About Alison
Alison Durkin
A former HR Executive in both the public and private sector, Alison loved working with Executives to help them flex their leadership style, find solutions to increase their performance and support them in developing their teams. Alison loved the coaching part of her role so much that she wanted to make it full time, hence AJD Coaching was born.
Alison completed her International Coach Federation (ICF) and university accredited coach training with Barefoot Coaching, an internationally recognised coach training provider, gaining a Post Graduate Certificate in Business and Personal Coaching.
Alison is a graduate of the University of Manchester and also holds a Post Graduate diploma in Human Resources Management. As well as being a PCC member of the ICF, she is also a member of CIPD.
Helping you connect, focus and grow
Alison works with individual clients and executive teams in the private, public, and voluntary sectors. Her speciality lies in coaching women to take the next step in their career.
Her clients include Aspiring Partners, Freelancers, Managing Directors, Middle Managers, Senior Leadership Team Members and SME business owners from the following sectors: Banking, Charities, Education, Local Government, Not for Profit, Professional Services, Sport, Travel, Technology.
In her client's words
“Coaching fostered clarity through focused activities and thought-provoking questioning. Alison has a knack for helping people mine for the answers that are in them all along.”
“I liked that you sometimes allowed space for me to really think and find the answer myself; how sometimes you played devil’s advocate or provocateur and how you reminded me to look for evidence for positive and negative self-perceptions.”
“It really made me realise what I am looking for personally in my next role rather than just looking at the next step. It has made me aware of my own development areas and how to take action on those. Alison was fabulous, I felt very comfortable with her.”
“I had a great time working with Alison over 3 months. She helped me create a very critical personal breakthrough which was impacting my business. I have already witnessed this breakthrough grow my business significantly.”
In Alison’s words
"My purpose is to help people to move forward, achieve their goals but be congruent with their values. I encourage you to explore your potential and unlock your unique strengths by increasing your self-awareness and ownership. It’s personal so what works for one client is going to be different for the next. What I do though is listen, provide thought provoking questions and supportive challenge in a motivating warm manner. I provide you with space and time out to reflect, encourage and motivate you to visualise what you want, and enable you to shape and successfully pursue your aspirations. In essence, I give you a gentle dig in the ribs to propel you further forward faster."
Alison in life
Alison lives in Manchester with her husband and twin daughters having returned there after working in London for eight years. Beautiful art and architecture fascinates her, and she loves cooking, music, dancing, going to the theatre and yoga. Walking in the landscape of the Forest of Bowland and the Peak District together with her husband’s native west coast of Ireland inspires Alison. She is happiest eating and drinking with old friends and family.
Return on Investment
Alison has experience of supporting people through phases of transition, reflection, and personal development. Alison’s coaching covers a wide range of topics, from leadership style and communication, creating habits for success, building resilience and managing emotions, to preparation for the next career step and provides an invaluable impartial sounding board throughout.
Clients report increased motivation, confidence and self-awareness around values and aspirations leading to greater focus. Clients have found new ways to increase their businesses and productivity, enhanced their professional and personal relationships, taken on new challenges without fear of failure, and gained clarity around their future direction.