Preview Mode Links will not work in preview mode

The Legendary Leaders Podcast

  1. All Episodes
  2. Fiona Parashar - Nature-Based Coaching for Effective Leadership

Fiona Parashar - Nature-Based Coaching for Effective Leadership

Nov 24, 2022

Have you ever thought of how impactful a nature walk can enhance your work relationships? When you’re facing work-life balance challenges and want to reconnect with your sense of self and what is important, maybe what you need, is to shift your way of thinking. Nature-based coaching is a way of coaching where you get to reconnect with yourself away from your usual work environment.  

In this episode of the Legendary Leaders Podcast, we have Fiona Parashar, Founder & CEO of Leadership Coaching, which is a BCorps-certified Organization committed to its mission, to increase positive Leadership in the workplace and prioritize well-being for people and the planet. Fiona started her career in Advertising, but later she set up Leadership Coaching, combining her love of people and Psychology with her business skills and experience. 

Listen in to learn how to incorporate spaciousness, nature-based coaching, positive future focus, and beautiful power questions in your everyday life, to achieve positivity. You will also learn the importance of sharing and exploring your vision with your team as a Leader, so they can support you.  

 

 

This podcast is sponsored by InnerProfessional online training programs. With courses geared specifically for Legendary Leaders, InnerProfessional provides an extraordinary catalog of leadership and professional development programs unlike any online training you’ve experienced before.  

Key Takeaways: 

  • How coaching in nature deepens the emotional and psychological impact.  
  • How nature walks can enhance the quality of thinking, energy, and connection between people.  
  • Why making small incremental steps in your thinking and showing up, can have a huge difference in your Leadership.  
  • The importance of visualizing your future, to help regulate your present decisions.  
  • How to build your confidence as a Woman Leader by building your competence and support system.  

Episode timeline: 

  • [1:13] Intro 
  • [11:04] How Fiona helps Leaders create and thrive in a healthy workplace, so they can lead by example.  
  • [13:50] How Fiona helps people become psychologically flexible and agile in their way of being and leading.  
  • [18:47] Fiona’s experience running the Positive Vision Day work – one-on-one coaching with Leaders.  
  • [22:46] The peace, tranquility, and relaxation Leaders achieve from the Positive Vision Day work. 
  • [25:02] Aspects of the coaching walk that enhances the intimacy between the Coach and their Client.  
  • [32:00] The four techniques Fiona encourages Leaders to incorporate into their everyday life.  
  • [39:42] The compounding effects of having the discipline to link your present decisions with your future self.  
  • [44:50] How to share and explore your vision with your Team as a Leader so they can support you.  
  • [48:46] Positive Leadership – leading an organization to be a force for good to those working in it.  
  • [50:42] How Fiona’s organization supports Women to accelerate the gender gap in the workplace.  
  • [55:17] How you can support gender-based programs and start making a difference. 
  • [58:58] Tips on how to find your voice as a Leader in your organization.  
  • [1:02:40] Why Fiona wrote her book A Beautiful Way to Coach, plus the power of writing your thoughts. 

Quotes: 

  • “Your personal life has an impact on who you are as a Leader and vice versa… it’s about finding your individual small steps, that work for you.”- Cathleen Merkel [39:30] 
  • “If you can get into the discipline of linking your present decisions to your future self, that is strong and compelling.”- Fiona Parashar [39:44] 

 
Find | Fiona Parashar 

  • Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beautiful-Way-Coach-Positive-Psychology/dp/103211603X 
     
  • Bio: Fiona is the Founder & CEO of Leadership Coaching which is a BCorps Certified Organisation committed to its mission to increase positive Leadership in the workplace and prioritise  
    well-being for people and the planet. 
     
    Fiona started her career in Advertising, working for Redwood publishing, Ogilvy, Lintas and then promoted to the board of Universal McCann, ending up as joint MD. But after having her second child, Fiona craved a better work life balance. So, in 2000 she set up Leadership Coaching, combining her love of people and Psychology with her business skills and experience. Three years later Fiona published ‘The Balancing Act’. Just this year, Fiona has written her second book, ‘A Beautiful Way to Coach’ all about the Positive Vision Day work that she does. Fiona enjoys working with some brilliant coaching partners who are aligned on values and the vision. She has won an award for excellence in Business Psychology Coaching and worked with Leaders from right across the communications industry. Fiona loves paying it forward with mentoring, coaching, or supporting emerging Female talent. CHAMPIONING POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY With a degree in Psychology and a Masters in Positive Psychology, Fiona believes strongly, that resolving issues, is best achieved by focusing on strengths over shortfalls. A great believer in Personal and Professional Development, she is also Certified as a Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher and has developed coaching programmes that draw on the mix of Psychology with nature, to meet the challenge of what positive Leadership needs to be in uncertain times. PURPOSE-LED AND PASSIONATE Leadership Coaching has always been a purpose-led business, not only supporting people’s well-being, but donating a percentage of time to pro bono coaching for charities. Having been an active member of WACL for more than 20 years, Fiona is passionate about accelerating gender equality, and is also a member of the Bath Women’s Giving Fund and a Trustee for Health and Wellbeing trust. 
     
    SUBSCRIBE TO THIS PODCAST On Apple Podcasts. 

 
About Cathleen Merkel:   

As a Thought Leader in the Mindset & (Self-) Leadership space, Cathleen supports high achieving, worn-out Women create a more content & balanced life without sacrificing their hard-earned success. Following a simple six step framework, Cathleen helps you not only reconnect with your inner feminine side; but also supports you to rediscover your REAL YOU!  

Cathleen focuses on women who have lost their sense of purpose, who feel they are ‘running in a hamster wheel’, trying to please everyone but themselves. She helps you to turn your careers, your social connections and personal life around so that you will start feeling fulfilled and excited again about the days to come.  At the end of the process, Cathleen's clients will feel healthier, happier, energised and clear about their future.   

With over 15 years of Leadership experience in Retail, Media & Broadcasting, Engineering and Property Investment, Cathleen has not only experienced the challenges and opportunities of a Female Leader herself; she has also been Leading and supporting various Leadership Development initiatives within large, complex, multinational matrix organisations.  

Only by deeply experiencing her very personal life challenges – ‘hitting a wall experiences’ – was Cathleen able to redefine her own purpose, deciding to bring ease and content to as many women as possible on the planet! 
 
Find | Cathleen Merkel 

At cathleenmerkel.com 
On Instagram: @CathleenMerkel 
On Facebook: @CathleenMerkelCoaching 
On LinkedIn: @CathleenMerkel 

 
Tune in here: