I thought we would mix things up a bit this week and have a Be My Guest interview today instead of my usual blog post.

Today I would like to welcome Mary Keeley, my lovely friend, who also happens to be a Coach. I asked Mary to tell us a little about herself and this is what she said..

‘Corporate women are right up my street as I specialise in helping women who want to take it to the top and the women I’m working with are achieving great things: being promoted, dealing with big business challenges, conquering feelings of fraud, developing leadership-type behaviour AND managing to have a life outside work!

I’m an ex-corporate communications head who is as at home in the boardrooms of my corporate clients as I am working 121 with women in big business. I don’t promise my clients they’ll be CEO by Christmas, but I do promise them they’ll get results and above all they’ll enjoy.

I’ve got an embarrassing number of years under my belt working for some of the world’s leading companies in the construction and property sectors. I’m still at it! Young enough to enjoy the buzz of corporate life and old enough to understand what makes big business tick – I understand what professional women are facing at work, because I’ve been there.’

Now in our usual interview format Mary has shared some great insights with us below..

Describe yourself in 3 short, fab and fun sentences

• I’m a straight-talking Amazon with a wicked sense of humour
• I love my job! Helping other professional women steer their way through the highs and lows of working in big business and the corporate world is just brilliant
• Yes, I’m a dynamic businesswoman – well most of the time – but at the heart of it, I’m a totally besotted wife, mother and cat-mum

What motivated you to pursue the field of Coaching?

I did a coaching diploma because I thought it would help me in my career. As I progressed up through the ranks, my job became less about doing the craft I was trained for: corporate communications – and more about managing people. Two years into the diploma and I realised I loved working with dynamic people who wanted to take control of their lives.

Who has been your biggest inspiration?

I was definitely born with my cup half full and am inspired by so many people and things. Of course I get down sometimes, particularly if I’m going through a trough at work. It’s then that I get inspiration from my Mum. She designed a life she loved. She was married to the man of her dreams for almost 60 years, living in the home of her dreams, surrounded by her ‘chicks’ (six Amazonian children, 14 grandchildren and four great grandchildren). She forged out a remarkable business for herself, finally retiring at the age of 80. She was a glamorous, hard-working and immensely intelligent businesswoman who was ahead of her time and probably the biggest inspiration any girl could have.

What’s the best business advice you’ve ever been given?

Keep on top of the money – don’t bury your head. Why? Because when starting out in business most go through a rite of passage whereby we have moments of sheer terror worrying about money. Particularly those who have recently waved goodbye to a thumping great salary!

 What three tips would you give to new Coaches?

1. If you’ve done the training and you love coaching then you ARE good enough. Believe it, get on with it and your confidence – and experience – will grow.
2. Don’t be afraid to refer if a client is out of your area of expertise. Create a bank of people you can refer to – they’ll be glad of the business and may return the favour.
3. Network, network, network. And don’t be put off when half the room seems to be other coaches. We all have our niche and particular area of expertise. Don’t panic if you haven’t found yours yet. Mine emerged over time. Look at what sort of clients you’re attracting – where do you do your best work. You’ll probably find this is the area you’ll end up specialising in.

What are the three biggest mistakes that new Coaches make?

• Freebies. We’re so excited to get work in the early days that we end up volunteering for a living. How can you help other people realise their self-worth if you’re still working on yours? Settle on a rate that is competitive and will help you meet your financial goals. Anything else and you’re playing at shopkeepers.
• Networking, networking, networking! We’re all told as soon as we start up in business that we have to be networking as much as possible. It’s not cheap and it’s time-consuming. Be savvy with it and build a networking schedule that gives you maximum exposure to your ideal client – bearing in mind that even if the person you’re talking to may not be your ideal client, they may be associated with someone who is.
• Giving too much. In our haste to be the best possible coach we’ll often deluge our clients with ‘added value’. In my case I quickly learned that the busy women I work with don’t have time to read the stuff, let alone work their way through it!

What strategies do you know work when it comes to finding new clients?

Referrals. It’s the strongest vote of confidence you’ll get.

What’s your favourite Coaching tool/strategy?

Having a laugh. If people are at ease and feel comfortable it really helps them to open up and be honest about what’s going on. Then I give them just enough homework to keep them on track.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Just be yourself. I worried that I wasn’t earnest enough to be a coach. I love life and that shines through – but just because I laugh at life doesn’t mean I’m not fiercely intelligent and well-informed in my area of expertise. My clients come to me because I’m their sort of person. I’m very comfortable that there are lots of people and lots of coaches out there that who are each other’s sort of person too.

If I wanted to connect and/or work with you where would I find you?

My Website .. http://marykeeley.com/

Mary has also given a great resource, 10 Strategies for Success

Thanks Mary for being our guest today, you’ve shared some great tips with us.Mary has also given a great resource, 10 Strategies for Success

Over to you .. What’s the best business advice you’ve been given?  Share in the comments below, and pop on over to my facebook page to join in on this and other great conversations.

Enjoyed this interview? Please share with people you think would enjoy it too and check out the sidebar for more guest posts.

Would you like to be my guest? Just drop me an email to apply and tell me what gems you’d like to share with my readers.