The VIDA community is full of Members with incredible backgrounds and skill sets – many of which can support fellow Members in their work and life pursuits. VIDA Member Janelle Fitzpatrick, CPCC Life/Leadership Coach, is one of those special Members who can help others transform their lives.
Trained through the Co-Active Leadership Institute, one of the world’s most rigorous schools credentialed by the ICF, Janelle is a life and leadership coach who helps clients level up their leadership abilities.
Her services allow individuals to tap into their natural creativity and resourcefulness, build self-awareness and emotional intelligence, and embrace bold intuition and leadership capabilities.
Even better, Janelle is giving new VIDA Members a free 60-minute coaching session (see Calendly below to book an appointment).
Below Janelle explores what leadership coaching is and how it helps her clients. Plus, she offers tips and advice on maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
VIDA: How did you get your start as a life & leadership coach?
Janelle: In 2019, I moved my family to Portland from San Francisco and left a financially and energetically unsustainable career ironically in the Sustainability field. Then, I joined a year-long group coaching program. The program helped me better align my work with my values, allowed me to bring my whole self to work and tapped into my passion for human dynamics and leadership.
This coaching group, along with a global pandemic, shifted my perspective and propelled me to pursue formal coaching training, which is something I had considered for years. All of this was the perfect storm for my professional trajectory to shift into alignment. So, I enrolled in a 20-month Coaching Certification program at Co-Active Training Institute and began my practice in early 2021.
VIDA: What do you love most about coaching?
Janelle: I love reflecting others’ brilliance back to them, illuminating their strengths and identifying areas of growth that will have the biggest impact in their lives. I also have a passion for co-creating tools and supporting clients in uncovering sustainable strategies and ways of being that deepen their commitment to their life’s values, help them experience more fulfillment and reduce their stress.
VIDA: How have you seen your coaching change your clients for the better?
Janelle: A recent client started my coaching program to focus on obtaining a promotion at their job. After attaining the well-deserved promotion, they told me they wanted to continue working together. The coaching work we did together set the wheels in motion for my client to improve their relationships not only with challenging work dynamics but, more importantly, with their children and co-parent. The work we do is holistic so getting clear on and accomplishing one goal will have a ripple effect on all aspects of one’s life.
VIDA: What are the benefits of working with a coach like you?
Janelle: I strongly believe that leadership skills are essential for each of us. Uncovering who you are and aligning that with your values has the biggest impact on your fulfillment and life purpose. Coaching is a powerful catalyst for transformation and even small incremental changes can lead to fantastic results. I invest in my own coaches and healers to ensure I’m continually learning, which allows me to be fully available and optimally serve my clients.
VIDA: What knowledge/skills can clients expect to gain as a result?
Janelle: There are several things clients can gain as a result of coaching, including:
- Gaining clarity and perspective on what fulfills them most in life and learning to focus on the strategies that get them there.
- Identifying what holds them back and co-creating a process that works for them so that they can move forward and feel less stuck.
- Building massive self-awareness and depth of focus so that they can improve their relationships with themselves, their work and those they love.
- Shifting their perspective and trusting their intuition so that they can make decisions and take aligned action in their life and work.
VIDA: What do your sessions typically entail?
Janelle: The sessions begin with identifying a topic and a desired outcome. I’ll use prompts, powerful questions and exercises that expand client perspectives and uncover hidden potential and desires. Through these sessions, clients can gain more clarity and identify ways of moving forward. Typically, we end a session by making a commitment and creating a structure for accountability.
VIDA: Where are the sessions conducted?
Janelle: My sessions can be conducted in person at VIDA Coworking in Portland or via video or phone.
VIDA: Who are your coaching sessions best suited toward?
Janelle: My coaching sessions are best suited for mid-life professionals who want to expand more fully into aligned leadership and improve and deepen their relationships with themselves, their work and others. My clients typically want to experience more fulfillment and clarity on their life’s purpose while limiting stress.
VIDA: Do you have any tips for creating a good work-life balance?
Janelle: Some of my tips for creating a good work-life balance are:
- Meditate, journal and move your body.
- Set yourself up for success by creating prompts and reminders to do simple things like breathing, hydrating, smiling and feeling.
- Find out how you are getting in your own way. Learn and practice how to stop.
- Get support through a group, coach, therapist and/or friend.
VIDA: How do you balance work and life?
Janelle: Balancing work and life is a moment-to-moment activity. I re-prioritize, determine what I need and ask for support when possible. I also celebrate my wins and reframe failures. I’m always learning. It’s important that I am always conducting self inquiries, trying something new, sharpening a skill and choosing cooperation over competition. I am constantly finding ways to be creative by doodling, painting, sketching, writing, cloud gazing, interpretive dancing and writing haikus.
VIDA: What’s your top career tip?
Janelle: My top career tip is: Keep learning and identifying who and what lights you up and spend more time there. Invest in relationships.
VIDA: What are your passions outside of work?
Janelle: Outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with my kids, practicing yoga and movement, learning, painting, climbing mountains, jumping in rivers, growing things and having new experiences.
VIDA: Anything else you’d like to add?
Janelle: I joined VIDA Coworking as a Member in early 2021 and had the most heartfelt and productive year! The community, support and caliber of people I have met through this community have been a beacon for my success and growth.
NEW VIDA MEMBERS:
Book a free 60-minute coaching session with Janelle here:
Interested in joining the VIDA community? We’d love to have you! Contact us today for more information and a tour.