What qualifies me to coach anyone in communication, leadership or self-confidence? Is it because I was born a scintillating communicator, inspirational leader or totally assured entrepreneur?

No! Just the opposite! I don't believe that anyone was born with any interpersonal skills ready-made and so we have to learn them. But we aren't necessarily aware that we are learning. The people who seem to be "naturals" are simply those who started to learn their special skill very early in life and weren't conscious of the process - it just seemed natural to them.

As a child, I learned some beliefs and behaviours to do with relating to other people that were reasonably effective, but not special. I also learned a few that caused me problems for most of my life.

I was fortunate enough to meet people who showed me how to break free of my self-imposed limitations and to substitute positive beliefs and strategies. And because I have had to learn these things myself, consciously, I have a strong insight into how to learn them - something that a "natural" leader wouldn't even recognise as a problem!

I also have first-hand experience of many of the barriers that can make the task seem impossible. These all arise from what we believe about ourselves and the world around us. Beliefs determine the reality that we experience, irrespective of what is "really" real!

Remember Henry Ford's saying,

"Whether you believe you can, or you believe you can't, you're right!"