Midsummer

Maybe it’s due to the longer days, increased daylight (and sunshine!) and the chance for the first time in many years to take time out with my spouse, just the two of us, away from work, parenting and caring responsibilities, offering the opportunity for a much needed regroup, refuel, reconnect and reflection this midsummer.

The past year has been a challenging one – it hasn’t gone as anticipated. As a parent the past twelve months have stretched me in a new way; supporting a pre-teen daughter (not unusual for Gen-X women) to transition into senior school, and come to terms with new friendships, new routines, new demands and expectations. As a spouse supporting my husband on the ongoing build-out of his business through the turbulence of the global economy. On top of this, also dealing with the increasingly unpredictable changes in the needs of older friends and family and their care. All in addition to running my own business.

I took the opportunity a while ago to revisit my values – these are the foundations on which I build my vision and all that I do is anchored in them. And what I realised was:

I am committed more than ever to looking after this ageing body and soul of mine and my broader well-being. But keeping the focus, commitment and enthusiasm isn’t easy and I lapse regularly. However, now I have the awareness to know when this is happening and reach for the oxygen mask with compassion.

I am feeling my increasing desire for adventure when it comes to travels and new experiences – with my family and on my own. And I am paying attention to where this might lead over the coming months!

The value that stood out strongly for me in my reflections was collaboration. Especially, when it comes to my work, my main insight is that whilst I enjoy my one-to-one coaching and consulting work and am committed to continuing with it, I love collaborating! 

But, I’ve also realised that I value spending time in teams not always leading or coordinating, but collaboratively supporting. So, I’ve spent the past few weeks as an exam invigilator at a local school and it’s wonderful to be part of a team who care passionately about young people and how they can have a positive, supportive experience when it comes to exams. I was curious if this would be possible, but it has been a privilege to be part of a team collaborating in a very different way.

As part of leaning into my collaborative value, I recently walked away from a chair position. Not an easy decision but the collaboration wasn’t working for me. In the midsummer of my life I am learning anchored in my values, when to stick and when to say goodbye. Sometimes, it’s harder to do than others and I do still find I’m talking myself into things but much less frequently as more than not I catch myself. Crucially, I’ve also learnt that this saying is so true: “As one door closes, another opens”. As I stepped away from one opportunity, I was approached for another and this was made possible through collaboration. I am now a member of the amazing advisory board for Noon – a powerful movement driving change for women in midlife and beyond led by the inspiring Eleanor Mills.

So, what else have I concluded in my time out? I’m left wondering if a midsummer reflection process may just work better for me, rather than an end of calendar year as it aligns with when my energy and attention are at their highest. So the challenge I have set myself is to repeat this exercise for the next three years at the same time to see what shifts in the midsummer of my life. I’m excited to watch this space!

To learn more about my work with organisations and individuals, email me at rebecca@wisesherpa.co.uk.

#coaching #businesscoaching #executivecoachlondon #50career #midlife  #midcareer  #fromworklifetonewlife

A bit more about the author –

Rebecca Hill, founder at Wise Sherpa, is an experienced respected, trusted, sought after and award winning coach, consultant, facilitator and mentor.

Her passion is working with purpose led and impact focused leaders, professionals and organisations (including start ups and scale ups) in London and internationally in a thoughtful, collaborative and considered way guiding them to successfully realise their aspirations and achieve their goals. Rebecca’s approach is highly personalised and tailored to the needs of each client which is why clients report strong outcomes and she is considered one of the best leadership coaches and consultants.

Rebecca is also an author and speaker. She speaks on a range of issues including mid-life to later life transitions into fulfilling encores, navigating major life stages from a career perspective and women’s economic empowerment to name a few.

She holds an MSc in Coaching and Consulting from HEC Paris (in association with Said Business School, University of Oxford), as well as being a Chartered Marketer and qualified coach. She has lived and worked in several countries including France, US and Switzerland and speaks several languages. In her spare time, she also sits on a number of boards and committees.