Do you need a coach?

Discover what coaching is and seven situations when it might benefit you

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 becoming increasingly popular in all sectors. But, what is coaching and when would it benefit you?

In this article you'll learn what coaching is, when coaching it can help and some pointers on how to get started with a coach.

What is coaching?

Coaching is an outcome focused conversation designed to help someone create a change they are seeking. I describe the structure of the work like a journey we'll take together.

You're the driver. You choose our destination - the objective you're seeking from our time together.

As your coach, I will use questions, offer thinking frameworks and observations to move you forward towards the outcome or answer you're seeking.

Whatever the change, questions are a key part of coaching because they can unlock issues, create clarity and surface knowledge.

When might coaching benefit you?

Below are seven situations when working with a coach would help.

1.Feeling stuck

Have you tried lots of things and nothing seems to change? Are you feeling stuck and don't know what to do? Are you finding it hard to get started on something?

At times like this, a coach can help you unpick what’s keeping you stuck, explore ways to create momentum and identify what might work best for you.

2.Finding work a chore

Are you going through the motions and feeling uninspired? Has the dream job become a nightmare? Do you feel you’re in a rut?

If you're dragging yourself into work, a coach can help you understand what's lacking for you and what would 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 asleep?

These are all indicators that you are not coping well with stress. Working with a coach will help you develop better coping strategies, as well as ways to better manage the stressor itself.

4.Struggling to get work done

Do you feel chased by your to-do list? Are you finding you start strong but lose focus after lunch? Do you know you could be more productive—but can’t seem to get there?

When your day feels like it’s running you, rather than the other way around, a coach can help you optimise your schedule to match your energy, build systems that keep you on track, and help you feel calm, capable, and in control.

5.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 to enable you to live a life that feels authentic to you.

6.Feeling unsettled by change

Are you worried about a new role or responsibility? Are redundancies or other changes on the cards? Are you considering retirement but not clear on what or how you want the next chapter to be?

At such times, a coach can help you identify what aspects of the change you find uncomfortable, what you need to put in place to succeed, obstacles that might get in the way and, how you can best deal them.

7.Feeling flat, exhausted or cynical about work

Have you been working intensely for a long time? Do you feel tired even at the start of a working day? Are you struggling to do even simple tasks? Do you feel like you've lost your sense of self?

You might be experiencing burnout. A coach who specialises in burnout will help you to restore balance and refind the you that has got lost in all the doing.

How to find the right coach

As coaches tend to work with particular roles (leaders, entrepreneurs), sectors (education, environment) or subject matters (stress, business, work), start by finding someone who has a relevant background and/or specialism.

A way to do this is to ask friends and coworkers if they know anyone and/or look on coaching directories like the Association for Coaching members directory.

Next, decide if you could partner with them.

To be able to unpick issues, uncover what's going on or unlock your momentum, you need to feel comfortable sharing your thoughts and feelings with them and, confident they can assist you.

Before investing in coaching, most coaches offer the opportunity to discuss what you’re seeking to change and how they might help. It might be called a discovery or chemistry call.

Whatever they call it, if they offer you the opportunity for a chat, grab it!

Use the time to:

• find out how you feel talking with them about your issue,

• ask questions about their coaching style/qualifications 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

If you're feeling stuck, stressed or struggling with something, working with a coach could help.

Coaching is a unique style of conversation designed to help someone create change.

Nowhere else in our lives do we get the chance to think with someone whose agenda is only what we want for ourselves and, whose role is to help you get it.

Take care of you.

As a member of the Association for Coaching and an accredited health coach with the EMCC, I can coach you on all the issues mentioned in this post.

Wondering what it would be like to work with me?

Take a step towards creating change today - organise a no-obligation chat (discovery call).

During the call you will find out what it would be like to partner with me, can ask any questions you have about coaching and, I can share how it could be useful in your particular situation.