Originally Posted on The Coaching Tools Company as Coach FEATURE: James Dixon
We continue to meet our fellow coaches, get inspired and build coach community with our “Meet the Coach” features! This month we meet James Dixon, a UK based performance coach who works in business.
About James
Lives In: London, UK
Company: Connectd
Type of Coach: Sales & Performance Coach, Executive and Team Coach
Describe your coaching business in one sentence: I’m a Performance Coach working within an early-stage SaaS (Software as a Service) start-up businesses. I work across the organization, my early focus has been on the teams which bring a product to market, but more recently I’ve been spreading my wings to focus on Executive & Senior Management Teams.
Meet James
QUESTION 1. What one book should every coach read – and why?
The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier.
It’s a fantastic book because it teaches you how to ask the right questions to unlock your client’s potential in a simple, practical and engaging way. It’s also a great present to buy for others to spread the power of coaching in an easily accessible way.
QUESTION 2. Which website do you visit the most?
I frequently visit LinkedIn to stay updated on the start-up scene, connect with other professionals and find inspiring stories and advice from leaders in the field. I’m also building out a network of coaches I can learn from when I’m ready to launch my coaching practice.
QUESTION 3. Whom do you admire most and why?
Lately, it would be the inspirational start-up founders that I’ve seen pitch for investment: their relentless pursuit of innovation and growth mindset. Their ability to take immense risks, learn from failures and continuously push the boundaries of what’s possible is truly inspiring. I’m excited to meet the next generation of startup founders who grow to leading multiple groundbreaking companies.
QUESTION 4. What’s your vision for your life? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I envision myself leading a team of coaches, expanding my influence in the coaching industry, and continuing to help individuals and organizations achieve their highest potential. Plus making the most of the ability to coach and travel at the same time.
QUESTION 5. What are your Top 3 Goals at the moment?
We’re developing a comprehensive leadership development program for our management team. My top 3 goals are to:
- Launch this program successfully
- Mentor emerging leaders within the organization and
- Further enhance the coaching culture that exists within Connectd
QUESTION 6. What has been your favourite coaching moment so far?
So many to choose from! I’m going to go with a session I did with my best friend recently. The moment of realisation that I could help someone so close to me achieve the life of freedom they wanted was incredible.
In moments like this, I realise how lucky I am to have one of the most fulfilling jobs in the world.
QUESTION 7. What are your Top 3 favourite coaching tools and/or resources?
- The GROW Model has to be top of the list. And a shout out to the training I’ve received from Donovan Training Associates & Performance Consultants International on this. Coaching for Performance by Sir John Whitmore also needs a mention here (sorry this is not the book mentioned above, can it be the audiobook section?).
- Powerful question. The shorter the better, then sit back and watch the awareness rise in the coachee.
- Stepping outside of your current state. Either by inviting the coachee to describe a state of having achieved that goal or by asking coachees what their best friend/grandparent or whoever they turn to for support might say. I find this especially useful when someone feels stuck during a session or is possibly being too hard on themselves.
QUESTION 8. What do you love most about being a coach?
Seeing those lightbulb moments during a session, when ideas start to take shape.
The thing is, I never feel like I had any hand in it at all, just incredibly privileged to be part of the conversation when it does.
It’s moments like that when this work feels like you’re truly supposed to be in this role. Thankfully I experience them regularly enough to mean I’m hooked.
QUESTION 9. Tell us a secret about you…
Despite being a sales/performance coach, I struggle with public speaking.
Working on overcoming that fear has been one of my biggest personal victories and now I enjoy helping others overcome things they are struggling with.
QUESTION 10. If you could change one thing in our world, what would it be? And how would you go about it?
I would love to change the way we handle education. I’m not sure it’s designed to help people realise their full potential—especially the way we approach financial literacy. Making this a core part of education may well continue to spur the next generation of entrepreneurs. Which in turn likely means a need for more coaches, which I think would also make the world a better place.
Alongside a coaching practice I intend to launch a company in this space—so if anyone reading this is also passionate in these areas please reach out!
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LEARN MORE about James here:
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If you liked this “Meet the Coach” article featuring James, you may also like:
- Coach FEATURE: Meet Jason Murphy
- The GROW Model Explained for Coaches (plus Free .PDF download)
- BOOK REVIEW: “The Coaching Habit” by Michael Bungay Stanier
