Coaching

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Coaching, what is it and why is it important? I want to start off by telling you that you do not need a coach but if you want one, they can accelerate the process of achieving your goals. The reason you do not need a coach is that you can do it by yourself, but then why would you hire a coach? My response would be a simple question, “Why haven’t you accomplished your goal yet?” More often than not we create excuses or our beliefs about certain aspects of the goal prevent us from making progress. Sometimes we just get stuck, which is pretty common and another perspective is all that’s needed to move forward.

But first, what is a coach? According to the Certified Coaches Federation, “a coach is a trained professional who has the skills to help individuals, executives and organizations create positive changes, see new possibilities, and help their clients define steps to be taken to achieve both their short and long-term goals” (CCF Training Manual 2015).

Coaching is a relationship where the Coach and Client co-create a plan to get the Client from where they are to where they want to be. It is not advice, therapy or counselling. It is based on the idea that the Client has the answers and it’s the Coach’s job to bring them out, as well as, accountability which is the foundation that creates results. If the top athletes of the world have multiple coaches to help them reach their highest potential, why can’t the rest of us benefit from the same approach?

If you’ve ever been part of an athletic team, you’ve experienced working with a coach. The beauty of coaching is that you always get way more than what you thought you would. Let’s say you join a basketball team, your goal is to get better at basketball. By the end of the season, however, not only have your technical skills in basketball improved but you’ve learned about teamwork, discipline, hard work, resilience after a setback, belief in yourself and your capabilities, etc… These are skills that will change your life. These are skills that can be transferred to many different areas of your life.

What I often see with clients is that once they’ve realized they can improve one aspect of their lives, their confidence to apply these skills to other parts of their lives grows too. That is what I find most fulfilling about being a coach; that is one of the reasons I think coaching is so important. Having had tons of coaches over the years, I can say with absolute certainty that I would not be the person I am today without them.

A coach will help you strategize and create a clear plan of action. They can be a sounding board for your ideas. They can provide support and/or push you when needed. They will keep you accountable to your goals. They will help recognize roadblocks and navigate possible solutions. They can offer a perspective shift. They can help you get clarity. They can help you prioritize based on your values. You may not need a coach, but you may want one.

Have you experienced working with a coach?

Let me know in the comments!

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