A year has flown by since I started my role with Boo, and what a fantastic year it has been! After working freelance for a few years, I was dubious about going back to working for someone else – with limitations and stipulations and feeling confined about how I could work. But when this opportunity arose, I could see and feel that it was different, that it was an opportunity I just had to take! And so, it felt the right thing to go for it, and ring the tax office to notify them of my change in employment status.
What is it that makes Boo such a great place to work? Firstly, the team is recruited based on values to ensure that each person’s values are aligned with those of Boo. This means that there is a glue within the team and we are all working within the same boundaries.
We are also strength focused. Each person completing a strength finder assessment when they start with the team, we share our strengths with each other to help us learn how each other work best, and how we can support each other to work to our fullest.
We give back. Our social value policy means that for everyday we deliver, we bank an hour to give back in the area where the work was delivered. This helps to make coaching and wellbeing more accessible and break down the traditional expectation that coaching is for the rich elite. We have also ran monthly free wellbeing sessions and done monthly litter picks in our local area as well as matching people up with coaches completing their CMI accredited courses. This has all challenged my perception of a private business and opened my eyes to how much potential they have to give back!
We understand that we are all human- we all have ups and downs and we give these the attention they deserve; celebrating when things go well and listening and helping when things are tough. To know that I can go into work and be who I am and show my feelings means so much to me. I did one day try putting on a brave face and I was rumbled before I’d even walked up the stairs! Then treated with great compassion and a cup of tea. The day was no longer a right off, before I knew it I was able to focus on my job rather than hiding and ruminating on what was bothering me.
At Boo the annual leave policy is unlimited paid annual leave. So many people have expressed surprise when I have told then and asked quizzically, ‘Doesn’t that mean that everyone takes loads of time off?’. Actually, no it doesn’t. We are all very conscientious, committed to our work and love what we do. What it does mean however, is that we don’t have to worry about needing a day off when we have used all our leave and something unexpected arises. In order for us to be our best selves, we need to care for ourselves and take a break when we need this – whether this is some time off or working from home. Much of our work is face to face with clients and customers so we need to recharge our batteries to stay at our best.
We are trusted with our work and appreciated for who we are. We don’t need to pretend to be someone else. Old habits die hard sometimes and it is helpful to be reminded that we are in the job because of who we are and as a team we believe in each other.
It really shows that here at Boo we do walk the walk. We put coaching and wellbeing into practice as an organisation and that is reflected in what and how we do things. As I love coaching and everything it stands for, and I am passionate about helping people find how to look after their wellbeing, it is no wonder I have had such a great first year at Boo! It really has flown by and I’m looking forward to what the next year has in store….
