Alison Yard

I am an Associate Certified Coach of the ICF. I have ICF accredited Certificates in both Career Coaching and also in Coaching for Stress and Wellness. 

I offer 1-2-1 coaching for women who are ambitious to propel themselves forward into the career and life they seek and deserve. 

My mission is to equip women with the confidence to excel in a rewarding career whilst enjoying a happy and healthy life. I encourage my clients to put practices in place to allow all aspects of life and work to flourish in greater harmony so that they can grow both professionally and personally. 

So, if you want to

• Get out of a draining career rut
• Prepare for and secure early promotion
• Step seamlessly back into your career after a break
• Understand and play to your strengths
• Develop executive presence and as a visionary and powerful leader
• Be more productive and enhance work/life balance
• Build resilience and bounce back from setbacks

I will help you to

• Eliminate uncertainty, gain clarity and establish priorities
• Identify and unpack obstacles, both perceived (there will be some!) and real in your path and work out how to bridge the gaps.
• Create a plan which enables you to set goals and establish manageable actions and the next steps along the path to achievement.
• Have to courage to take accountability for your success.

I am an Accredited Strength Profile Practitioner (Capfinity). Clients have the option of completing an assessment to identify their strengths and areas for development. Clients will understand their strengths more deeply and decide how to apply these wisely. It is a particularly helpful tool for revealing hidden and under utilised strengths which will, when more frequently used, contribute toward professional and personal development.

My work and life experiences have greatly influenced me as a coach. I had a successful 25 year career in the business world working as a real estate fund manager (I am a Chartered Surveyor) and a reached senior leadership position. So, I recognise the challenges that women may face in progressing their career and developing into inspiring and authentic leaders - especially so in those professions and businesses (such as surveying!) which continue to be  male orientated at senior levels. There are many demands on your time and it can take real strength to set boundaries so that you can carve out time to consider your own career progression whilst also attempting to manage work/life balance. 

As my dad's main carer, I recognise that whilst being rewarding, the responsibility can take its toll on your physical and mental wellbeing. This can lead to being anxious,  exhausted, isolated and overwhelmed. I will support you so that you will be able to

• Build resilience and emotional regulation
• Carve out time for yourself, without guilt
• Cope with overwhelm, learn to accept what isn't going to change with grace.

The maze of care provision can be daunting - there is no 'one stop shop'. I can provide signposting to support you in your role as a family caregiver. 

My coaching style  has been described by clients as 

• Non judgemental and genuinely supportive
• Empathetic
• Gentle yet persistent so to achieve objectives
• Organised and systematic

As a result my clients say that being coached by me has allowed them to

• Focus and decide on their next career move
• Be happier at work and build stronger, more supportive relationships
• Identify and play to strengths and work smarter, not harder
• Build resilience and the confidence to speak up
• Focus on progressing a strategy in order to deliver business goals
• Reduce anxiety and feel more energised and confident to progress projects.
• Self identify problems and solutions and so foster long term independence.
• benefit both physically and emotionally to positively impact my situation.

Please take see my testimonials below.

The fee is dependant on the total number of coaching sessions. A package of 6 sessions of one hour each is £540. The fee for 3 one hourly sessions is £330.  A single intensive 90 minute session is £200. 

I am willing to reduce my usual fee, dependant upon individual circumstances for unpaid family carers.

Times outside of the above are possible by arrangement. 

Testimonials

Alison and I worked together when I was transitioning into a new role. Alison's coaching helped me to refocus, identify  and play to my strengths, so working smarter not harder.  I love her coaching style which is gentle yet persistent to achieve set objectives. I would recommend working with Alison to anyone who is looking for a 'sounding board' in shaping for reshaping their career. 

Dr Zeypep Hizir - Asset Management and Banking.

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I began coaching sessions with Alison after having being promoted into a new role during the challenge of lockdown. Working in partnership with her gave me the clarity and focus to progress a strategy to deliver business goals, to successfully manage an inherited team whilst working remotely and to build valuable new relationships. As a result, I felt empowered and confident to progress  whilst remaining true to myself and letting my own personality and style shine though. 

Shirley  - Senior Business Manager, global fund management house.

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'I have been coached by Alison since I began a new role. I wanted to give myself the best opportunity to establish myself quickly, build rapport and succeed in this role. I was also very keen to maintain a healthy work/life balance and continue to live a full, enjoyable life outside of work. Through being coached I have built resilience and developed the confidence to speak up. Having Alison as my coach has given me real clarity to see where I can make changes and so progress toward where I want to be – to be fully engaged in all aspects of my life.'

Natalie Sot -  Data Scientist Vodafone

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I appreciated the non-judgemental, honest and genuinely supportive approach of Alison as my coach. It made me think and opened up some avenues. It also reduced anxiety during the difficult and uncertain times of COVID. I am very grateful. With only 2 meetings, I felt more energy to continue with my projects as my confidence improved.

Dmitry - NHS Consultant. 

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I began working with Alison at a pivotal time, transitioning into a new role. Together we have worked through some highly effective strategies for building supportive alliances and creating early wins. I would highly recommend Alison to anyone looking to accelerate or change their career path. 

Jane Anderson - Chartered Surveyor. 

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'Alison coached me during a stressful period in my life when I was physically and emotionally quite vulnerable. Through her amazing questions and incredible empathy I managed to get stronger and find my confidence again. Thank you Alison for all your help.'

Laura - returning to work mum.

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Alison has been a tremendous help to me whilst I was looking into my future career options. Being coached allowed me to focus on my next steps and what I wanted to achieve. I would highly recommend Alison to anyone looking to decide on and progress career goals. 

Christopher Carter Keall - Real Estate professional 

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'I have found my coaching sessions with Alison to be extremely helpful in enabling me to focus on the areas I need to develop and explore. Alison has helped me to identify my priorities in terms of avoiding the patterns and behaviours I tend to resort to that are not necessarily positive or advantageous to my role. I started with Alison whilst taking a short career break and she has supported me through this and then through the start of a new role with insightful questioning and appropriate challenge that has helped me self-explore and grow.  Alison has facilitated me being able to develop a 'tool kit' of practical and psychological/emotional methods to enhance my work life balance and enable me to be more effective in role

Miriam -    Assistant Principal in a large Further Education College.

'Alison coached me during my own ICF coaching certification. Even though I felt I was "all coached out" and that I probably didn't need coaching at the time, I continued working with her. Turns out that during my sessions with her helped me uncover a number of things I was not aware of which really helped me moving forward in my own coaching journey. I highly recommend working with Alison.'

Cornelia - ICF Approved Coach.