Hearing and following my heart through adversity.
I'm Nichola Lynagh. I coach school principals, boards and business leaders across Ireland and the UK, and the honesty I ask of them is the same honesty I had to find myself.
AoEC Accredited Professional Executive Coach. Based in Belfast; twenty years in the education sector.
Five things I learned
Hi, I'm Nichola. It's great to have you here. I've had many standout moments which have shaped who I am in the world. At 32, I began the ‘Cancer Dance’ — an ongoing diagnosis that brought so much fear yet so much richness to my life.
This earth-shattering experience impacted me and taught me about life, and myself, in many ways. I'd love to share five of those with you.
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Life is fragile, and we only have one 'go' at it. Like most other human beings, before my cancer diagnosis, I often reverted to old habits and un-serving behaviours rather than listening to my heart.
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We need to be more kind to our bodies and minds, and adequate rest is an absolute must for good health and wellbeing.
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Resiliency is not a static entity. I learned I needed to keep my 'bucket' filled up while constantly affirming and tweaking any unhelpful thinking patterns.
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Keeping perspective is key. I know what it's like to be afraid, and in those moments, I lost sight of my optimism and often retreated into myself and lost perspective. Like all tunnels, there was light at the end if I was patient with myself (this is a skill I am still working on!).
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The only barriers to my career and change were myself. I had long suffered from feelings of “not being smart enough”, overthinking and over-questioning, and worrying about what others thought. This kept my old narratives alive and thriving, which ultimately limited my potential.
“Listening inward, stepping forward.”
Sometimes we need an ‘uncluttered’ space, or a planned moment to hear ourselves think.
What drives me
I am driven by my passion for creating environments where groups of people do extraordinary things. I seek to build on existing strengths, inspire and transform thinking and behaviours, connect people to the strategic vision and journey of the team or organisation, and challenge beliefs and capability to promote greater confidence and create lasting change.
How I work
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Passionate about asking affirmatively disruptive questions, and helping people ask great questions. I believe people and organisations go in the direction we question them.
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A discerning, collaborative decision maker, effectively engaging others in creating and fulfilling new possibilities.
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Cross-cultural experience of coaching and mentoring leaders at all levels of an organisation.
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Diverse experience in leadership, governance and management.
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Skilled in managing change and leading people through difficult transitions, including mediation and conflict management programme sessions.
Trained for this, and still training
I am a highly effective facilitator, trainer and executive coach, with extensive experience in developing skills and competencies within individuals and teams in the private, public and third sectors.
Experienced in delivering training in transformational leadership, organisational change and personal development for the last 20 years in the education sector.
“My personal aim is to enable people to achieve exceptional results, with compassion, integrity and fun.”
Professional memberships
- Association for Coaching
- Association of Executive Coaches
Qualifications and accreditations
- AoEC Accredited Professional Executive Coach
- AoEC Certificate in Systemic Team Coaching
- ILM Level 5 — Coaching and Mentoring
- Advanced Diploma in Coaching for Wellbeing
- Foundation Diploma in Gestalt Psychotherapy
- Certificate in Supervision
- Certificate in Leadership and Management
- Certificate in Conflict Management
- Train the Trainer Programme in Trauma and Resiliency
- Foundation in Neuro-Linguistic Programming
- OCN — Mediation; Advanced Group Work Skills; Negotiation Skills
Systems I've worked across
Education Authority · Higher Education · National Health Service · NSPCC · Royal Bank of Scotland — Risk Team · Local Government Councils · NGOs · Police Service of Northern Ireland · Education and Training Inspectorate · Ulster University
I currently hold associate roles with Inspire/Lena, Leadership Centre HSC, Belfast, NICIE, CSSC and CCMS, and have previously held them with the Inspectorate, George Williams College and University of Ulster.
Inside the school system
Alongside my own practice, I work as an associate with the organisations that support school leaders across Northern Ireland.
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Associate Coach
Inspire/Lena
Associate coach on Inspire/Lena's coaching programme for school principals across Northern Ireland, since the programme began.
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Associate Facilitator
Controlled Schools' Support Council
Supporting heads and governors in the controlled sector on advocacy, ethos, area planning, governance and raising standards.
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Associate Facilitator
Council for Catholic Maintained Schools
Part of the CCMS multi-disciplinary locality teams, giving bespoke advice and guidance to principals and Boards of Governors on leadership.
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Associate Facilitator
NI Council for Integrated Education
Part of the NICIE multi-disciplinary team, giving bespoke advice and guidance to principals and Boards of Governors on leadership.
The values behind the work
Key values which inform and inspire how I work.
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Authentic engagement
I am honest, genuine and transparent when I engage with clients.
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Creativity and flexibility
I work with people to determine and provide what's relevant and effective for their needs.
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Collaborative relationships
I am passionate about communication in building reflective and accountable arrangements with any client.
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Difference and diversity
I believe in an openness to the creative and life-enhancing potential of different and even conflicting perspectives and experiences.
Let's have an honest conversation
A free, no-obligation discovery call. We talk about where you are, and where you want to get to.