Finding a sense of calm and confidence can be a transformative journey in this fast-paced and often chaotic world.
Liz Clifton, a coach and advocate for calm leadership, has made it her mission to empower individuals with what she describes as “clear, calm, connected confidence.” Drawing inspiration from her personal experiences, particularly rehabilitating her first Romanian rescue dog, Zara, Liz has developed a unique coaching philosophy that emphasizes the importance of calm leadership and the profound impact of our emotional states on those around us.
In this exclusive interview, Liz Clifton shares the origins of her mission, the essence of calm leadership, and how her work with rescue animals has shaped her coaching methods
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Your coaching philosophy centers on empowering individuals with clear, calm, connected confidence. Can you describe what initially inspired this mission?
Yes of course, thanks so much for asking. Whilst rehabilitating our first Romanian rescue dog Zara, I discovered that I too was historically low in confidence, trust of others and was staying silent rather than using my voice. As we slowly grew our own individual self-confidence through silent calm connection and gentle loving companionship, we both began to enjoy being ourselves.
After months we heard Zara bark for the very first time ever and I too began to use my voice to support those around me. I believe that when we can create our own clear, calm, connected confidence with ourselves we are then able to create and strengthen it with others too. It was in fact during a moment of silent Animal Reiki relaxation meditation that the take34u mission and Family Dog Connection Limited ideas came to me. In our calm connection, my creativity grew alongside Zara’s playful inquisitive natural instincts and personality. I knew there and then that I got to support others to find their own way and ease their transformational journeys.
How do you define calm leadership and why do you believe it is essential in today’s fast-paced world?
For me, calm leadership is the ability to lead from a space of calm. When you are calm everything is clearer for you. You can view things from a neutral calm perspective free from any old bias or emotional attachment. Being able to take a moment anywhere at any time to pause and calm yourself is a magnificent attribute of a great leader. To me the greatest leaders in all areas of life lead from this space of calm. It’s a tremendous strength to be able to strive for a sense of calm in any situation as it gives you the opportunity to choose your next action or step forwards.
Calm leadership empowers you to connect to those around you, of any species, with unconditional compassion, empathy, clarity and kind confidence. This helps you to create and enjoy strong relationships that are based on calm active listening and fair unbiased treatment which leads to success for all individuals concerned. Calm leadership offers you the chance to step out of the busy fast-paced world that we live in so that you can enjoy the present moment, choose the important areas of your life that you want to focus on, and lead yourself and all areas of your life with natural ease and flow.
You mentioned the profound impact of rehabilitating rescue animals on your own healing process. Can you share more about how this experience translates into your coaching methods?
Thanks so much for such a thoughtful question. Rescuing animals offers us a unique mirror of our own behavior, emotions, feelings and energy. If you wake up feeling a bit tired or frustrated it’s likely that your rescue animal or other pet will exhibit a different behavior than when you are feeling relaxed, calm and content. So, where my clients have pets, I often get them to notice how their feelings are mirrored by their animals. This is a great place for them to consider how their feelings are affecting their behavior.
Where clients don’t have pets, I still use rescue animals as an example for story purposes as it is still supportive for people to start to consider how they have a choice on how they choose to feel and behave. Where they instead live with or interact with people at home or regularly, I get them to notice how their mood changes the behavior of those around them. Rescue animals also show innate natural instincts readily and openly which I share with my clients to help them start to consider their own natural needs, wants and desires.
This initial self-awareness is a great foundation to start building self-acceptance, self-understanding, self-forgiveness and self-love. All of which play a huge part in choosing, planning, creating and achieving the changes that you want to make in all areas of your life.
How do you tailor your coaching techniques to suit the diverse needs of your clients, considering you aim to empower individuals of any species?
At my initial session, I evaluate what the individual client wants and needs. From there I then tailor a bespoke coaching experience using my vast range of skills to address their specific needs.
The initial work usually centers around releasing their historic emotional baggage/limiting beliefs, fears, hurt, sadness, loss, and stress so that they can begin to rebuild their connection to themselves and those around them alongside their calm confidence.
The next step is to then work on sharing skills, techniques, practices, and resources with them. So that they can begin to use and enjoy them immediately and, in the future, to release ongoing emotions and enjoy making their ongoing choices with ease and confidence.
As someone who has already guided thousands, what strategies do you employ to measure the success and impact of your coaching?
For individual clients I measure their own initial wellbeing scores in all areas of their life against their personal scores at the end of their sessions. For groups, I measure the number of session and program completions alongside their own wellbeing scores from the beginning and end of their sessions. I also measure any referrals from individual clients.
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Looking forward, what are your primary goals for the next five years in your coaching practice?
In the next 5 years, I will complete my bespoke accredited calm leadership program to support others to develop their own calm leadership in all areas of their lives. I will also achieve at least another 1,500 completed calm leadership students with me personally who will then be able to share their new skills with those around them.
I will also have supported at least another 50 individual clients to complete their bespoke transformation coaching experiences and will have employed at least 10 calm leadership mentors to share my accredited calm leadership program across the UK and beyond.
What advice would you give to someone who is just starting their career in coaching or leadership?
Trust yourself. Take time to truly connect with what you want to achieve with your coaching or leadership career. You could ask yourself this simple question “For what purpose coaching or leadership?” Notice what comes up for you and continue asking yourself “For what purpose x?” until you have a good understanding of your drive for your new coaching or leadership career.
Based on your answers, choose if you want to work for yourself or with a company, charity, or organization as each of them will require a different type of training qualification, insurance, accreditation, and professional body membership. Always reach out for support as many of us have walked this path just like you and are happy to help you choose the best path for you. Above all else ensure that you enjoy what you do. Coaching and leadership roles offer you the chance to make a big difference in people’s lives but always remember to look after yourself first. Look after your health and wellbeing, by giving yourself daily joy, rest, and relaxation as that will always empower you to help others to the best of your ability.
