A little about me & the career coaching I do

I’m Sara and I’m your career coach.

Clients I work with are questioning their next move – they can be working towards promotion, looking for a new role or in search of something completely different. They can be questioning their ‘why’ and wondering how to uncover a sense of purpose.

That’s why we work together to discover their passions, interests and strengths and combine them with their talent, experience and ambition, to define specifically what they want from the next step in their career.

As a result, clients who complete the career coaching sessions have the clarity and confidence to define the direction they want to go and how they’re going to get there.

With a career that has covered the military, third sector and the corporate world (both in the UK and internationally), I understand what it feels like to be questioning if you’re on the right path for you, to ask yourself if you’re working at your optimum, to question your sense of purpose. You can feel unhappy, frustrated and unrewarded. I wanted my professional life to have purpose and to make a difference to those I work with. I trained with In Good Company Ltd for the Diploma in Effective Coaching & Mentoring which is accredited with the European Mentoring & Coaching Council (EMCC), International Coaching Federation (ICF) and Institute for Leadership and Management (ILM).

I’ve developed coaching packages which support clients to uncover their professional or personal ‘why’. Working together using exercises and tools within coaching sessions, clients identify their priorities and the path that’s right for their next step.

When we work together you’ll develop the clarity, sense of purpose and direction that you need to feel fulfilled and satisfied in your work.

Interview with Sara Smalley

Negotiating the world of work is a tricky business. When should you push for a promotion? When should you ask for a pay rise? When should you change jobs – or switch career completely?

As a career coach its my belief that although there are no easy or ‘one size fits all’ answers to these questions, having a successful career that makes you happy has a profound impact over a lifetime. So I wanted to know how Sara was helping people become their best selves.

Let's Chat

My Approach

My role as your coach is to provide support distinct from any other. I will focus solely on your situation with the kind of attention and commitment that you rarely experience elsewhere.

A coaching relationship is like no other, simply because of its combination of objective detachment and commitment to the goal(s) of the individual. I will listen to you, with a genuine curiosity to understand who you are, what you think and generally how you experience the world.

I have an energetic, intuitive and fun approach to coaching which enables me to quickly establish a positive rapport with individuals, leading to lasting, impactful results.

During our conversations, I will gently challenge you and encourage you to overcome obstacles and get into action. As the relationship is based on trust and openness, the contents of our discussions will be confidential.

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Sara was fantastic to work with

she is warm, friendly, fun and really helps to challenge your thinking. She is insightful and great at supporting you to achieve your goals, helping you to remove barriers and unlock what might be holding you back. I'd definitely recommend Sara if you're looking to get some clarity and focus with a smile and some laughs along the way.

Natalie, Learning & Development Manager

She used a variety of tools

My experience of being coached by Sara has been wholly positive: she is professional, engaging and has immeasurably helped me move forward with the objectives/areas I identified at the start of the process over the course of our 6 sessions. She used a variety of tools and techniques to help develop my thinking on a few things that were holding me back, and she went above and beyond to share podcast recommendations with me outside of our sessions. I will take the ideas and tools I learnt confidently forward into the rest of my career!

Suzie, Civil Service

Sara understands

Every person has a unique background and set of ambitions. Sara understands this and draws upon a wealth of knowledge and experience to effectively solve each complex problem in a manner which works best for the client. Exceptionally personable, refreshingly honest and uniquely talented – Sara will help you achieve your goals. I will definitely be returning to coaching with Sara.

Oli, early career executive

I would wholeheartedly recommend Sara

Working with Sara won’t magically gift you the answers and solutions that you want and need – there is work involved from both sides. She will skilfully steer you towards these answers yourself, making them that much more valuable. I would wholeheartedly recommend Sara’s coaching services to any of my friends or colleagues, particularly those from an ex-military background like myself

Andy, Service Leaver

A really positive experience

that has led to tangible results. I feel better prepared to evaluate my career options and to take the next step forward. Thank you, Sara!

Emma, Captain (British Army)

I am so grateful

Whilst I have finished my initial set of coaching sessions with Sara, I already know that I will return for more in the next phase of my career, knowing now that this coaching is an investment in myself. I cannot recommend Sara enough. Even if you have already tried coaching and concluded it was not for you, I would urge you to try again with Sara; she has a real talent for bringing out the best in her clients and I am so grateful for the work she has done.

Emily, Service Leaver

I would implore you reach out

Sara's coaching helped me unravel my thought processes and delve into my values, beliefs and needs from a career; not what the Military tell me my values are - but mine! I wonder how many of us actually stop and think about what we as individuals value, rather than what we have been told to? Sara worked with me to help guide me into a place of confidence and understanding of what it is I aspire for in a career. If anyone one of my networks or wider audience reads this and desires the same, I would implore you reach out to Sara to start a conversation.

Sara, Service Leaver.