Janani Liyanage's inspiring journey from coding to coaching

Janani Liyanage, the visionary behind Agility Tune-Up, started her professional journey immersed in the meticulous world of software engineering. Guided by an insistent inner calling, Janani began to explore beyond the structured confines of coding and ventured into professional agile leadership coaching, a remarkable journey she shares in this interview where she sheds light on the evolution of professional coaching in Sri Lanka and how she partners with leaders, especially in tech to transcend technology and ignite human potential to achieve desirable results in this highly digital world.

Can you take us through your journey as a professional coach?

In the early stages of my professional journey, I dedicated eight years to software engineering, where coding became my passion. Yet, as time passed, an inner voice nudged me towards a different direction that felt more authentic to my core. This internal reflection was synchronized with a broader industry-wide shift as businesses moved from conventional, static managerial methods to agile and adaptive strategies.

The tech world was in the throes of an agile revolution. Fifteen years ago, coaching might have been a familiar concept in management circles, but it was a novelty in the tech sector. Recognizing the transformative potential of coaching in this new era, I made the leap from coding to becoming a trailblazer in coaching tech teams.

This transformative step led me to Virtusa. As an agile coach, my role there morphed over seven years, transitioning from team coaching to leadership coaching. By the time 2020 and its accompanying challenges rolled around, the pause it mandated provided a moment of introspection.

Having influenced global tech landscapes for over a decade and a half, I yearned to make a more localized impact, drawing from my wealth of experience. Motivated by this desire, I founded my enterprise, specializing in agile and leadership coaching. From its inception as a one-woman operation, it has burgeoned into a seven-member team, chronicling my evolution from coder to coach to entrepreneur.

When I embarked on agile coaching about ten years ago, Sri Lanka’s coaching sector was embryonic. I grappled with questions on ethics, standards and values and faced a paucity of networking avenues. Fortunately, a handful of mentors illuminated my path. Today, the ICF Colombo Chapter stands as a beacon for budding coaches. It’s a reservoir of knowledge, spanning disciplines from youth to executive coaching, offering foundational insights and valuable networking avenues. This institution is paving the way for the next wave of professional coaches, providing the tools and guidance I once sought.

How do you see the evolution and acceptance of coaching as a recognized profession in Sri Lanka?

Coaching, as I define it, is a series of guided conversations where the coach collaborates with the client to unlock their potential, and this differs significantly from training, consulting, or therapy. In coaching, the relationship is a partnership devoid of any power dynamics. While training or consulting positions the instructor or consultant as the expert, in coaching the journey is more collaborative, like a dance where both participants lead.

Three key distinctions exist between coaching and other forms of guidance: the nature of the relationship, the process, and the outcome. Coaching is about fostering a partnership, encouraging a creative process, and ultimately, aiming for a behavioural shift in the client. In comparison, training typically imparts skills, while consulting provides solutions.

Coaching has always been a part of our lives—our parents, teachers, and managers have all played coaching roles. However, while coaching has been a longstanding practice, it’s evolving into a profession with defined competencies, values, and standards. From my vantage point in the IT industry, I’ve observed a greater emphasis on emotional intelligence alongside the traditionally valued high IQ. As the world rapidly changes, rigid management practices are becoming obsolete, paving the way for more agile ways of thinking and working.

The ICF Colombo Chapter in Sri Lanka is instrumental in bridging the gap between practice and profession, ensuring that coaching is recognized not just as a skill, but as a valued profession with defined standards and ethics.

As a seasoned coach, what unique value do you believe you bring to the table in supporting the professional growth of your mentees?

In today’s digital age, accessing knowledge isn’t the luxury it once was; platforms like ChatGPT provide vast information instantly. Hence, the role of a coach has transformed. What I believe, and what I bring to the table, is a focus on self-awareness. In a world brimming with opportunities, it’s essential to discern between mere busyness and genuinely valuable pursuits. By fostering self-awareness, individuals can align their actions with their beliefs and values, leading to inner harmony.

This alignment was pivotal for me when transitioning from a traditional career to entrepreneurship. The allure of titles in prominent corporations is undeniable, but recognizing my distinct values helped me align with my true desires. In my coaching sessions, I guide clients to find similar alignment in their lives.

Adaptability is another crucial facet. While planning is beneficial, real-world unpredictability often disrupts plans. With heightened self-awareness and alignment, individuals can adapt more readily to challenges and shifts. This approach paves the way for reflective, intuitive thinking. For instance, the pandemic introduced a dilemma for many who value human connection over virtual interfaces. However, adaptability requires recognizing that virtual means can still achieve the genuine goal of helping others.

With the rise of the hybrid work model, even post-pandemic, there’s an imperative to foster team engagement in new ways. Adapting to these changes, while rooted in one’s self-awareness, is what I emphasize with my clients, ensuring they undergo transformative, enduring change with identifiable results.