’m just a normal woman, who doesn’t want to be a CEO, just wants to get at least SOME acknowledgement of her good work.

However I liked that Nicole has a science background herself, so she knows what she is talking about. And because I was only 90% sure after I checked her homepage, I asked a colleague who worked with her before. He said she’s “crazy, but in a good way and totally down to earth” and that’s what I was looking for!

I knew I needed someone more relatable, who can really explain the background of things I should do, because if I don’t have a good reason, I most probably won’t do it.

I felt good working with Nicole. I had to get used to talking about myself all the time with someone I didn’t know. That was a bit weird in the beginning.

Our conversation was always focused on the most important topic and Nicole made sure that we are not “wasting” our valuable time on “easy” problems, which could be solved with exercises she provided separately. I really liked that she makes sure that our time is well spent.

Between the coaching sessions I often caught myself thinking “Oh, Nicole would be proud of me” or “Hmm. I’m wondering what Nicole would say”. And I was always really excited about the little comments Nicole made to my weekly reflections.

After our time working together I feel much more confident about the things I’m good at and what I want to achieve. I also know a lot more about myself, why I react a certain way in some situations and what I can do to change that.

Also I learned that I already have some good workarounds for my fear of contacting people. And that it’s ok that I will never be the Queen of Small Talk. I was able to build a quite good relationship with my new department leader, which I never thought would be possible.

So, objectively seen or on paper there is not a lot that I achieved, but I learned a lot which changed my view on many things. That may sound so small, but I think it’s a breakthrough.

Whenever I understood something about myself or others it felt very liberating. I feel more confident and more able to argue for myself, my way of working and what I want to achieve.

I recommend working with Nicole, because she doesn’t preach, but teaches tools that help me to help myself.