Driving Positive Change with Social Impact Coaching

How can coaching do more than just improve mood or boost confidence?

Social impact coaching is centred on individuals or teams in working with them to raise awareness and understanding of their experience, knowledge, and expertise. Every one of us has influence and choice, but most undervalue or even dismiss their experience as moderate, not relevant or nothing different. At its core, this approach is about acknowledging the impact an individual or a group can have beyond profit or personal benefit. It's about our values, being authentic, and identifying what motivates and drives you - your purpose.

The key principle in this approach is that it's designed to align personal or organisational growth with broader social and environmental goals. Starting with the meeting clients where they are at, instead of going in with a plan and preconceived ideas of where the meeting is going. For those in demanding roles, it's an approach that supports them in becoming mentally strong, resilient, and confident. This way, they can manage stress effectively, navigate change smoothly, and achieve with a clear sense of purpose.

We can go beyond the typical development goals by seeing how making a meaningful difference in communities, sections or groups in society really can happen. For instance, a CEO or manager may want to develop strategies that improve employee wellbeing and, importantly, increase retention while also contributing to the local community in which they work.

The principles I work from are:

• Purpose alignment: Helping clients connect their work, values and goals with a bigger mission.

• Strengthening resilience: Building mental toughness to face challenges without losing sight of impact and personal goals.

• Collaborative mindset: Encouraging teamwork, group cohesion and shared responsibility for outcomes and influence.

• Sustainable change: Focusing on habits and behaviours that support long-term change and benefits.

Remember, driving positive change is not a quick fix, it takes time and commitment to a strategy with built-in reviews and key points that allow us flexibility and adjustment. However, the rewards include increased resilience, confidence, and meaningful success - all well worth it.

Practical Examples: -

• A social care professional facing burnout  

Focusing on resilience-building exercises and aligning work with person-centred values. Building her boundaries with practical ways of managing overload and pressure, she reduced stress, improved patient care quality, prevented sickness and ultimately burnout.

• A non-profit aiming to reduce its carbon footprint  

 Group coaching and workshops helped raise awareness of what is doable and practicable with team ownership and a tight budget. The outcomes included setting achievable sustainability targets and engaging employees in three green initiatives, leading to measurable environmental benefits.

• A client wishing for a career change from corporate senior to one with purpose  

Through reflective and incisive questioning, he rediscovered his original passion for social entrepreneurship. We spent time clarifying the model and mission of his business, he carried out research and a strategy was drawn up. Finally, he had a plan and the drive as he had tapped into his purpose, and the steps to launch his non-profit followed.

These examples show how coaching techniques can be adapted to various contexts and needs. I've had over fifteen years of experience and work in a flexible, semi-directional way, and I'm happy to share more about this in an initial discussion.

The key is to maintain the focus on meaningful outcomes and identify your sphere of influence that benefits both the individual and the wider community. If you would like to learn more about how coaching can help you to manage stress, navigate change, and achieve your objectives, get in touch.

Driving Positive Change with Social Impact Coaching