From Headteacher to Coach: Kirsty Fitzscott's Public Sector Journey
In this episode, Sarah Short interviews Kirsty Fitzscott, a former headteacher who transitioned to coaching after 25 years in education. They explore the unique perspective that public sector professionals bring to coaching and the challenges they face when establishing their coaching practices.
Chapter Highlights:
1. The Education to Coaching Transition [00:25 - 03:52]Kirsty shares how she discovered coaching while studying for headship and how it helped reduce her stress levels from 32/40 to 8/40 without changing her circumstances.
2. Public Sector Values in Coaching [04:02 - 05:31]The discussion explores the budget-mindset of public sector workers and the challenge of articulating coaching's value when coming from an environment where resources are limited.
3. Marketing Mindset Shifts [07:12 - 08:48]Sarah and Kirsty address how public sector professionals often struggle with marketing, seeing it as "braggy" rather than as an opportunity to demonstrate understanding and support.
4. The Return on Investment Challenge [10:36 - 12:33]They discuss strategies for demonstrating tangible outcomes to convince decision-makers like school governors that coaching is worth the investment.
5. From Cog to Coach [13:41 - 16:21]Kirsty explains the psychological shift from being "a cog in a large machine" serving thousands of stakeholders to promoting yourself as an independent coach.
6. The Caring Connection [16:21 - 18:24]The conversation highlights how public sector workers' natural desire to serve and care for others is actually a strength in coaching, once they overcome the discomfort of charging professional fees.
7. Making an Impact Differently [19:14 - 22:04]The episode concludes with Kirsty's reflections on how coaches from public sector backgrounds can still create meaningful change while maintaining better personal boundaries.
Kirsty enthusiastically endorses The Coaching Revolution (TCR) for its supportive community, structured approach, and proven results for coaches building their businesses.
Have you enjoyed this episode?
Find out more and take the FREE quiz at: https://thecoachingrevolution.com/
Join the FREE Facebook group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildacoachingbusiness
