Monday 23rd March seems a long time away, but that was the last client I saw face to face in my clinic in Broomhill Sheffield. I remember the session very well; she wasn’t typical of my clients. They are usually aged between 40 – 50, women business owners who are suffering due to the loss of identity and confidence; who have lost their direction in life due to raising a family, running their own business or driven in their career.
In a nutshell, I help them to rediscover their identity, they gain better clarity, feel more motivated, confident, and in full control of their life.
On this occasion, I was working with a lady who was struggling to cope with her mental health. Her anxiety was affecting her relationship with her partner and her ability to concentrate at work.
The sessions continued over the internet using the Zoom video-conferencing application, as have all my client coaching and consultancy sessions on the easy-to-use platform. However, not everyone is using, or familiar with this programme. Some prefer Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Go To Meeting, Whatsapp, Skype, Messenger or BlueJeans, described by app developers that it provides an immersive video, audio ad web conferencing experience. It took me ages to download and run this application.
I had to learn how to deal with the unexpected quickly, and oh yes I had plenty of encounters, come on, what would you do if you’re delivering a hypnosis session then you hear a loud knock at the door from the courier driver delivering your Amazon goods? Usually, those items would have been transported to my clinic.
Young children and babies seeking the attention of their mums, then you’ve got the family pets who also want to get in on the act. Or you see the hubby scamper through the bedroom in just his underwear, not realising that his partner has someone else in the bedroom, albeit on the other end of the computer.
Do you want to hear my favourite story? I was delivering an online webinar for the South Yorkshire Expo, which involved sharing my computer screen so that I can present a PowerPoint presentation. I’d hosted a similar event for the Federation of Small Business the week before and a few others during the lockdown, therefore, I was familiar with the setup.
I could see all the delegates online in their little square boxes, some with videos turned off, which is something that I learned to familiarise with rather than being irritated.
The host gave an eloquent introduction then handed over to me. I addressed the online audience and proceeded to provide an overview of my session. At this point, I ensued to share my computer screen, and up popped my carefully rehearsed presentation.
All appeared to be going well, plenty of engagement, good use of the chat facility, and I could see plenty of thumbs up. Until I noted a message in the chatbox, saying “Mike, we only see a picture of a brain.” On my screen, I’d moved on further into the presentation at least seven slides further on.
Oops, my screen share had paused, I’d done this in error and was not aware of this. Therefore, I was yapping away for five minutes or more over a picture of a brain, possibly on a topic which had nothing in common with the brain!!
I received a lovely message following an event which said, thanks so much for the time you spent today giving us some takeaways for our mental positivity. Just seeing your wonderful smile all the way through made a huge difference to the day!
Messages such as this are heartfelt, and this is the very reason why I love what I do.
Adapting to this way of working has definitely been an enjoyable learning curve and who knows this may be the new way of working for many of us in the future.
If you know anyone in your world, friends, neighbours, work colleagues who you think would benefit from spending some time with me, please ask them to get in touch. I’d be delighted to arrange a free 30-minute consultation.
Telephone 0114 327 2683 or email enquiries@mikelawrence.co.uk