People often ask me what coaching is, and they wonder who would want a coach. How would you know, right? Most of us can relate to sports and having a coach. While it’s not the same thing, there are many parallels. As a tennis player, I can relate to having a coach – a tennis pro, who has more experience and knows what makes better players. Pros don’t tell me I’m great (that would be a lie). They do point out things I could do better. I often hear, “keep your eye on the ball”, “swing all the way through it,” “get into the net faster,” and many other corrections. They also encourage me, often yelling, “go, go, you got it!” This is incredibly effective. It makes me want to run and risk failure because there’s no failure in going for it and missing.
While as coaches, we don’t ever tell you what to do, we do point out observations, blind spots, and seek to empower you. We are trained to listen, challenge, and ensure that by the end of the session, you have some action steps and feel that the session was worth your time! What price do you put on having a plan, sorting through a storm of responsibilities, seeing things with clarity, or having a new perspective?
Coaching is a safe and judgment-free space for anyone to share ideas, get help working toward goals, process issues, and get a clear action plan when things are overwhelming. Clients come to coaching for a variety of reasons.
7 reasons I heard this week:
I want to grow in my career and develop specific capabilities (strategic thinking, communication, delegation, stakeholder management).
I feel overwhelmed with work and home life. I have trouble making traction toward the things that really matter to me.
I get feedback about my interpersonal style, ability to influence, and how I interact with the team.
I am transitioning out of a role and need clarity on what direction to head, how to get the next job, and how to earn the income I need.
I am working at an organization that doesn’t align with my values, and I want to do something that matters and feels right.
I need a confidential space to reflect on decisions I need to make, navigate office drama, and decide on a career direction.
I don’t seem to be able to figure this out alone, and I want structured accountability to ensure I make progress toward my goals.
Do any of these reasons resonate with you or someone you know? If so, I’d love to share how coaching might be for you or someone on your team. Want to chat about it? I love coaching and am happy to have an exploratory conversation.