When I applied for the course, I had been in a leader role for 12 months and the transition into this role I found really challenging. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and at times I would feel insecure and inferior to my experienced peers; I would think I wasn’t good enough, making me shy away from certain situations, conversations and not speaking up when I should. I think it was a fear of failure. My passion has always been people and seeing people excel in their roles and develop gives me real satisfaction. I know I had some strengths needed to be a good leader but did not know how to apply these and to develop myself. I was looking for Ivy house to help me become a more confident and effective leader.
My experience of the Ivy house programme – where do I begin! Ivy House has been the best thing that I have ever done for myself both professionally and personally; it’s changed my life.
I had no idea what to expect but was put at ease very quickly by the whole team. I have never been on a programme like this before but I would encourage everyone to do it if they have the choice. Each of the masterclasses taught me something new and have had a huge impact on me but my biggest and most memorable take away has definitely been 100% ownership and conscious mind. During and since Emerging Leaders Programme I have taken 100% ownership, and this has encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and be vulnerable. I am the one thing in life I can control, I can control how I choose to react or behave in a situation and this will have a direct impact on what I get out of it. It has also taught me it’s ok be vulnerable, as this is being brave and will help me learn and grow.
I was someone who always had limiting beliefs and I allowed this to hold me back for years – but not anymore. I have turned my limiting beliefs into empowering beliefs and now use them to push me on, not hold me back. My new mindset is all thanks to the Ivy House programme and coaches. This hasn’t only had a massive impact on my work life but also at home, I am happier in all aspects of life now and really feel like a new person.
Understanding my values and when I’m in my element has really given me clarity of what I want to do and achieve, and I now recognise when I am not in this space and can focus on getting back in alignment. I also notice I am having much more valuable conversations at work – not avoiding challenging conversations I would have in the past. Each masterclass offered something new and I have learned a lot from each part of the course. There was no part of my experience that I would change – I only wish that I could do it all over again.
Since the Ivy House programme, I feel more energised and more focused on what I want to achieve. I have already done things I would never have done before. I shared some of my learnings from ELP with the rest of my senior leader team and I was really anxious beforehand, but the feeling afterwards was incredible. I have also taken on a brand new role which before I would have felt out my depth but now I don’t. I see it as an opportunity to keep growing, keep challenging myself and start to put my learnings from the course into play. Ivy House has not only helped me step out of my comfort zone but changed the zone all together and I know as I continue on my journey that I will constantly keep changing and I can’t wait.
I understand much clearer who I am, what my strengths are and what I am capable of. I am a true Rhino and my future is within my control. Thank you to the whole team for all the support and encouragement they have given me and I would love to be involved with Ivy House again in the future.
