Exclusive Interviews with Master Coaches, Ebru Goksu Yildirim, Sage, The Dream Catcher [S.1-E.52/18]

Senem Anataca: Who is Ebru Goksu Yildirim?

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Ebru Goksu Yildirim: I am a Dream Catcher. I believe that everyone is a dream catcher and it all starts with having the courage to dream! Once we clear the dream- blockers from our paths and come from our essence where our values, passions and unique strengths lie, it is easier to co-create and catch any dream. Clarity always finds its way of leading to manifestation!

From a career perspective, I’m an ICF accredited Master Certified executive, leadership, and team coach. (MCC, CPCC, ORSCTM, STCC, NLP). I’ve been coaching individuals, executives, and teams since 2011. I’m also a facilitator, coach trainer, mentor, supervisor, and assessor.

I have a BA in Economics. I spent over 20 years in the corporate world and led some large teams on a regional level. In my past life prior to coaching, I used to be specialized in a Marketing Communications and worked across the MENAT region.

I’m also married and one of those crazy dogs mom.

So, different roles that span over different timelines…

?Senem Anataca: Tell us something special, not much known about you:

Ebru Goksu Yildirim: I have been always inspired by polarities I’ve seen around me since my childhood. I see it as one of the laws of the Universe. I see the day and the night dancing through life, in the dream of life. It’s fascinating to witness what comes out of opposites.

I believe that our opposites are simply different manifestations of the same thing. What we manifest as our reality can either lead to a life can be affirming or demolishing. The choice is ours to make, depending on what we lean into! We may lean into our strengths, values and passion and create high dreams or feed ourselves from our fears and keep creating low dreams.

Understanding and accepting our own complementary opposites would set us free. That level of awareness would enable us to get de-triggered and move back to the driver’s seat and choose what’s best for us. That unlocks our true potential.?

In some other teachings, I am called as Sage, which represents a wise one and a healer. I believe that in this life time, supporting others in unlocking their true potential is my way of healing.

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Senem Anataca: What are your core values and life purpose? And how is it connected to coaching?

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Ebru Goksu Yildirim: Integrity, quality, freedom, empowerment, and learning are important values to me. They are my guiding principles.

I’m passionate about empowering others in discovery and pursue of their dreams just so; they can manifest their utmost potential. This passion made me step out of my comfort zone, leave the corporate world, titles, and job security etc. behind. It enabled me to start over from scratch to lay a new and fulfilling life and a career path for myself.

I believe that who we are is how we coach. My core values and, purpose and beliefs have an impact on my coaching style. One of my key skills is being able to meet my clients exactly where they are, holding them there just long enough to show how resourceful they are, to increase their capacity to grow. I work with my clients on mindset and energy levels by focusing on their ‘being and doing’. I truly believe this is the path to transformation and professional empowerment.

?Senem Anataca: What question you were seeking for an answer made you a coach?

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Ebru Goksu Yildirim: This question reminds me Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. I was at the top of the pyramid seeking for a more purposeful life. The mirror was foggy, and I needed to pause, reflect, and re-connect with Who I truly was. That introspection helped me in defogging the mirror, face the truth and come back home.

I believe that being at a loss in life is a magical place to be in our journey. It’s a crossroad with infinite opportunities to become the best version of ourselves.

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Senem Anataca: What was your biggest TA-DA! moment in coaching and how did you overcome it?

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Ebru Goksu Yildirim:? When I started my coaching trainings, I was still in the corporate world and had mastered trouble shooting. In the beginning of my coach development journey, I needed to start working out new muscles to become a coach who is in service of her clients. It was challenging, made me vulnerable and required unlearning. I needed to trust client’s resourcefulness, the coaching process and let it be. This enabled me to see things from a fresher perspective and trust my senses. My colleagues who read these lines may also agree with me that experiencing change at that level is not only liberating but also transformational.

Another AHA moment that I can share is about the time when I became MCC, 3 years ago. I started feeling under performance pressure as if something different was expected of me and I needed to conduct myself in a certain way. What helped me overcome this was my work with my supervisor and mentor coach. I connected with my one of my core beliefs; Mastery is knowing nothing.

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Senem Anataca: As a master coach, what do you think the new coaches are not aware of about the trends of coaching?

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Ebru Goksu Yildirim: I am happy to share my humble observations.

The use of technology in coaching is becoming more prevalent. It seems to continue to evolve with new tools and platforms enhancing the coaching experience. Also, it enables us having online/hybrid coaching sessions – more convenience where physical boundaries, restrictions, and borders are removed. However, I believe that AI will never replace the power of emotional connection.

Amongst all the currents trends, what is close to my heart is workplace wellbeing coaching.

Undeniably, wellbeing has a significant impact on personal and professional prosperity and people can only feel balanced if they take care of all the different aspects of their lives. Besides that, workplace wellbeing has a significant impact on the quality and quantity of work. Productivity is consistently higher among well-adjusted optimistic employees. As a result, workplace wellbeing fosters organizational growth, team unity and a more inclusive, trusting and empathetic work environment.

?Senem Anataca: Can you please complete the following sentence: If a coach aims to be a successful master coach, then it is a must _______.

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Ebru Goksu Yildirim: to connect with our clients on heart and gut levels, be present in the ‘here and now’, create a sense of spaciousness, explore the yin and yang of clients, trust the journey, ignore nothing, practice vulnerability and simplicity, and last but not the least expand learning.

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Senem Anataca: Let us pick up some of your external resources, what are your suggestions?

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Ebru Goksu Yildirim: Here are few recommendations:

Man’s search for meaning - Viktor Frankl

Co-active Coaching: Changing Business, Transforming Lives (part one) - Henry Kimsey-House, Karen Kimsey-House, Philip Sandahl

Psychological Dimensions of Executive Coaching (part 4) - Peter Bluckert

Time to Think: Listening to Ignite the Human Mind - Nancy Kline

Challenging Coaching: Going Beyond Traditional Coaching to Face the FACTS ?- John Blakey and Ian Day

The Inner Game of Work: Focus, Learning, Pleasure, and Mbility in the Workplace - W. Timothy Gallwey

Otto Scharmer – Theory U

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Senem Anataca: 5 years down the line; what is the one thing we will be celebrating about your life?

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Ebru Goksu Yildirim: For sure selfcare, more quality time spent with my family, and friends and continued contribution in the coaching world.

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Senem Anataca: When your life is complete as a novel with all its chapters, what should be the title of the book?

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Ebru Goksu Yildirim: Sage, the dream catcher

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Senem Anataca: Last but not the least, what do you think about Authentic Coach’s Bold Corner?

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Ebru Goksu Yildirim: Coaching feels as a lonely business at times due to most of us being solo practitioners. For us stay on path, feel guided, resourceful and continue growing it’s essential to create a good support system around ourselves. Authentic Coach’s Bold Corner is one of the benevolent initiatives that I would like to extend my gratitude to. May you keep on shining…