Client Corner - Siân Taylor

Castlefield’s Olivia Bowen talks to leadership coach, Siân Taylor in this latest Client Corner piece.

Siân has been a client of Olivia’s for over 20 years and set up Siân Taylor Coaching Ltd in 2017.

Olivia Bowen (OB): How did you get into coaching?

Siân Taylor (ST): I’ve worked across several sectors and seen the difference in organisational culture and leadership styles that have resulted. Through my own and sometimes painful experience as a manager and senior leader, I came to realise that I wanted to do things differently and behave differently from my natural instinctive response and the prevailing work culture, but found this difficult to do.

Over the years in various roles, I came to understand that I was adept at building relationships based on trust, and I enhanced this and other essential skills through a coaching qualification.

I realised that where I felt I could really make a difference was through creating a psychologically safe space for colleagues and people to reflect on, and change, the way in which they interacted with others. Through that, they could develop their own leadership style in a way to have a more positive impact with the people they worked with.

OB: Please can you tell us a bit more about your coaching business – who you coach and what you cover?

ST: I set up Sian Taylor Coaching Ltd in 2017 to offer specific one-to-one coaching support for leaders at all levels, including new leaders and executives. I also undertake research and evaluation work related to leadership and leadership development which informs my leadership coaching.

Whilst I still specifically focus on one-to-one leadership coaching, I also work with teams providing team development facilitation and team coaching, and groups of individuals seeking to address similar workplace challenges.

I also train new coaches and provide coaching supervision to practicing coaches, both of which enable me to support the development of high-quality coaching and coaching cultures within organisations.

OB: What inspired you to set up your business?

ST: The people that both supported and challenged me to do this, were people I trusted, to whom I could say what was really on my mind and by doing that they helped me shift my responses and reactions in a positive way so that I felt and believed I was a better manager and leader as a result – certainly the feedback from people I worked with, reassured me that was the case!

I decided to set up Sian Taylor Coaching Ltd so that I could focus on offering this more widely and therefore have a greater impact across organisations.

My overall aim is to help individuals and teams develop trusting, collaborative and empowering working relationships that motivate and inspire people. We spend so much time within a work environment, I believe creating a place where each of us feels valued, recognised, and respected leads to a healthy, productive, and effective organisation making a positive impact within their sector and field of expertise.

OB: How has your previous career influenced your current role?

ST: I’ve drawn on my experiences both from my own line management relationships, experiences leading multidisciplinary teams and within differing organisational cultures – some hierarchical and some political in nature.

I’ve moved from being seen as an ‘expert’ (having trained as a biologist and having science-based roles) to ‘jack-of-all-trades’ (picking up almost everything that no-one else has wanted or known what to do) to stepping out of the day-to-day and taking the broader horizon scanning view.

All of these experiences have helped me to appreciate how unique our own experience can feel and how often there are commonalities and similarities with other people’s experiences as well. The one aspect that I continually draw on, is that even when I have felt overwhelmed or questioned what I’m doing, having a place or person where I can stop, take a breath and share what I’m thinking and feeling without fear of being judged, has been the most valuable way for me to get myself ‘back-on-track’.

Remembering this experience is the reason why I offer coaching to others – it’s providing this same space for them, so that they are able to choose the best course of action that feels right for them.

OB: What has been the biggest challenge and the greatest success?

ST: Setting up Sian Taylor Coaching Ltd was both terrifying and exciting! Whilst I had qualified as a coach and was supporting people within my then employing organisation, deliberately choosing to leave and establish myself as a professional coach and setting up a business was something I thought through very carefully. I am incredibly grateful to my partner who supported me through that decision, and to my close friends and family, and my coach all of whom who encouraged and cheered me on, and helped me think through what it would take and what I’d need to do to be successful.

It’s been a rollercoaster 7 years so far, and I know that as a micro business, it’s all part of the ongoing journey. I’m just delighted that I’ve got to where I am and still looking ahead with excitement about the future.

And most importantly for me, to have worked with all the people I have worked with over the last 7 years in both a coaching capacity as well as trainer, facilitator and supervisor has been amazing and they all a part of the success of Sian Taylor Coaching Ltd.

OB: To what extent did your upbringing lead you to make ethical financial choices?

ST: I was brought up with a ‘make-do-and mend’ philosophy, and whilst I have to admit I’ve not always stuck to that (especially teens and early twenties), it’s something I realise is ingrained within me. I also initially had a dream of becoming a marine biologist, and whilst this didn’t end up going to plan it did kick-start thoughts and awareness of environmental issues. I then chose to become vegetarian because of poor fishing practices, at a time when being vegetarian got you some very quizzical looks and lots of questions!

Meeting my partner and realising we were like-minded on many issues, has led us to make ethical choices in the ways in which we live, and as we have strong tendencies to save every penny we can for ‘rainy days’, this first led my partner to explore ethical saving and investment options. We’ve now been guided by Olivia’s expert advice for over 20 years, and this has been an important part of how we’ve lived in line with our values.

OB: How do you like to spend your time when you aren’t working?

ST: I enjoy spending time outdoors. Often this can be in our suburban garden where we try to draw in and support as much wildlife as possible. I also love going out for long walks and hikes trying to find the quieter routes in our countryside. And taking our cameras to capture the wide range of wildlife always brings me joy.

OB: Please can you tell me a little about your voluntary work?

ST: Yes, I volunteered as a Samaritan for a number of years and was privileged to hold a branch leadership position during this time. I also volunteer my time as a coach having taken part in an annual Coachathon to raise funds for charity, and have supported coaches providing charity funded coaching with supervision support.