The Linked Team

update… it has been a while…
recently i came across the «stages of culture» (tribal leadership)
and long story short, better than ever…
thanks to Nicole, you have help me a lot to build a healthy foundation!
all the best

I was stuck… in a job I thought I hated… with people that I didn’t like… and thought participating in the «Alive with Work» program will find me my dream job… yeah NO… Nicole doesn’t solve your issues or answer your questions. That’s not what life coaching is about. She helps you walk through those challenges and helps you find your own answers, and she does this in a very supportive, non-​judgmental way. She then captures those key ideas and possible solutions and both motivates and holds you accountable to take action to get where you want to go. What really impressed me about partnering with Nicole is how easy she is to talk with and how very insightful she is. She listens, then distills and clarifies your ideas. Expect her to be direct; there’s not much beating around the bush with her. You can tell that she means it only for your own good, though, and that makes all the difference. I appreciate that she can get right to the heart of the matter and make you face yourself in the mirror — even if you’d rather look away.
So how did things change for me? Alive with Work got me to look at myself in a completely new way. I gave myself permission to do things I never thought I would do. I finally realized that I was in power and because of that I now focus on what really works for me, being a «Day Maker». Now my focus is no longer on the «job» or the «people I don’t like» but on staying in integrity and staying in power and now by making other peoples day, I make mine too.

I attended Nicole Gruen and PJ Chan’s joint Soft Skills Coaching event simply to get an idea of what life coaching is all about. The event was free of charge, which was a smart business move but it also seemed as if Nicole and PJ genuinely love what they do and wanted to share some life coaching techniques with the public. They did not do a «hard sell» or try to push life coaching on anyone; they simply presented an opportunity to learn and explore. I say this because if either or both decide to offer a free life coaching clinic in the future, I highly encourage people to check it out.
I did not expect to feel so inspired and engaged in the process! They were both natural group discussion facilitators and brought a lot of interesting insights to the discussion. I left with a better understanding of the value of coaching; new insight into
level 3 listening (I never really thought in this way before and it’s improved my listening and communication skills now that I do!); and a new approach to self-​limiting thoughts. I was definitely impressed!

At a time in my life full of possibilities but feeling overwhelmed by it all, Nicole gave me the perspective to stay true to myself. She is an amazing guide for you to find your own answers. I trust her her smart business sensibilities combined with a heartfelt emphasis on life values.
If you have dreams and goals in your life that need to be brought into being, Nicole Gruen can help you on your path.

I had my first coaching session with Nicole Gruen of Softskills Coaching and I am very impressed with her as a life coach. I am currently at a point where I need a career change and thru her techniques and ways to approach I was even in my first session able to overcome my core problems and to realize what I need to do in order to get to where I want to be.
One of the outcomes was a revised resume. Before the session, I didn’t
have a good feeling about the resume and saw it as a road block. After
the session I felt inspired, reworked it and am now proud and
confident that my resume will serve as the perfect stepping stone into
my new career.
I am looking forward to my next meeting with her already and I am excited about the new perspectives she was able to open up with me for me.

Having been in business for 15 years never made me think I needed anybody to «coach» me along. Until I heard about Nicole and, since the first session was free, decided to try it, why not. I’m glad I did, because although my parameters haven’t changed, my life is that much better and I have managed to put my business to a different level!
Having Nicole Gruen as a business coach is like having a massage for your tense brain to free yourself up for the possibilities that slumber inside you. Working with her really helped me to understand and carve out my strengths and turn them into much less stress running my business by doing the same thing only much better while realizing more of what’s important for me, both inside and outside of my business. The changes are subtle but world changing! Before I was stuck in my tracks, but have now gained real perspective of the possibilities. Her compassion and skill in uncovering the best in me were and are amazing!
I highly recommend Nicole to anyone that is not satisfied with the second best in life and is striving to get the most out of their professional and/​or personal life!