Latifa Firfiray
“You’ll only know the value of coaching once you’ve been coached!”
My Coaching Philosophy
It is my firm belief that all human beings are capable of leading authentic and thriving lives and I view coaching as the perfect tool with which to unlock this capacity within my clients. Coaching allows clients to become unstuck, shed limiting beliefs and thoughts, and be capacitated and empowered to navigate change, overcome obstacles and challenges, and achieve their goals. The transformation that coaching precipitates allows clients to live their lives authentically, with passion, hope and purpose.
My coaching objectives
I use a solution-focused, action-orientated coaching approach that is rooted in positive psychology and Mind Power. My coaching strategy unlocks the inherent resources and potential within my clients, so that they are enabled to come up with their own solutions to the problems that they bring to coaching.
I coach clients through a stepwise process of problem clarification, formulation of desired goals and outcomes, determination of accountability resources and measures of success, and lastly, planning of action steps towards the achievement of their goals. In keeping with fundamental coaching principles, the client is seen as the “expert”, determining the topic and agenda for coaching, while I hold the space and process for the client, facilitating their capacity for self-awareness, self-directed learning, self-management and improved efficacy.
My experience
I juggle multiple roles in my own life: I am the youngest of six siblings, a wife, mom of three boys, anaesthetist, senior lecturer and a coach. The lessons and experiences from each of these roles has gifted me with an invaluable understanding of human nature and relationships.
Anaesthesia is an acute discipline, requiring rapid-decision -making, problem-solving and a comprehensive understanding of all other fields of medicine. We care for patients at a time that they feel vulnerable perioperatively. Alongside clinical work, I manage anaesthesiology clinical services at a busy tertiary-level hospital, interfacing with multiple stakeholders and various processes. I am a senior lecturer at the affiliated university, teaching and training junior colleagues and supervising research.
Prior to being coached myself, I had little idea of what exactly coaching was and how powerful it can be as a transformative tool. I had always had a keen interest in personal development and am a believer of Mind Power – the belief that your thoughts influence your reality. I was privileged to be afforded two opportunities to be coached as part of two leadership development programmes, first in 2017/18 and then in 2020/2021 and was amazed at how each experience of being coached was exactly what I needed at each of those times. Having undergone coach training, it makes complete sense to me now how that worked: coaching unlocks that latent potential and all the answers within to the issues that you face! I was intrigued and began contemplating studying to become a coach in 2021, finally making the decision to study coaching after psychometric testing proved that becoming a coach was a calling.
My coaching training, focus and purpose
I registered for the Postgrad Diploma in Coaching (PGDC) course at SACAP in June 2023 and alongside learning to be a coach, I embarked on a self-development journey that has grown me in ways that would not have been possible otherwise. Being coached, the learning and networking, as well coaching others, has increased my self-awareness, allowed me to honour my core values and be my authentic self. Coaching has opened fresh perspectives and possibilities where my thinking has been limited and has improved my relationships with others.
One of the areas that I would like to focus my coaching on is to help mitigate the high degree of burnout in medicine, especially anaesthesiology. Anaesthesiology has the highest rate of burnout among all medical specialties. It is heartbreaking to witness doctors experience the worst level of self-care, when they spend their whole life sacrificing a great deal to care for others.
The coaching models, tools and conversational frameworks that I have learnt make it possible for my coaching to be of value beyond the medical profession and I am able to be of service as a coach to any functioning, psychologically well individual with virtually any problem. This unique capacity of coaching and the comprehensive training received on the PGDC course makes it possible for me to coach clients from all walks of life and helps me to influence many different lives positively.
My offering
- Structured, confidential, coaching conversations
- Average 30-60 minutes
- Available after-hours & weekends
- Online or in-person
- Aligned with the ethical and professional standards of the ICF & Coaches and Mentors of South Africa (COMENSA)
