Coaches Corner with Lise Bruynooghe

1. Who or what inspired you to do what you do?
As a child, random people would often confide in me. They appreciated my listening skills, non-judgmental stance and felt encouraged to pursue their dreams. Little did I know that years later I would become a professional coach! Coaching somehow found its way into my life. I have an eclectic background as economist, banker, strategist, futurist, and change management consultant. I believe coaching skills are essential to effect powerful and sustainable change for individuals, groups, organisations and society at large. This is why I acquired coaching skills early on in my career and have been using them ever since as part of my main job and now as an external coach practicitioner.

2. What do you find the most challenging about your work?
My work shifted a lot in recent years, from in-house corporate OD and change management expert to self-employed "slasher" (independent lecturer/consultant/coach/supervisor). The most challenging and at the same time most liberating part of that transition was having the freedom and luxury to continuously forge my own path.

3. What's the biggest lesson you have learnt in recent years?
The biggest lesson I have learned was thanks to our youngest son's cancer. Luckily, he made it through treatment, is now in remission, and is about to celebrate his seventh birthday! During that time, I learned that control is an utter illusion. The only thing in our power is to be fully present in any given moment.

4. If you could wave a magic wand and have one wish for you or your coaching practice, what would it be and why?
Over the last year, my coach training programme evolved into a beautifully supportive and lovingly out-of-your-comfort-zone-stretching community with our Coaching Labs. We have members all around the world, some are leaders in organisations, others coaches, and change consultants. I am looking forward to the continued growth of this community and am curious about the connections, cooperations, and projects that will result from it.

5. Tell us a fact that not many people know about you ...
I used to sing in the second act of Puccini's "La Bohème" and was a competitive figure ice skater as a child!