We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bina Bendale a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Bina , thanks for joining us today. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

I always knew I wanted to be a coach, especially after my firstborn son was done. I wasn’t sure how or what kind, but I knew I was meant for more. I was a bedside ED Nurse for 18 years before I decided to quit my job and become a full-time Nurse Coach.

So, How did it all start?
After my first-born son was born, Rohan. He was medically challenged and not hitting his milestone. He was not speaking or walking, and we were in about out of the ICU due to airway issues. While working as an ED nurse, I started noticing that I wanted to help parents with special needs and in difficult situations. I could talk to them and comfort them in a way I did not know I had the healing power for. Parents and families started asking for me when they would bring in their chronically filled children because I was able to relate to them in such a way. I knew I was meant to do more. I knew coaching these parents became more of my passion than the actual tasks of being a nurse. I love being a nurse, but I love helping these families with special kids or chronically filled children more.

I was then told by a friend of mine about Nurse Coaching. I had no idea what that was about. I called the company and had a discovery call, and that one call changed my life. I was told I could use my nursing background and incorporate a holistic approach while developing my company. I was over the moon. I went to the Nurse Coach Collective to get my certification, and I then became Board Certified in Nurse Coach. Nurse coaching is an experience, its an experience for individual souls to create what needs to be unleashed from within. Whether that is around boundaries, limiting beliefs or releasing stigma.

While I was in the certification, I had an idea, why not go outside the hospital world, what if I was able to help parents with special kids in corporations. Since my eldest son Rohan was born, and with high medical needs and being diagnosed with Autism, being non verbal. He needed a lot of services, going through these emotions and schedule changes. It was extremely difficult to navigate through it. I told myself I wish I had a coach to help guide me through those difficult transitions.

I was frequently reported to the HR department, kept getting written up and placed on performance When I created my program for corporations, I wanted to help HR directors give their employee’s a resource to help their employee going through a difficult transition in live, so eventually the employee to can more present at work because they were able to process their difficult time in a healthy way. Three months after getting my certification, I landing my first corporate deal with Dome Contructions. I spoke their HR director and had an amazing conversation on how I can support their staff and bridge the process before going to Employee Assistant Program. I can guarantee an employee to be scheduled with 48 hours to help in real time crisis.

One of the biggest challenges I faced as being a Nurse from bedside to now being in the corporate world, is the lack of knowledge about how to run a successful business and lack of believing in myself that I know what I am doing. I turned to my family and friends for advice, I was able to learn real quick on how to develop a successful business. Hired a business Coach Zander Fryer, who truly shaped my business. I wished a hired a business coach early on in my planning stages to make sure things were set up correctly the first time, rather then going back and fixing things. I felt like I was doing double the work.

I then saw a huge gap on if I also felt like this, I am sure there are other Nurse Coach’s that feel the lack of business awareness. That is when I co-founding the Corporate Nurse Coach Academy with Amanda Johnsen, to teach other nurse coach’s about business mindset but also how to get into large organizations, and creating their passion.

One of my biggest insite looking back in the past year, is to have a coach that belief’s in you and that will take you higher levels. Last year when I was developing my company from he ground up, I felt very much alone and struggles with decision because I felt like I did not have the knowledge, that IMPOSTER SYNDROM really kicked in. Am I good enough, Am I ready to do this, That is the biggest challenge as. Nurse Coach, and having a mentor is key. Going through my academy I now teach other nurse coach or coach’s about my journey and how to overcome those obsticals using a holistic approach.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As I stated before, my children are my biggest drive for building my business. Helping parents with special kids and helping large organizations with their employees going through difficult transitions in life is a true calling for me.

I was labeled that problem employee for years, needing a large amount of time off, needed to work for income, and required to work due to insurance. It wasn’t easy. I remember my son was in the PICU in the hospital I was working at, I would spend the night in the PICU and go downstairs for my morning shift. I was blessed with outstanding managers at this time. I remember coming to work, and my manager would ask me, Is your son out of the PICU, I told them, No, he is still there. My mom is present with him, and I will go up on my breaks and lunchtime to be with my son.

