Khalid Ahmed is one of the coaches that we found this month and we did a little interview with him. He impressed us with his professionalism and passion for coaching.
His passion for mentoring and coaching persisted throughout varied roles. From a career that spanned forensic science, academia, and four decades in the oil and gas industry, he was always driven by a commitment to growth and leadership.
His transition to leadership coaching was a natural evolution. Starting three years before retiring in 2021, he meticulously honed his skills, earning EMCC Senior Practitioner status and now fully dedicating his life to guiding others. What sets him apart is a deep rooted belief in the power of self awareness as the cornerstone of effective leadership.
His approach is tailored to each client’s unique journey, fostering an environment where profound personal transformation can take place. Clients emerge with a clearer understanding of their core values, a critical mindset ready to challenge the status quo, and the resilience to navigate life’s complexities with confidence and purpose. Here is what he said.
Meet Life Coach Khalid Ahmed:
Name: Khalid Ahmed
Pillar: The Spirit, The Mind
Who is this coach for: Anyone who wants to align with their authentic selves, attain deep confidence, mindset, and leadership skills to navigate life complexities with ease.
How they can help: By using various coaching tools and techniques centering around self awareness and discovering one own’s true values, motivations, and behaviors.
First of all, how are you and your family doing after these Pandemic times?
In response to how we’re doing post pandemic, my family and I have settled back into our routines with enhanced vigilance towards health.
Regular handwashing remains a staple, and masks are a must in crowded places, hospitals, and large gatherings and so also the yearly flu vaccine.
The pandemic was a profound lesson in personal hygiene, and we’ve embraced these practices wholeheartedly to avoid a return to those isolating days.
We now prioritize deep cleaning as a regular habit and have become more discerning about our social engagements, minimizing physical interactions to what’s necessary.
This mindful approach ensures our continued health and wellbeing.
How did the coronavirus pandemic affect your clients? Did it affect you at all?
The coronavirus pandemic reshaped interactions with both my clients and my own operations.
Transitioning to online platforms allowed for continuous connection despite physical distancing.
Leveraging robust digital tools like Zoom and reliable internet, we adapted to remote engagements that offered greater scheduling flexibility and the opportunity to work from home effectively.
This shift challenged us to innovate and maintain productivity, fostering a newfound appreciation for work and life balance.
The pandemic served as a catalyst for creative problem solving and reinforced the importance of adaptability in both personal and professional realms.
What are the biggest lessons that you learned in this pandemic?
The pandemic taught me several profound lessons:
The world operates on a plane of unpredictability and change is the sole constant.
We must never assume permanence in any aspect of life.
During these times, I learned to seek stability amidst chaos and to always be ready for life’s unexpected twists.
It underscored the importance of maintaining personal hygiene and cleanliness, and highlighted the need to support those more vulnerable.
These lessons have reshaped my perspective, reminding me that adaptability and compassion are essential in navigating life’s uncertainties.
The Origin:
Tell us about you, your career, how you started with your coaching career?
In response to how my coaching career unfolded, it has been a rich and varied journey.
I began my career in forensic science before transitioning to academia as a Physics Lecturer.
When circumstances led me from a large to a smaller college, I sought new opportunities and entered the Oil and Gas industry as a Petrophysicist, where I spent the next 40 years, climbing ranks in both position and responsibility.
Throughout my career, training, mentoring, and coaching were constant elements, allowing me to serve and guide others, often beyond my formal role.
As retirement approached, I chose to harness my decades of experience into a focused pursuit of leadership coaching.
Three years before retiring on January 2, 2021, I began online courses to hone my coaching skills.
Even amidst the pandemic, I achieved my EMCC Practitioner status, and post retirement, I pursued further training, provided pro bono coaching, and earned my Senior Practitioner status from EMCC.
This strategic pivot to coaching was a natural extension of my lifelong commitment to fostering growth and leadership in others, now fully realized in my current vocation.
What was your biggest obstacle that you had to overcome in your life that made you who you are today?
The greatest challenge I faced was the temptation to accept the “status quo.”
My commitment to constant improvement compelled me to seek innovative and more effective methods, refining my authenticity and reinforcing my core values.
This journey instilled in me a steadfast adherence to my moral and ethical principles, ensuring I never compromised on what I stand for.
This resolve has profoundly shaped who I am today, both personally and professionally.
The Coaching Style:
How do you innovate with coaching your clients?
Innovation has been a cornerstone of my approach throughout my career, driving me to constantly seek fresh, dynamic ways to foster growth.
This philosophy seamlessly translates into my coaching practice, which is meticulously tailored to each client’s unique journey towards achieving their personal and professional goals.
At the onset, my method may begin with a consistent set of foundational questions, but the coaching journey unfolds uniquely for each individual.
I recognize that while my clients differ in their needs and aspirations, they share a common desire for tangible results.
My role as a coach is to provoke thought, challenge existing boundaries, and inspire clients to engage more deeply with their development.
This involves cultivating an environment where clients can gain profound insights into their own capabilities and limitations, setting the stage for meaningful and sustainable growth in their leadership skills.
What’s unique about your coaching approach?
My coaching philosophy centres on a deep exploration of self awareness.
I believe that the key to addressing life’s challenges lies in a profound understanding of oneself.
By helping clients discover their core values, motivations, and behaviours, we often find that many of their problems begin to untangle themselves.
This introspective approach sets the foundation for genuine growth and lasting change.
What benefits do your clients get after working with you?
My clients emerge from our sessions with profound personal transformations:
1. They unearth their true selves, fostering authenticity and deep self awareness.
2. They gain robust tools to navigate life’s complexities, grounded in a clear understanding of their values and principles.
3. They develop a critical mindset, questioning the status quo and embracing change for continuous improvement.
4. They cultivate resilience and confidence, equipped to tackle professional and personal challenges with a newfound belief in the power of persistence and possibility.
Do you use any specific tools to be efficient with your clients?
To maximize efficiency in my coaching sessions, I employ a suite of digital tools:
Google Calendar for precise scheduling, having transitioned from Calendly for better flexibility,
Zoom Pro for secure, recorded online discussions,
Canva Pro for creating impactful visual presentations,
and ChatGPT 4, which aids in refining my written communications and thought processes.
The Impact:
If you had a super megaphone that, when you speak into, the whole world will hear your message, what would you say?
If granted the power to reach every corner of the globe with a single message, I would proclaim:
“Embrace your true self; authenticity invites the world to your doorstep.”
What is the greatest lesson you have learned in your life?
The most profound lesson I’ve learned is the importance of integrity and authenticity.
I’ve committed to staying true to my values and capabilities, regardless of the situation.
This commitment means continuously striving for excellence, but never at the expense of my personal dignity or moral compass.
Maintaining this integrity has guided me through life’s fluctuations, ensuring that my actions always align with who I am at my core.
Your final thoughts?
My parting advice:
Choose a coach who not only preaches success but has personally navigated the path to it.
Opt for a mentor who will challenge your boundaries, push your limits, and inspire you to transcend conventional norms.
The right coach will never allow you to settle but will empower you to unlock your fullest potential.
Where Can You Find Khalid Ahmed?
If you liked this interview and if you would love to find out how coach Khalid can help you become a better leader, go to https://www.borntocoach.net/ (currently upgraded) and see how he can help you. You can also get in touch with him via LinkedIn by connecting with him there and sending him a message.
If you want to take a peak of his coaching, you can watch this video:
Or, you can follow his Instagram and Facebook.
And, if you’d like to connect with him more personally, you can send him a direct message on his Email [email protected]. It was an honor having this interview with him.