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Spotlight: Joyce Kyles
1 - Where are you from, and how did you choose to live in Middle Tennessee?
I was born in Chicago, IL, and lived there for much of my childhood. My father moved my family to Arkansas in my teens, and life experiences and opportunities landed me in TN as a young adult. The south continues to provide a particular kind of charm and hospitality that I greatly appreciate.
2 - What is your professional background, and why did you become a coach?
My professional background is in social services in the nonprofit and government sectors. No matter what title or position you hold professionally or personally, we have questioned ourselves and our ability to lead or follow in a way that best represents who we are and what we desire to accomplish. We often see the problem. Discovering the solution and being able to not only achieve it, but to help others thrive in it has always been something I’ve done. Coaching is as much about who I am as it being a more formal title of what I do. I love all things coaching!
3 - How did you choose your specialty area?
I’ve always viewed leadership coaching as an area where life and thriving skills are imperative to master as an individual in order to be holistically effective and successful. It’s both top-down and bottom-up. I often say that my specialty area of life and thriving skills coaching actually chose me, so to speak. No one wants to follow an executive, supervisor, etc. on any level if they cannot successfully demonstrate their ability to pivot when adversity, policy changes, a pandemic, etc. occurs or how to properly celebrate the wins and joys of success.
4 -What are the greatest challenges and greatest rewards of your career?
The greatest challenge of my career has been centered around mindset. In my own self discovery as well as those whom I’ve had the honor of coaching, there is just as much fear of success as there is of failure. Both can be paralyzing. The greatest reward continues to be when I see a change of perspectives take place with my audiences and clients. You see the greatness and infinite potential they possess. To know that someone trusted you to help them to see it too is an absolutely amazing accomplishment that I don’t ever take for granted.
5- What is something that most ICFTN members would be surprised to learn about you?
As much as everyone sees what I do regarding speaking and coaching publicly, I’m actually quite shy. I combat this by lip syncing, clothes and all, two of my favorite singers, Tina Turner and Chaka Khan.
6- How do you enjoy spending your free time?
I enjoy spending time with my family, going to the lake, watching all things Law and Order, and reading/researching the backstories of successful people in business and performing arts.
