February Talk with Kelly Swingler

It's February and Valentine's Day has come and gone and it now appears we're in a period of extreme weather this week. Historically February is a month of ‘new beginnings’ and today we're talking to Kelly Swingler who coaches professional women globally who are at risk of burn out. In 2013, Kelly had a successful 15-year leadership career, yet she was burned out, exhausted, and missing out on life with family. Determined to enjoy the success that she had earned, she's learned to create a life of balance and boundaries that is also highly successful.

What do you love about running your own business? 
1.    The changes I’m able to facilitate for clients

2.    The flexibility it provides me personally

3.    The autonomy it gives me

What do you love about your business community? 
I’m supported in my business by a group of incredible women who are all passionate about the services they provide and I love the energy they bring to their work which in turn helps me to deliver things brilliantly.  The support of like-minded women is not to be underestimated.

What do you love about your business which has changed over the last year? 
The incredible growth that I see my clients achieving is what gets me out of bed every day.  My clients really do want to make changes and they understand that in changing themselves they create ripples of change for everyone around them. I love this.

What have been the main challenges you’ve had to overcome in the last year? 
Personally for me, it’s been a health challenge.  I woke in November with Bell’s Palsy that impacted my face, speech, sight and hearing.  Nobody knows why it occurred nor could they say how long it would last.  Thankfully, within six weeks it was completely clear, but I have four weeks of not being able to read, speak, work or learn and when this is fundamentally my entire business, I found it really hard.  

The lesson is that I’m more grateful for my work, for my business and my clients and I’m aware of not taking anything in my life for granted.  I’ve got exciting goals for 2022 and the downtime did provide more time to think about these goals and gain more clarity of them.

Is Valentine’s Day a ‘thing’ for you in your business? 
It’s not a thing in so much as I don’t have services or products related to it, but I do like to always use it as an opportunity to encourage my clients and audience to give themselves a bit more love, kindness and compassion.

Is Valentine’s Day a ‘thing’ for you in your life?
Yes, and more so now than it has ever been.  On Valentine’s Day 2020 my partner was admitted to hospital with severe heart problems.  The only reason he went to the GP was because his Apple Watch had been alerting him to Atrial Fibrilation.  Without the alert from the watch, he may not be here.  

2020 was a year we’d decided that Valentine’s Day was a bit of a con and had decided not to buy or do anything for it. The thoughts though of how that could have been our last gave us a very different perspective.  And now, Valentine’s Day for us is an important day.  This year we’ll be driving to the coast for a week away together.

Is it your birthday this month? 
It’s not mine but it is my Dad’s and he’ll be celebrating his 76th Birthday so we’ll be enjoying a lovely family meal together somewhere lovely. 

Did you know that National Apprenticeship Week always takes place in February?  Do you embrace apprenticeships? 
The consultancy I founded in 2014 The Chrysalis Crew has an apprentice and it’s going really well.  The qualifications and support that the team are being able to provide is amazing.

One of my sons also started an apprenticeship straight after his A Levels and his employers were so impressed with him they’ve provided him a full time contract and are now supporting his degree Apprenticeship.  His girlfriend will be starting a similar scheme this coming September.

Apprenticeships are a great way for people to gain qualifications and experience in tandem and I believe that this will be the way forward for many employers over the coming years now that it’s becoming more recognised as being of value.

February 17 is Random Acts of Kindness Day – has anyone shown you, or your business, a random act of kindness over the last year? 
I’m lucky to be surrounded by people who are always showing Random Acts of Kindness to me and to others.  Whether it’s gifts, compliments, help, support, cards, letters, emails or phonecalls, charitable giving or helping someone in need.

In the yearly cycle of your business – what do you expect during February? 
I’ve got a week away in February, one week dedicated to my next book and the rest will be dedicated to supporting clients in my usual way.

And finally:
I can’t believe we’re in February already, time really does fly when you’re having fun.  I am seeing a lot of shifts for clients in a number of areas and I think from March we’ll see even more changes being implemented.  

The four day working week is getting a lot of press at the moment as more companies trial it.  

The Chrysalis Crew implemented this in January 2019 and I’ve maintained it since turning my attention full time to my coaching practice.  

I’m also seeing burnout on the rise, and I’m hopeful that my workshops, programmes and next book will be able to help more people prevent burnout.

For more information visit www.kellyswingler.com