Coaching techniques to help founders improve their performance and resilience

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Lucy Mullins shares a 5-step approach to tackle the challenges of running a startup.

As co-founder of property startup Stepladder, Lucy Mullins is no stranger to the many demands of being an entrepreneur. She is also a qualified professional coach and co-founder of Ride the Wave Professional Coach Training.

In this video she shares the WAVES approach to analysing and addressing the problems and challenges that are inevitable in a founder’s life:

When faced with challenges, Mullins suggests that founders ask themselves the following questions as part of the five-step WAVES approach.

1. WAIT and consider

What’s really happening now?
What assumptions are you making and how can you check they are correct?
What are you not seeing?
What other explanations could there be?
What is of most importance to you now?
What outcome would you like?

2. ASSEMBLE your resources

What do you know about yourself that could help you ride this wave?
What’s your superpower?
What physical, social and psychological resources do you need?
What might be missing and how will you fill that gap?
Who is in your support team?
What do you not need?

3. VOYAGE with determination

How can you get your body and mind working together for peak performance?
How can you stay flexible?
What do you need to keep your balance?
How will you manage your energy?
How will you know when you are in danger of wiping out?
How do you stay on the crest of the wave?

4. EXPERIENCE the peaks and troughs

What are you experiencing?
How does this fit with what you were expecting to experience?
What is energising you? • What is draining you?
What are you learning about yourself and the situation?
How can you use this new knowledge to greatest effect?

5. STRENGTHEN to surf again

What do you know now that you didn't know before you rode that wave?
What repairs need to be made before you are ready to ride the next wave?
What do you need to feel ready to ride the next wave?
Which of your personal strengths will be most helpful to you going forward?
What or whose support would strengthen/refresh you now?
How will you know that you are ready for the next wave?

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Coaching techniques to help founders improve their performance and resilience

What to do if you think your IP has been infringed

How to make sure your startup is ready for funding: Preparing to raise

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