How a nomination for a Coaching award became a celebration of connection and impact
A few days ago I was humbled to be nominated for the Coach Awards Best Executive Coach category. What started as a simple request for nominations quickly became a heartfelt journey filled with reflection, unexpected support, and powerful reconnections. While the award itself would be an honor, the experience has already brought an outpouring of gratitude that feels like the true prize.
The Vulnerability of Asking: Asking for support can be difficult – especially for something as personal as a coaching award. Reaching out to clients and colleagues to nominate me felt like putting myself out there in a new way. I wasn’t sure how it would be received or if it was too forward to ask (I'm English we don't do "show off" very well). Yet the responses I received were beyond anything I could have anticipated.
An Outpouring of Love and Memories: Once the nominations were announced, I received messages from people I hadn’t spoken to in years. Colleagues and clients from as far back as fifteen years ago reached out, sharing memories of our coaching sessions and the impact those moments had on them.
It wasn’t just, “Yes, I’ll vote for you.” Instead, people shared stories, reminding me of specific conversations and words I’d almost forgotten, like the time I encouraged a client telling them "I wish you could see yourself the way I see you".
Every story touched me deeply, reminding me that coaching is about more than metrics – it’s about lasting connections.
The Ethics of Winning and Staying True to Myself: As the nomination was shared on social media, traffic to my LinkedIn page and website soared. Alongside the support came a few unexpected messages offering “guaranteed wins” for a price – essentially, the chance to manipulate the voting process. These offers made me pause. Winning through those means would be empty, inauthentic, and at odds with the principles I live by in my coaching. The best part of this journey has been the genuine support, and I didn’t want to cloud it with anything that didn’t feel true.
Why I Feel Like I’ve Already Won: Whether I walk away with an award or not, I already feel like a winner. This experience reminded me of why I chose this path in the first place – to make a difference, to be there during pivotal career moments, and to bring out the best in others. Being reminded of that impact by the very people I’ve been honored to coach feels like a reward in itself. It’s not about the title; it’s about knowing I’ve left a positive mark. It also gave me another reason to celebrate my teachers, supporters and the broader coaching community. Win. Win. Win.
So to all those who’ve reached out, voted, and shared their stories, thank you. You've shown me that the true value of this journey lies not in trophies but in the lives touched along the way. Whether or not I take home the award, I’m grateful for this nomination for all it’s shown me. After all, real success isn’t about the final outcome – it’s about the legacy we build together.
And if you haven't voted yet https://www.coachawards.com/executivecoach I would love to have your vote!
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