One of my first clients came to a session with the topic “losing weight”.As a new and motivated executive coach, I felt very uncomfortable. I could coach her on skills and performance, on leadership, on how to prepare for a future role, or how to find greater meaning and balance at work. . . but losing weight? That didn´t belong to a business environment. That was not so relevant.I told her I was not a health coach and didn´t feel prepared to work on that, so she ended up changing the topic. 🙄In our next session I asked her what topic she wanted to be coached on, and she said ¨losing weight¨.Well, now she knew how I felt about it, and as a coach it´s my obligation to follow the client´s agenda, so I went all in. I trusted my client and put the structure and framework for her creativity and intuition to give us both the answers.When we finished the coaching program, she shared with me the great impact that the “wellness session” had on her, not only personal but also professionally. 💪Because the session was not about counting calories; it was about self-compassion and looking at her inner dialogue. It was about realizing that in life like in any journey, we need to stop to fill up the tank. And if we don’t have time for that the car won’t get far.Getting a refill means taking care of yourself and loving you first and more than anything in the world. It means eating well, exercising, and taking a break. It means thinking about what really makes you happy and going for it once a week, especially when you are at your lowest.Treat yourself as you’d treat your best friend.My clients teach me in every session but this one confronted me with my prejudices. Her topic was not irrelevant; it was exactly the discussion and self-awareness exercise that she needed.So yes, I’m still more comfortable with professional topics but never say no to any topic. It's all related.Trust the client, trust the process. 🙌

When I had my first child I was a young woman who wanted everything: a great career and a big family.I worked long hours, had my baby in kindergarden during the day and a lady taking care of him in the evenings.When I returned to work after having my second child, my job required travelling every other week.I was 41 when I had my third child and had a long break. I was lucky I could come back to a 9h - 17h job with almost no travelling involved.The trap.The last ten years as a working mom, I've felt I had to choose between professional development or being present for my family. I felt guilty if I chose career and frustrated if I chose family. The culpability for knowing I was not present enough for my kids hurt. The frustration when I chose to take it easier made me resentful and a failure.Guilty or frustrated.How do you keep the balance? Not an easy one. The pandemic has changed the definition of flexibility and I'm hoping that will help working parents to keep the balance between work and family. Now that we know we can work productively remotely, companies need to really embrace inclusion and prioritize employees' needs outside of the work place.If I could go back in time knowing what I know now, I'd advise that young mom to get support from an executive coach. Someone to help her see her value and trust the process, a sounding board to help her navigate her expectations and life values. ✨I'm grateful I don't have to choose now. I feel I´m in the flow and having both, but my kids are still young. Things could change.I also know I will remember:Life always comes first. 👊

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2mMx4kdrIMThis summer I asked my father who is the person he most admires. He said “Amancio Ortega”, the Spanish entrepreneur and founder of ZARA. Then I asked for key characteristics that define this person.He said:✔ 1. Self-made 2. Hard workI couldn´t help smiling, because if there is someone who has achieved success by his own efforts, that's my father. He started his own cleaning company in his thirties. When a cleaner didn't show up, he would go to that same building all suited up to negotiate other contracts.When I asked him if he saw himself reflected in those characteristics his answer was “well, flattery gets you nowhere”.Not so long ago I asked the same question to one of my clients. He needs to work on his personal brand to promote his business but feels very uncomfortable exposing his personality. He is a modest and unpretentious man who rejects nonsense.When I asked him who is the person he admires and is capable of selling, he gave me the name of a famous tennis player. This worldwide champion has a very strong personal brand and is loyal to the values that my client loves:✔ 1. Humility 2. Persistence 3. Self-beliefWe left it there.Only when my client discussed this exercise with his friends and family did he realize how much he is perceived as humble, persistent, and confident.My father and my client can´t take compliments. But they can both admit their strengths by looking at the external mirror of the people they most admire.Who do you admire?That name will help you recognize your identity. 💪You couldn't t see the characteristics that you love in others if they weren't in you already.Whenever you have difficulties seeing your value, try and ask yourself this question. ❤

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P2YIHm9XGQAfter 20 years in the same company, my client felt unmotivated at work.She was very grateful for all the opportunities that the company had given her in the past, but she couldn't find the energy that she needed to go happy to work.Looking for something else was not an option, so I suggested a coaching exercise that I invite you to do. 👉Please grab a pen and draw a line. On the left we put the year when we started working and at the opposite side, we put this year. 📈We take a moment to think about those years. Specially about the moments when our motivation was at its peak. Those moments when we felt happy and fulfilled.The exercise consists of 4 steps:1️⃣ Choose the 4 to 8 most important moments and put them down in chronological order.It could be that first promotion, a big contract you signed, a great achievement…2️⃣ We analyze each one of those steps in detail. And write down our notes.How did get there? Who else was involved? What feedback did we get? Everything! Spend some time here.3️⃣ We take a step back and look at the full picture.What stands out? We try to find patterns, similarities, but also differences. What elements have stayed the same during the years and what elements are new?4️⃣ What have we learned? And what can we do with that learning?✔ For my client it became very clear that what made her tick at work at the beginning is very different to what stimulates her now. She tried to bring more of those new elements to her day to day and delegate or minimize the others.She realized that she is a very different person now than 20 years ago. That was a relief and a great step in her self-awareness journey. 🙌How would your (professional) line look like? What would stand out in your case?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO36K8SoC8UFor years, every morning I´d say hi to my neighbor ¨Guten Morgen, Frau Ruoss¨, ¨Guten Morgen¨. Es ist ein schöner Tag.¨ ¨Ja, es ist schön¨. ✨One day during the lockdown, when we couldn't go too far, we stopped, and with our language limitations, talked longer. We shared our situation, hopes and fears . . . And something changed.Small talk is useful. It creates a comfort zone and brings people closer.When we pass the small talk surface, we connect with people at a higher level. 👊To make sure that our conversations have the best quality possible, we need to master three skills: listening, questioning and curiosity.✔ Listening:Listen to what's not being said, listen for emotions... And when you find them, stop, and listen more.✔ Questioning:Simple and open questions, one at a time, never ever ask why, and the fewer the better.✔ Curiosity:Is the desire to know more. Don’t try to give a solution, try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes.Only when my neighbor and I applied this, did we discover that in the end we are not so different.And we changed our morning routine; sometimes we don´t say anything, but we smile at each other and say it all. 😍

