What do you think of when you hear the word coaching?
It might conjure visions of those persistent Facebook ads from people promising to make you a multimillionaire or something only those high level C-suite executives get access to. The truth is coaching can be an extremely powerful tool that anyone can use to help level up and reach those goals you didn’t think were possible.
Isn’t coaching just the same as mentoring?
No, not exactly.
While mentoring is about teaching you new things, coaching is more about helping you improve your performance.
A good coach won’t just give you the answers to the questions. A good coach knows you already have the answer, you just need help finding it.
No matter what stage of your career you’re in, a coach can help with improving skills, developing abilities and boosting your performance. They’re also great for dealing with any issues or challenges you may have before they become a bigger problem.
Whether it’s a leader in your organisation or an external source, having someone to sit down and have those conversations with, to work through issues and discover solutions, can be invaluable.
Is coaching even worth it?
We think so!
Coaching can benefit not only you, but also your team.
On a personal level, having a coach can help you to:
- be more proactive about achieving your goals (bye bye procrastination)
- be more self-reliant
- improve job and life satisfaction
- improve your contributions to your team
- understand how to take responsibility and accountability for your actions and your commitments
- work more productively and collaboratively with others
- communicate more effectively with others.
Getting a coach on board can also do wonders for your team, including:
- improve engagement
- improve individual performance
- empower and encourage individuals to take responsibility – not just owning up to mistakes but stepping up and taking on new opportunities
- identifying the strengths of your employees and areas that need improvement
- motivate your team to excel (aka kick butt and be the best!).
A few more reasons why coaching is worth it
If the benefits above weren’t enough to convince you, here’s a few other reasons why we think it’s worth having a coach.
Turn something good into something great
Coaching isn’t something you start when everything’s falling apart. It’s something you implement when things are already good, but you know they could be better. Taking the leap from good to great can be tricky, but coaching can get you there. If you know your team has the potential for more, but you’re having trouble unlocking it, coaching could be the key!
It’s time to transition
One of the hardest things to go through personally or professionally is change. Whether you know things need a shake up or you feel something needs to give in order to get to the next level, a coach can help guide you through these turbulent times.
You’re driven but not actually arriving anywhere
You might be highly motivated and getting pretty good results, but if you find yourself stuck at a certain level, coaching can give you that extra push to reach that next stage. Often we’re held back by things we can’t see because we’re too focused on what we’re doing. A coach can help widen your perspective and discover what’s holding you back.
Picking your player
You’ve decided it’s time to bring a little coaching into your life, how do you find the right person to take you on this journey? Here’s a few quick tips.
Do your research
Along with reading this article, take the time to learn more about coaching, the process and what it can do for you. Having a clear understanding of how coaching should work, can help you pick someone who aligns with that understanding.
Know what you want
Get clear on your goals and objectives. If you don’t have an understanding of what you want to achieve, no coach can help guide you there. Knowing what you want out of this relationship can also help ensure you pick someone who aligns with those goals.
Interview multiple candidates
Don’t just pick the first person you find. Shop around. Talk to at least three different coaches before making a decision (it seems like a good number). This is an important relationship, you want to make sure the coach not only aligns with your goals but that your personal connection with them is solid.
Confirm their cred
Before you make your final choice, be sure to check their professional history. Research where they trained, their credentials and client history.
Not just a quick fix
Whether you have five, ten or twenty sessions, if you give coaching a proper crack it can be an extremely useful tool to help you achieve your goals. Coaching gives you the ability to take a deeper look at yourself and your way of thinking. It can help you throw away that self doubt and self-limiting mindset and help you understand new ways of handling situations. Coaching isn’t just an easy fix to getting that promotion or resolving your team’s issues, but it can be the catalyst to helping you understand what you need to do to get there.
Learn more –
Read – You Coach You: How to Overcome Challenges and Take Control of Your Career by Sarah Ellis
Listen – Coaching Real Leaders with Muriel Wilkins
Watch – TED Talk: Want To Get Great At Something? Get A Coach with Atul Gasande
