Kendra Besanger

First, you’ll book a 20 minute discovery call. During that call, I will answer questions you have about my approach and/or what it means to work with a coach. We’ll talk schedule, rates, and intention.

From there, our coaching sessions will provide space and time for you to talk through whatever is happening in your life at the time of our call. You can prepare before or you can show up and think of something on the spot. I will ask you questions, we will set an intention for the conversation, and the rest will flow.

Coaching, as a form of thought partnership, creates a space for curiosity, self-reflection, and vulnerability–all of which help all of us become better leaders, colleagues, partners, and friends. Additionally, these actions help us become better listeners, more creative thinkers, and, ideally, help us to become more aligned with ourselves.

The International Coaching Federation (ICF) describes coaching as "partnering in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires a person to maximize their personal and professional potential. The process of coaching often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity and leadership. When you work with a coach, you set out on a path to greater personal and professional fulfillment."

Our conversations will be rooted in thought provoking questions and reflection and sprinkled with creative prompts.

I will incorporate skills I've developed as a facilitator, communications professional, instructor, and leader. My approach to working with you will be creative and will focus on your strengths.

I will also incorporate learnings from a wide range of trainings I’ve engaged with, including Elaine Alec's Cultivating Safe Spaces, u-Lab Leading from the Emerging Future, the Institute for Equity Centred Coaching, and various communications, teaching, and facilitation trainings I’ve invested in over the years.

Guided by you and your expertise, we will find and co-design ways to move forward.

Until 5 years ago, I had never heard of coaching. While working on a project with a colleague, I shared a challenge I was facing with her. The challenge left me feeling completely stuck and unsure of how to move forward. She listened for a little while and then asked, "Would you like me to continue listening as a colleague or would you like to try out a coaching approach?" At the time, I didn't know what to expect from "coaching approach," but I went with it.

Through incredible questions and deep listening, she helped me recognize patterns I hadn't noticed, connected me to confidence I was lacking prior to our call, and supported me in identifying a few steps forward. She didn't give me any advice; instead, she mirrored my knowledge back to me and helped me frame and reframe. The coaching conversation was only 20 minutes but I left feeling energized and unstuck. 

I have continued to work with coaches ever since. The coaching conversations I’ve had have supported me in finding pathways to emerge from burnout, framing my next career move, helping me find clarity in “day-to-day” challenges, and, most importantly, supporting me in building the confidence and self-awareness that are so essential to being a good leader.