Louise Sheppard

Team Coaching Supervisor

Describe your journey as a coach

I started my career with Unilever Plc and then moved into management consultancy. As a consultant, I focused on people issues, organisational development and change management, before leaving to start my own leadership development business. I soon found I enjoyed the individual sessions with participants the most. I have been coaching for more than 20 years and am now a partner at Praesta LLP. I work as an executive coach, team and group coach with senior leaders. I have been supervising individuals and groups for more than 10 years and am accredited through the Association for Professional Executive Coaching and Supervision (APECS). I have the TCS Diploma in Team Coaching, an MA in Professional Coaching and a Doctorate in Coaching and Mentoring from Oxford Brookes University. My doctoral research was on how supervisees can get the most out of their coaching supervision.

What is your sweet spot as a coach?

I believe that supervision needs to be supervisee-led. I see supervision as adult-to-adult learning partnerships and view the process as enabling coaches to be the best that they can be. I build safe and trusting relationships where coaches feel at ease to reflect upon what is going well and where they are feeling more vulnerable and would like space and support to think through their choices and develop strategies to take things forward. I am open and disclose relevant experiences, I share what I am picking up in the system and provide challenges by enabling coaches to look at issues from multiple perspectives. I am a big fan of supervision and have regular individual and group supervision to support my learning and growth.

What about you as a person?

I live in Wimbledon, south-west London with my husband. I really enjoy the easy access to the common where I walk daily with our dog and I appreciate being able to get into London to see films, go to the theatre, visit art exhibitions and go to concerts. I have four, grown-up children and we have a lot of fun getting together frequently for Sunday lunches and to celebrate events. My hobbies are walking, cycling, yoga, reading and travelling. I love to visit different countries and I get a lot of pleasure from planning trips and being in different cultures. Coaches and clients have described my style as calm, human and encouraging. I try to hold things ‘lightly’ and not take myself or life too seriously!

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