Coaches Corner with Charlotte Wiseman

1. Who or what inspired you to do what you do?

Over-working, chronic stress, lack of self-awareness and a range of other related factors ,led me to a major crisis of wellbeing 10 years ago. Following a diagnosis of anxiety and depression, I was faced with the stark realisation that no-one is immune to poor mental health, and, that those in leadership positions were in fact at more risk that most. As I worked through my recovery, trying to piece together my journey to date, I became fascinated with the mind and so started a part-time degree in psychology with the University of Derby online. This soon led me to discover the field of positive psychology, the science of mental fitness and resilience, the research behind the understanding that we all have mental health every single day and we can all be doing something every day to improve, manage and sustain it. I was astounded that there were so many evidence-based ways we could all be doing this and yet no one seemed to be teaching these skills to people in the workplace, schools or day to day life. I decided to quit my long-term career, do an MSc in Applied Positive psychology and bring this science to people around the world so that they could turn it into practical daily habits that would improve their quality of life. I continue to combine research with training with a focus on CEO Burnout, Sustainable Leadership and Positive Organisational Psychology.

2. What do you find the most challenging about your work?

There is still so much confusion and stigma around the term mental-health and wellbeing. Many are still unwilling to speak about the topic in the workplace, others believe that wellbeing is a 'fluffy' topic or 'soft skill' so my biggest challenge is helping people to see that our mental fitness is actually the foundation upon which we build effective performance, engagement, satisfaction, communication and health. We cannot have these outcomes without the basis of good mental fitness, and if we have good mental fitness, these outcomes are amplified.

3. What's the biggest lesson you have learnt in recent years?

That the journey of managing and improving mental fitness never ends. Everyday new experiences, opportunities and challenges offer us a chance to reflect and revisit what we thought we knew about ourselves and the world around us. These are the times that, often amidst challenge, we find new strengths and resources that help us move forward with greater motivation, agility and purpose.

4. If you could wave a magic wand and have one wish for you or your coaching practice, what would it be and why?

My wish would be that we more people would be open to coaching, understanding that having a coach is not a sign of having a problem, it is an opportunity for growth that we can all benefit from.

5. Tell us a fact that not many people know about you ...

My goal for 2021 is to do karaoke.