COACHING BY LENKA ADAMS

Before training as an Executive Coach, I built a successful and fulfilling career at Skanska UK, most recently at leadership level.

My experience spans Recruitment, Learning & Development, and leading the Emerging Talent function.

During my 12 years at Skanska, I earned four promotions and worked closely with leaders across the business.

The process of recruiting more than 2,000 professionals gave me a front row seat to how leaders choose who to hire, develop, and promote.

With plenty of mistakes along the way, I’ve lived through the spectrum of workplace challenges - the people puzzles, the career twists, the self-doubts and the wins that make it all worthwhile.

I draw on four evidence‑based coaching concepts.

01 - Neuro-linguistic programming Helps shift unhelpful thinking patterns, reduce overwhelm, build confidence, and improve communication and influence.

02 - Transactional analysis Especially useful at work because it gives people simple, practical ways to understand themselves and others. It is ideal for getting the most out of people through knowing how they like to be recognised and valued.

03 - Cognitive behaviour coaching Guides towards understanding how our thoughts shape our feelings and behaviours. Together, we consciously choose more helpful patterns that improve performance, growth and wellbeing at work.

04 - Strengths based coaching

In the words of Warren Buffett:

‘‘Look inside yourself. Try to identify your strongest threads. Reinforce them with practice and learning. And then either find or carve out a role that draws on these strengths every day. When you do, you will be more productive, more fulfilled and more successful.’’

I am able to weave in Gallup, Insights Discovery or Myers Briggs assessments as a way to inform natural talents.

Three words to describe my coaching style based on what my clients say: practical, deep and thoughtful.

Coaching with me is so much more than a chat about your ‘‘to do’’ list. My aim is to create a balance between slowing down to make sense of your world and generating new practical resourcefulness for each person.

I am always guided by organisational and individual requirements and ROI expectations.

In my most recent role as Head of Emerging Talent, I was responsible for the recruitment, onboarding and development of hundreds of graduates and apprentices.

From this experience, I am confident that coaching can effectively support Gen Z integration, engagement, progression and retention in the workplace.

I hold a Certificate in Neurodivergent Inclusive Coaching (ICF accredited). My coaching toolkit includes productivity techniques to unblock task paralysis and to build momentum for goal completion.

The act of talking helps ease the mental load and the often critical inner voice, supporting those with heightened emotional sensitivity.