"When I became a coordinator, I was offered to talk to a coach. Not because something was not going well in my work, but because a coach can help you progress in your job. I was somewhat suspicious of that. I thought: someone who takes an interest in who you are, how you think and live, that to me is what friendship is all about. Why should someone who pays you for it be able to help you further than a close friend?
But my current boss kept insisting and said that a coach could really help you a lot. And I also thought it would be good to investigate where in my work I could improve myself, especially as I lead a team. Besides, I've been with this employer for a long time, so it couldn't hurt to look around a bit.

After some searching online, I came across Sandra from LemonGrass. What appealed to me was her psychological background and her experience in coaching highly educated people. During our introduction, it clicked immediately. I liked that she did not talk down to me. She is critical and dares to contradict me. At the same time, I got the feeling that she was genuinely interested in my story.
The coaching sessions would focus on my career so far and my current work: where am I and where do I want to go? The first assignment was to describe my life journey, both work and private, so far: from my birth and family situation at home to my education and career. When Sandra noticed that I really enjoyed writing, and was doing well, she encouraged me to take a more comprehensive approach than we first envisaged. It didn't feel like homework at all, but good preparation for coaching. That document was very valuable; it acted as a guide during the sessions.

Later in the process, I had to ask friends and colleagues what they thought were my qualities. It was only allowed to be positive feedback. When discussing this, Sandra gave back to me that I put everything into perspective. I knew that is something I do a lot, but now became more aware of that behaviour. On the one hand, it is one of my qualities to look at the world in a nuanced way and always want to look at something from a different angle. At the same time, it can also be a pitfall: what are you left with if you put everything in perspective? Sandra made me realise that I could accept positive feedback a bit more.
She also helped me by constantly encouraging me to keep challenging myself. Following our conversations about my work, she concluded that I leave the things I really enjoy to others: sharp interviews, interpretation, writing articles. She had a very good point there, and I took it up immediately. I started writing more and rotating days myself.

The coaching gave me a new kind of pleasure in my current job. At the same time, I knew that it is good to look around you when you have been working at the same company for 20 years. Sandra thought about this in a constructive way. She suggested I make a list of the wildest ideas I might still want to implement. From opening my own café to making a documentary. I didn't have to do anything with that list; just writing it down and researching it ensures that you keep an open mind and take a critical look at your current position.
During the coaching process, I fell ill. Not a little, it was a flu that lasted for five weeks. At least, that's what I thought. Sandra asked what my symptoms were and addressed them very seriously. I was short of breath and had a fever and thought it was corona, but Sandra noted that it looked a lot like stress-related symptoms. I found that surprising, because stress, I always kind of dismiss that. But as we talked about it longer, I established with Sandra that I am a type that finds it hard to turn off his thoughts. I am always on, and a human being is not made for that. She told me to relax more consciously, by walking or writing. For me, that was a real eye-opener. I still don't know exactly what I had at the time, but I do know that Sandra pulled me out of that difficult time with our conversations and her tips.

The coaching has made me more aware of lots of things: from my ability to put things into perspective to realising that I shouldn't underestimate stress. And Sandra has always motivated me to keep challenging myself to use my creative talents, for example by writing or making a documentary. And I would also like to work with Sandra again to see where I am now. Her guidance tastes like more."