Abeer Al Matooq is a life and corporate-performance coach, based in Bahrain. She delivers her services through her Consultancy (Thrive Coaching), Abeer works with individuals, groups, and corporates on unlocking their talents and powerful qualities, through redesigning their habits to enhance their performance and maximise their success. We talk to Abeer about why she is particularly curious about the factors behind some people succeeding in life, soaring through life with flying colours and getting almost everything they want and try to understand why others don’t.
Hey Abeer, can you introduce yourself to us?
Hi, I am a performance coach, working with both individuals and organizations, I help individuals find their true voice and always operate from a space of power, the power of who they really are, their own vision, their life purpose, their own values and what really give their life meaning in their own definition, similarly with organizations, as at the end orgs are nothing but a group of people, working within a certain system to deliver some services or products, and you can never have happy productive workers/ employees who are connected to your organisation vision / if they were not happy productive people in their own lives who are connected to their own vision to start with.
As a performance coach and HR consultant, can you tell us a little bit about your career background?
I have 17 years of practical experience in the field of human capital management and development, coaching is an area that I’ve always liked to focus on because I do believe that it is important for people to understand the importance of taking responsibility for all their actions and decisions in order for them to progress and grow, coaching helps them see possibilities in an innovative fashion.
How has the journey been so far since launching Thrive Coaching?
‘Interesting’ is the only word I can describe it with. Thrive has been up for a year now, and I can tell you it is correctly positioned but taking off to higher places will take time through, but I am very happy we are in the right direction.
Indeed, all great things take time to build. So as a performance coach by profession, what training did you undertake and where?
I did my Masters in Human Resources Management at De Paul University, followed by a Diploma in Coactive Coaching from CTI – Dubai, Quantum Success Coaching Academy from the Christy Whitman Academy. Not to mention a certificate in Color Analysis and Image Consultation with Gloria Starr. Then most recently I completed a Style Coaching course from the Style Coaching Insitute in Stansted, London.
How much additional research did you undertake prior to starting out to understand the market as best as you could?
I did a regional market research to assess maturity, need and offerings, besides potential competitors too, although I have my take on the term ‘competitors’ as I don’t believe in competition, but rather an excellence in playing your part.
Why do you feel it is important for us either as an individual or an organisation to use performance coaches to grow and develop?
Coaches help you see things from multiple different perspectives, which open up different possibilities, they challenge you to stretch beyond what you think is only possible for you, coaches also help you commit, and keep momentum with what is required for you to grow.
Can you us what is the most seminal point in your career so far?
The most remarkable point in my career is me deciding to leave a very prestigious, high paying, secured job ( I was a director heading two departments in a semi-government entity ) to establish my company Thrive. Also I consider publishing my book an interesting significant stage.
Any challenging times you have had to overcome? When were they and how did you learn to overcome them?
Leaving employment for entrepreneurship was a tough call, it meant that I was letting go of being an element in a system to creating my own, and at times being the system myself, moving from having a team under me to taking care of all the details concerning my business on my own is a long journey that I am still struggling with, especially being a right brainer.
Have you ever had to deal with any doubts of contention or lack of support from relatives or friends? If so how did you push through?
Thank god I have a very very supportive system around me, yes, people were not, and still are not very comfortable with the level of risk I took ( to them, I have literally jumped off the cliff ) yet they do believe in my capabilities and persistence,they know I can make things happen if I put my heart into them.
Have you ever had a life coach or mentor? If so how has this benefitted you?
Yes, I did have, I had one formal coach and a number of informal mentors that I was blessed to have at different stages of my life.
What outlets do use to market your coaching services?
My website, word of mouth, also lectures in different places and then, of course, I add social media.
Which methods are you using to build your audience and expand your network?
I’m not sure I am doing my best there, but I believe being more active and proactive in my out reach is my next area of focus.
What is the best piece of advice you have received to date?
When in doubt about anything, you always listen to your heart it will never lead you astray.
What would you tell your 18-year-old self?
Love who you are more.
Which other female life coaches do you also admire and why?
I consider Oprah a life coach and I adore her for all what she is.
What Youtube or online space channels are you watching currently?
I do not follow regular ones, I read a lot though.
That leads us perfectly to our next question then, what is the book in your hands at the moment?
The biology of belief by Bruce Lipton, a book I read before but can’t have enough of.
What does success look like in your eyes?
Being in flow with all what is, being able to maintain a state of peace and joy while dancing around the challenges if daily life.
What does #BEYOUROWN mean to you?
A brilliant space for ambitious females around the world.
Thankyou Abeer, Lastly what is next for you 2018?
( Thrive ) thriving more with different offerings, I shall most probably start writing a new book towards the end of the year.
Instagram: @coach_abeer
Website:http://www.abeeralmatooq.com
