Discover what coaching is and when you might benefit.
What do elite athletes, successful business leaders and high-powered celebrities have in common? They all regularly work with a coach. In fact, some work with more than one.
Once considered something only for high performers, coaching is increasingly becoming popular in all sectors. But what is coaching and, when would it be of benefit to you?
In this article you'll learn what coaching is, six circumstances where coaching could help you and some pointers on how to get started with a coach.
What is coaching and how can a coach help?
Coaching is an outcome focused conversation designed to create change. I often describe it like a journey we'll take together.
You're the driver of the conversation, you choose the destination (the objective you're seeking from our time together). As your coach, my reflections, questions and observations help move your thinking forward. And, together, we co-create the outcome or answer.
Coaching conversations can take different formats.
The style of conversation depends on what you want to achieve. A coach can help you to:
Gain clarity about a situation or concern,
Help you resolve an issue, and
Set and achieve goals.
Perhaps you want an objective sounding board to help you gain perspective about a situation or concern. Another time you want someone to help you set and achieve a goal. Maybe you just need a listening ear, as you think something through so you can see what to do.
Whatever the format, questions are a key part of coaching because they can unlock issues, create clarity and surface knowledge.
When might a coach benefit you?
Below are six situations where working with a coach would help.
1.Feeling stuck
I don't know what to do. I can’t seem to get started. I’ve tried lots of things and nothing changes. We all try to implement new routines every now and again (resolutions, productivity hacks etc). Some easily become habits whilst others we can’t seem to get any traction with.
This is where a coach can help you unpick what’s keeping you stuck, find ways to create momentum and identify what might work best for you.
2.Finding work a chore
Do you feel you’re in a rut? Are you going through the motions and feeling uninspired? Has the dream job become a nightmare?
If you're dragging yourself into work then this is when a coach can help you understand what's lacking for you and what could help you feel more fulfilled.
3.Feeling anxious or stressed
Are you worried about something to do with work? Are you irritable or overly emotional? Do you have trouble falling or staying sleeping? These are all indicators that you are not coping well with stress.
Working with a coach can help you develop better coping strategies, as well as ways to better manage the stressor itself.
4.Lacking direction or purpose
Do you have a sense that something is missing? Are your days blending into each other? Are you wondering where you’re going?
All of us can find ourselves wondering about our purpose from time to time. A coach can help you discover what’s important to you and develop a set of principles or practices that will enable you to live a life that feels authentic to you.
5.Feeling unsettled by change
Are you worried about taking on a new role or responsibility? Are redundancies or other changes happening where you work? Are you considering retirement but not clear on what or how you want this next chapter to be like?
Even positive change can be uncomfortable. This is when a coach can help you identify what aspects of the change are making you uncomfortable, what you need to put in place to succeed, obstacles that might get in the way and how you can best deal them.
6.Feeling flat, exhausted or cynical about work
Have you been working intensely for a long time? Do you feel like you've lost your sense of self? Are you struggling to do even simple tasks? Do you feel tired even at the start of a working day?
You might be experiencing burn out. A coach who specialises in burnout will help you to reduce stress, restore balance and refind the you that has got lost in all the doing.
How to find the right coach
Coaches tend to work with particular roles (leaders, entrepreneurs), sectors (education) or subject matter (stress, business, career), usually because this is a sector or topic they are familiar with. So, first start by finding someone who has the relevant background and/or specialism.
Next, you need to decide if you can work with them.
To be able to unpick issues, unlock momentum or uncover what matters to you, you need to feel comfortable sharing your thoughts and feelings in their presence and, confident they can assist you.
Most coaches offer the opportunity to discuss what you’re seeking and how they might help, before embarking on a programme of coaching sessions.
If they offer you the opportunity for a chat, grab it!
Use the time to find out how it would be to talk with them about your issue, ask any questions you have about their coaching and, explore how they would specifically work with you to help you resolve your issue.
There should be no pressure for you to sign up to coaching during the call. It is simply to explore if you both feel you can work together and, discuss how that might be.
Summary
Coaching is a unique style of conversation designed to help someone move their thinking forward on an issue.
If you're feeling stuck, stressed or struggling with something, working with a coach could help. Nowhere else in our lives do we get to think through an issue with someone whose agenda is only what we want for ourselves and, whose role is to help you get it.
Nothing changes, if nothing changes.
Take care of you.
If you'd like to explore whether coaching with me would help you resolve an issue, the best thing to do is to organise a no-obligation, coaching discovery call. You can find out more about how coaching works and I can share how it could be useful in your particular situation.
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