I help people to take control towards more pleasure, peace and growth.
I am Bob van der Mark. I live and work in sunny Barcelona with my partner and our dog. I have worked for 20 years as a manager at various corporate and start-up companies.
I have felt the uncertainty when you start leading for the first time. I didn't want to fail and focused mainly on the team's results, which later turned out to be a rookie mistake. Not daring to say “no” and feeling too much responsibility gave me a lot of stress and that also had an impact on my private life.
By changing my behavior I gained more job satisfaction, peace of mind, personal growth, higher effectiveness and better results.
My life changing decision
My focus was often more on keeping others happy and not so much on my own happiness. One day I asked myself the question: What do I actually want in my life at this moment, what really makes me happy?
I decided to take a sabbatical year and moved to Barcelona. Different culture, under the sun, changing course, different work, an adventure! I needed that. And what are you going to do there Bob? I was asked that question regularly. I said I have no idea, I'll see...
During that year I realized what had really given me job satisfaction and energy: coaching my team! It resulted in following an accredited* intensive coach training in the field of behavioral change and career coaching.
*Accredited by the NOBCO (Dutch Order of Professional Coaches)
Your help and sparring partner
The great thing is that, because of the mistakes I made as a manager and the successes I later achieved as a coaching manager, I can offer you a lot. By protecting you from making those same mistakes, but also by using my knowledge and expertise as a certified coach to help you get everything back on track yourself. I use various coaching methods, models, structures and exercises.
Whatever the cause is that you are stuck with something in your life or work, I will help you take control so that everything runs smoothly again. I have noticed that as a coach I can really make a difference. And that gives me job satisfaction and energy!
What you need to know about me
I am someone who seeks connection in contact with others. I do this by asking in-depth questions, listening between the lines and giving the other person space to be vulnerable.
Of course, as a coach I am also empathetic and understanding, otherwise I would have been better off choosing a different profession. On the other hand, if I notice that you are beating around the bush or hiding behind all kinds of excuses, I will definitely hold up a mirror to you. I like honesty, sincerity and clarity. You get that from me but I expect it from you too. Only if you are really willing to look at yourself can you make progress.
I have an open mind, everything is negotiable and I expect openness from you as well. That is not always easy and it requires a trusted, safe environment and that is what I offer you.
Nice and practical, no-nonsense and humor is what I like and you will notice that during coaching. That's why we always work towards a goal. You determine that goal yourself. I'm not going to give you advice or push you in a certain direction. I'm not coming up with solutions either.
You are in control: you make decisions, you choose, you come up with solutions yourself and you determine the action steps yourself. What I do do is commit myself 100% to professionally guide and encourage you in this so that you will soon be a happier person.