Last week was tough. Too much going on without a strategy for the transition from vacation into work mode.I should have planned for catch up days but by Tuesday I was already overwhelmed.Since I discovered coaching I feel way more equipped for the tough moments:✔ Self-awareness: I’m more aware of my inner dialogue and of the importance of the messages I give to myself (especially when difficulties)✔ Confidence: I am more in control of my emotions✔ Presence: coaching has given me the ability to focus more on my family, friends and clients✔ Better thinking: through introspection I’ve been able to free my mind of unnecessary thoughts and therefore improve my thinking.✔ New perspectives: an open mind allows me to see and choose from different perspectivesBut above all, the thing that has given my balance and strength back is exercising (that old activity 😊): 2 biking rides, swimming in the lake, a 90-minute paddle board tour and 7 days of 30-minute yoga practice fixed me!Yes, I invested a lot but it was worth it.And reliable: just a few minutes into the exercise and positive and creative thoughts come to mind. The benefits are amazing but it’s not magic, it’s physics:➡ The release of endorphins gives you energy and leaves you optimistic➡ Brain chemicals that make you feel relaxed are triggered➡ When you are physically active, your mind is distracted from your stresses➡ Exercising provides you with a sense of control, which leads to a feeling of pride and self-confidence➡ Your strength and stamina increase and your self-image improves with themSo, if you want a smooth transition into work mode, make sure you take it slow.If you want to start optimistic and strong, exercise.And if you want all of the above plus feel this is the moment to start your journey of self-discovery and unlock your potential, contact me for an exploratory call. I would love to help! 😍

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFj88tyU6BYMany years ago, there was a street dog who lived in a little village in Spain. ✨Very often a group of kids would wait until he'd fall asleep to tie a few empty cans to his tail, and hide somewhere close by. The moment the dog heard the noise, he'd wake up and run away from it. The louder the noise, the bigger the fear and the faster he'd run. The faster he'd run, the louder the noise.Until one day, while running in panic, he saw himself reflected in a window. And only then was he brave enough to stop and look behind him towards the noise. He then realized what it was, and that he could easily stop it. 👀This metaphor has bee used many times with many theories.And it tells us that the only way we can stop the noise in our head is by looking and confronting it.✔ Find what is right for you and start looking at yourself in the mirror.Wether it's executive coaching, life coaching, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, family constellations. . . You name it! 🙌But get the right support, the appropriate support, and unlock the power of self-awareness. 👊

Less than 2 years ago, I had my first coaching session as a client. Until then I had had no contact with this form of development and, if anything, was skeptical about its benefits.Until I experienced the results myself. They were so spectacular that I became curious, took the courses, and ended up supporting others in their transformation journey.But I didn´t stop there. In less than 2 years I´ve had:✔ An executive coach: who helped me find the courage to change direction and find my passion.✔ A mentor: who inspired me with her values and ethics as a successful businesswoman.✔ A supervisor: who confronts me with my doubts and failures and shows me in every session the results that I wish for my own clients.✔ A peer-to-peer coach: with whom I dare to experiment and receive frank feedback from.✔ A personal coach: who helps me increase my self-awareness, widens my perspectives and inspires me with his calling for coaching.I learn and grow through my practice with clients. I love helping people to be aware of their interferences so they can beat them.But I don´t do it from a throne. I´m there working on myself, too!➡ I couldn´t support their transformation journey if I hadn´t started my own journey myself.➡ I couldn´t help them increase their self-awareness if I hadn´t increased mine.➡ I couldn´t be comfortable with uncertainty if I hadn´t experienced the amazing results of creative coaching myself.If you haven’t tried coaching yet, as an experienced client, I can´t recommend it enough.And if you’re clear that it’s something you’d like to do, call me for an exploratory call. As an experienced (executive) coach, I would love to help!

100 days ago I challenged myself to practice yoga every day until my birthday. ✨On my BDay I was about to stop but my friends got me a yoga mat, a block and 10 group lessons with a yoga teacher. 😍Above all they gave me a new start!! I had to use my new equipment and go back to guided classes after a decade!So I extended my practice: from 45 to 100 days! 👊Today is that day and here are my takeaways:✔ Every day, the first 5 minutes I’m rusty and every single time I find it hard to start! This is annoying and did not happen 10 years ago. . .✔ I’ve been checking the box and sometimes I practice while watching TV, totally missing the spiritual part✔ I have trained my family to give me 40 minutes a day for myself, without interruptions✔ Finally some physical changes: better posture, more toned, more flexible. . .✔ I sleep much better✔ I bought hippie trousers and got a new yogi look 😂Today is a new start. 🙌Up until now the challenge has been physical. I’m now adding also the mental and spiritual part.I’m going to focus on meditation and let’s see what happens!!What are you planning to start?