Me — Nia Spongberg

What I Believe

I believe that when a person uncovers their unique “secret recipe” for managing time and tasks, they free themselves to step into their greatness and accomplish amazing things. Similarly, I believe that when a person is facing a major life transition, intentionally opening up rather than instinctively closing down yields beautiful outcomes. Supporting people on their journeys in these arenas is deeply satisfying for me.

Underpinning my work are the beliefs that every human being can learn and grow; teamwork and the human spirit are wildly powerful things; the forest and the trees are both worth exploring; and every challenge is an opportunity in disguise. I am perpetually inspired and humbled by my clients and their boundless creativity, insight, resilience, and wholehearted approach to life.

I welcome clients from all walks of life. I believe that Science is Real, Women’s Rights are Human Rights, Black Lives Matter, No Person is Illegal, Love is Love, and Diversity Makes Us Stronger.

Why I Love Coaching

Simplicity

At its core, coaching is rooted in dialogue: two people sharing a humble conversation that has the potential to transform a life. Helping people in this simple way to get acquainted with their awesomeness and grow into highly competent, resourceful thinkers and doers brings me joy.

Intimacy

The coaching partnership is a special place – a “room” of sorts, devoid of risk and judgment, filled with trust and respect – where clients have the rare opportunity to show up, be vulnerable, explore topics they deem important, and practice engaging in new ways – all in a structured and supported way.

Power

The sudden, awed silence or widening, hyper-alert eyes of a client who’s in the middle of an “aha moment” are just two manifestations of the power that coaching holds – to bring insight and shift us out of old, unhelpful patterns into new ways of thinking and being which bring us to life.

My Background

I was born and raised near Boston. As a kid I spent a lot of time outdoors and fell in love with hiking, canoeing, and the land. I was athletic and enjoyed a lot of team sports, and this love of sport has carried throughout my life. I graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine with a B.A. in Government and Environmental Studies.

My career path has been circuitous. In 2012 I turned my lifelong passion for organizing and productivity into a career and started my own professional organizing business called Spruced Up Spaces, LLC. Prior to that I’d run a bed & breakfast in California, managed a sales team for a renewable energy company in Oregon, and coordinated the development office at a nonprofit farm/education center in Vermont. In 2014 I enrolled in a coaching course which proved to be the start of a wonderful (and ongoing) learning journey in my life. After offering a hybrid mix of organizing and coaching to my clients for three years, I transitioned fully into coaching in 2019.

Life beyond work is important to me. When I’m not coaching you’ll likely find me hiking or walking, golfing, gardening, taking photos (the images on this site are mine), or indulging my passion for trees and wood. I love the quiet hours of the early morning, strong coffee, river swimming, the Adirondack Mountains, the vibrant greens of spring, art galleries and craft fairs, memoirs and biographies, and planning home renovation projects. I’m married to my dear partner, Mollie, and together we enjoy traveling, getting absorbed in television series, doing the daily New York Times Spelling Bee, and time spent with our families and friends.

My Qualifications

Associate Certified Coach (ACC)

This credential is awarded by the International Coaching Federation. It recognizes coaches who have completed at least 60 hours of coach-specific training, logged 10 hours of mentor coaching, demonstrated 100 hours of coaching with clients, and passed ICF’s Coach Knowledge Assessment (a 155-question test).

Certified Productivity Coach (CPC^®)

This credential is awarded by the Institute for Applied Coaching™. It recognizes coaches who have completed the Coach Approach for Organizers foundation program, a graduate seminar, and an independent project. It also involves receiving extensive trainer feedback, passing two written exams and coaching assessments, and accruing 100 coaching hours.

My Affiliations

As a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO) I am bound by their Codes of Ethics. I participate in their educational offerings and network with peers so that I can grow my knowledge and better support you. I’m also a member of ICF Michigan and a former board member of NAPO Michigan.

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