Questions for Buddy: Carlijn Hekelaar

After high school, Carlijn wanted to become a psychologist. Through a detour as a recruiter and HR manager, that wish has become reality now that she is a coach at Buddy. In that role, she teaches people to regain control over their work and their happiness, so that they can live life with pleasure and confidence again. In this way, she experiences every day how valuable it is to really help someone further.

Why do you love your job as a coach?
People inspire me. I find it fascinating to see how communication works. Why the glass is half empty for one and half full for the other. Why they have a conflict. And how they stand in life. As a coach, I help them to get closer to their own happiness. Life is simply too short to get stuck in stress, frustration or anger. Often the power lies in small steps or a moment of insight: what seems simple can actually make a difference. After a few coaching sessions, there is room to enjoy again. The pressure makes way for calm, overview and a clear view of the future.

Without false modesty: what makes you a good coach?

I coach with patience and attention and like to hold up a mirror. This practical approach enables me to quickly recognize patterns and pitfalls. Together with my coachee, I convert that into positive, achievable actions. In doing so, I give them the space to make their own choices, to investigate and to discover. As a result, they experience trust: they are at the helm. At the same time, of course, I do guide them with subtle and strategic guidance, so that together we work towards the desired result. I use various coaching techniques and use them at the right time, appropriate to the person and the situation.

“Life is simply too short to get stuck in stress, frustration or anger.”

Why are you and Buddy such a good match?

Buddy believes that everyone is entitled to support to better deal with the pressures that life brings. This suits me enormously. As a coach, I hope to be able to contribute to work environments in which employees better guard their boundaries, take ownership and communicate more powerfully. By coaching on work-life balances, career development and effectiveness, we can really make a difference within organizations. In this way, we not only ensure less downtime, but also better performance and a safe working environment. I am convinced that happy employees are the basis for a healthy organization. If everyone had a Buddy coach, the world would look a little nicer.

Do you have a simple tip to experience happiness at work more easily?

Of course, it’s easier said than done, but this: learn to accept. If you can do that, you get much more peace and clarity. It does not mean that you give up on something or have to put your principles aside, but rather that you make room to accept life as it is. It helps you to look at life’s challenges with more openness and see the beautiful moments, even if it’s not always easy. By accepting, you can grow better and embrace life more, regardless of what comes your way.

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