Queen Bee Coaching FAQs - PankhurstProjects.org

General FAQS

What is Queen Bee Coaching?

Queen Bee Coaching is a coaching service for women across Greater Manchester. More specifically QBC supports women who have already demonstrated some leadership skills and might already be in leadership roles, but could benefit from guidance to take the next steps.

What is coaching?

Coaching is a positive developmental process where someone is supported to unlock their potential and improve their performance. Leadership coaching specifically looks at how the person can become a better leader and achieve their goals. Coaching and mentoring are two different things. The main difference being a mentor is usually from the same field as the mentee and they provide advice and access to contacts/information over a longer period of time linked specifically on that sector. Whereas a coach doesn’t need to be from the same area as their role is to support the client’s goals more broadly, and is often for a shorter, more condensed period of time.

How does it work and how do I get involved?

We regularly recruit for women across Greater Manchester who are either interested in becoming a volunteer coach or interested in becoming a client (receiving coaching). You can apply on our website and if we think you’re right for the role we will then match you (with a client or coach, depending what you applied for!). From there the coach and client will organise sessions together – this is usually 6 sessions over 6 months.

Is the coaching offered for free?

YES! We offer all of our coaching for free. We are part of the Pankhurst Trust and all of our team and coaching team are volunteers too, who give up their time for free to ensure this can happen. We offer free coaching because we want to reach those who might not usually be able to access coaching, whether that be for a financial reason or that it’s not readily available to them.

FAQS for potential/new coaches

Is there a set length of time that coaching is provided and is there a limit to the number of people each coach supports?

We usually offer 6 free sessions to our clients. Most coaches and clients choose to meet once a month, so on average coaching lasts 6 months for people. However, it’s not unusual for people to take a break in the middle – maybe for a maternity leave or something else, and then resume coaching after that. Equally you don’t have to have 6 sessions, it might be that the client feels like they’ve got everything out of it and are happier with fewer sessions.

In terms of a limit to the number of people each coach supports – a coach usually only has one client at a time and will be matched with a new client following the completion of coaching a client.

If you are experienced as a mentor but have no coaching experience, is it possible to receive some of the CPD before getting a client?

Yes, that wouldn’t be a problem and you’d be more than welcome to join for CPD sessions before getting a client. We want to make sure all of our coaches are supported and enjoy being part of QBC. As a coach you are supported throughout the process and the QBC team will ensure you are confident in what you are doing. As well as the CPD sessions throughout, all our coaches have access to Mobilize where CPD recordings are stored and coaches can communicate with each other, post tips and ask questions. We also use a group cohort method, so that coaches and clients starting on their journey at the same time can look to each other for support, questions, feedback, and have regular check-ins.

I’m interested to hear more about the CPD sessions for coaches. Can you give me some examples please?

Again these have previously been delivered in person at the Pankhurst Centre. Since May, we have provided virtual sessions via Zoom which also allow us to group or break out discussions. We try to plan ahead for our CPD sessions, asking coaches what they may want or need and using the skills of our coaches to deliver. Topics have included leadership, basic coaching skills including models of coaching and how to use Zoom to coach for example. Your views will be sought and some CPD sessions are recorded for coaches to access later.

The group cohort method sounds positive – would that function like an action learning set?

Yes, that’s absolutely right. We’ve been trialing this new method of working and think it’s really successful. It enables coaches to get the support they need and is managed by an overall member of the QBC team, who is always there for support. Most of the time they are or have been coaches themselves, so are experienced in the field.

How do you match coaches and clients?

We have about 70/90 coaches altogether with around 15/20 available at any time. In the past we have matched based on geographical or time availability. As all our sessions are currently being delivered via virtual means, this hasn’t been such an issue. As mentioned previously, if as a client you would like to be matched on protected characteristics, we will do our best to make that happen.

FAQs for potential/new clients

Who exactly is the coaching for?

QBC offers coaching for women across Greater Manchester who have already demonstrated leadership but perhaps feel they aren’t reaching their full potential, or maybe are lacking in confidence and need support to progress. We want to support people that may not have had coaching before or who may not have access to coaching in their current role (maybe they aren’t even that sure what coaching is!). We are particularly keen to support women who are under represented, ensuring we reflect the diversity of Manchester.

Would I be matched with someone as the same ethnicity as me?

We are more than happy to accommodate preferences on protected characteristics such as this and will do our best to match client and coaches in this way. If you specify that in your application we will do our best to make sure it happens. It’s not always possible due to the coaches that we might have available at the time ready for a new client, but we will absolutely work with you on this.

What does a typical coaching session look like?

There really isn’t a ‘typical’ coaching session, as it all depends on the client and what they want to get out from it and each session is different. They are usually about an hour and take place every month. A coaching session is giving someone the space and time to think and discuss. A coaching session will often be guided by the goals that the client/coaches set out when they joined. In a session it might be that a client makes set goals of what they want to achieve in the future, look at what’s not going the way they want and discuss why that might be. Sessions may also reflect on what’s changed since the last session and the progress that has been made.

How do you match coaches and clients?

The group cohort method sounds positive – would that function like an action learning set?

Yes, that’s absolutely right. We’ve been trialing this new method of working and think it’s really successful. It enables clients to get the support they need and is managed by an overall member of the QBC team, who is always there for support.

What happens with my personal information?

Queen Bee Coaching is committed to keeping your personal information safe and secure. For further information about how your data is protected, please read our privacy statement.

Where can I send feedback on QBC?

QBC is constantly reviewing its processes and listening to its users. If you would like to comment or complain about your experience please email coaching@pankhursttrust.org addressed to the Chair Sally Hobbs.