“People who are motivated to change the world can feel isolated and be in danger of burnout. The idea was to provide the space for them to stand back.” The word Mirus is Latin for “wonderful, extraordinary and astonishing”, she explains. “It describes the emerging client,” says Craig, who is based in Brighton.
Craig and fellow co-founder Alma Neville got together with eight other coaches who shared their values, piloting the approach for a year before going live. A friend donated the website, which is the main way they attract clients, apart from word of mouth. They opted not to set up as a company or charity to keep red tape to a minimum.
“At one point, we thought we could pilot it locally but found we were meeting all these different people and our energy dropped because we were talking about partnerships, funding, monitoring and committees. I could see us having to employ someone simply to sort out the funding,” Craig says.
Clients include UnLtd, the Quaker Social Action Fund and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). On 15 May at NCVO’s leadership development conference, Mirus facilitated six tables for civic leaders and offered “speed coaching” (10-minute coaching tasters).
Craig says Mirus has been approached by others who want to get involved, though it has no plans to expand. “But we’re happy to act as a model for the world and for others to set up another version and call it what they like,” she says. Having an alliance works well in attracting clients, and the website is vital, Craig adds.
“People can visit it and understand what we offer,” she says. “Word of mouth is okay, but slow. Also, it’s important that people choose to approach us.” Quality control is important, too. “Just because people aren’t paying a lot doesn’t mean they don’t deserve quality coaching,” Craig says.
Mirus associates also work with individual clients. One of Craig’s clients, Mariana Katzarova, a journalist and human rights advocate who was suffering from burnout in her own work, dreamt of setting up her own non-governmental organisation. Through her work with Craig, her confidence increased and she set up Raw, targeting violence against women and girls in war.
“She was thinking ‘who am I to set up such an organisation?’ and our focus was very much ‘why not?’” says Craig. Other clients include the co-founder of a social enterprise that tackles benefits dependency, with a focus on lone parents who wish to re-enter the labour market, and an entrepreneur in India who is helping people to choose careers with purpose and meaning.
Does Craig think Mirus is worth it? “For me, it’s so rewarding and fulfilling. There’s something about working with someone who is motivated to get up in the morning. “I didn’t realise until I started it that it’s about being in a safe space. People appreciate that we’re neutral and outside the organisation. It’s like a breath of fresh air.”
How Mirus works
- It exists solely as a website to keep bureaucracy to a minimum.
- It has no ambitions to grow but is happy to act as a blueprint for others.
- It has no bank accounts: clients are referred to Mirus coaches who charge directly.
- Six low-cost coaching sessions are offered to clients at a rate negotiated between coach and client. Once the “Mirus offer” has ended, coach and client can renegotiate.
- The rate per session is between £20 and £100. The NCVO suggests less than £50 for organisations with a low turnover and £50-£100 if higher.
- Mirus has a standard pre- and post-coaching questionnaire. All clients are expected to fill in a feedback form. www.miruscoaching.com
Volume 3, Issue 4