To this day, after about 2 hours of being on my shift, I was called to the ED director’s office; all my managers were present, along with the director and the HR manager. I honestly thought I was going to be fired. They all agreed that they were astonished that I even showed up to work; I told them I needed my insurance after breaking down and crying. I told them I was struggling, I had nowhere to go in between PICU and working because I needed the shift for my hours to cover my insurance.

They were the most supportive people I have ever met; they all donated hours to me, and HR could cover my insurance for the next six months, so I did not have to stress about my job or insurance. I was humbled and blessed. They saw me as a person and valued me as a nurse and employee. I realized I just needed time away to be with my family without the stress of feeling like a failure at work.

The culture shifted after a new set of managers and a director settled in. I noticed other employees in similar situations were not treated similarly. Some employees had to leave the department or leave altogether because of their circumstances at home. I knew there had to be a better way. In my gut, I knew I was meant to do more in this life. I knew I wanted to serve the people, and I thought it was from being a nurse and helping people feel great again. Then, I realized I wanted everyone to think about the security I was blessed to feel. I had my manager to talk to about what was happening, and they coached me through my difficult time. I need to pay this forward.

My program is for helping organizations enhance their wellness program, but adding my company as an added benefit is essential. I genuinely believe a nurse coach should be in every organization to help shape healthcare and to help promote healthy living during these difficult transitions in life.

When I developed my slogan. DREAM-GROW-BREATHE-SMILE. It takes you on a journey, whether helping parents with special kids, helping nurse coaches build a successful business, or helping organizations enhance their wellness programs. If you can Dream it, you can grow it, breathe at ease, and smile at what you have achieved.

The most enormous discipline in any successful business is consistency. You have to be consistent with what you do and believe in yourself that you can do it. Letting go of stigma in your life and not letting the clutter of other’s peoples opinions shape your decision.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

When building your reputation, I tell and teach everyone YOU have to be you. You must be your true self on social media or in person. When people meet me, they say they have known me for years because they follow me on social media, and when we get the chance to meet in person, it’s like we have known each other. There is no filter; people will ask about a situation, and I could answer the same way as if I was on a live on social media. I am relatable, I do not judge people when they approach me, I love them even if I do not know them, releasing any social stigma that can cause anxiety, and I am me, unfiltered. People may disagree, and that is okay. Then those are not my people. I am not here to please everyone, but I am here for anyone who wants to listen.

Another thing that builds a reputation besides being fully authentic to myself is when I give someone my word, I stick to it. There is no if, then, or butts. I have nothing else to go by than my word. Yes, timing can be tricky, but my word is my word. Even when writing this article, I told the publisher I would have given this a week before after passing it. Still, I kept telling myself I needed to get this article out for me and the world. I am true to my word because I stated and wanted to share my story.

Any advice for managing a team?

The number one thing about managing a team and maintaining high morale is not to lose respect. You must have a strong agreement within your company and be clear from the beginning. Have a conversation with each employee with strong agreements that are measurable. So when things start declining, you can return to that person and have an honest conversation. It’s not about the decline in number but asking them how you are doing. What is going on in your life? I noticed your performance is not as stellar as before.

Listen to them about their personal life, coach them, and, if needed, make new agreements or allow them to have some space from work to get whatever they need to be done so they can return and be back on their game.

Going back to having those honest conversations and mutually respecting them goes a long way.

Also, understanding that you are the CEO, sometimes you have to make those hard decisions, always keeping what is best for the company and where the company is going on track. Not letting go of the mission and reminding your team what the mission is, from time to time. Asking the question of does this mission still aligns with you, because if it does not, then a decision needs to be made, as a CEO.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: reallifewithspecialkids
• Facebook: Bina Bendale or Bina Nurse Coach
• Linkedin: binabendale
• Youtube: The Corporate Nurse Coach Academy

Image Credits
DNA Photography