Coaches Corner with Stephen Brut and Julie Flower

STEPHEN BURT

1. Who or what inspired you to do what you do? 
Discovering that coaching was a thing, it was powerful and fitted with how I worked as a leader.

2. What do you find the most challenging about your work?
Currently, how to bring my values around diversity and inclusion into my work given my position of privilege.

3. What's the biggest lesson you have learnt in recent years?  
Two lessons: who you are is how you coach; and being fully present and listening deeply is often enough.

4. If you could wave a magic wand and have one wish for you or your coaching practice, what would it be and why?
For my work around listening for leaders to really take off.

5. Tell us a fact that not many people know about you ... 
My first job was teaching maths in inner city comprehensive schools.

JULIE FLOWER

1. Who or what inspired you to do what you do? 
Being fortunate enough to experience coaching myself as an aspirant leader in my career in the NHS and continuing to feel the difference it made to me

2. What do you find the most challenging about your work?
Keeping a helpful distance from the complex systems in which my clients work so that I don't get drawn into the complexity and can be most helpful to them

3. What's the biggest lesson you have learnt in recent years?  
For me personally, that you never regret spending time with those you love and you can't assume you'll always have the chance.  And that there can be much joy, even in adversity.
 
4. If you could wave a magic wand and have one wish for you or your coaching practice, what would it be and why?
To be able to fully integrate the possibilities of improvisation as I feel it is a very powerful tool for both coaches and clients...and is a way of life for me

5. Tell us a fact that not many people know about you ... 
My first amateur stage role was playing a chicken in The Canterbury Tales!