Lots of people work with professional coaches for a host of reasons. Done well, coaching enables individuals and groups to achieve what was originally thought impossible or to do something far better than imagined. Although the process can sometimes feel magical, coaching is not magic. Coaching is partnership between coach and client. The client is the expert in her life – she knows her destination and has ideas about how to get there. The coach provides support for the journey through various thought and inquiry processes, exceptionally insightful feedback, and an unflinching belief in the client’s capacity to succeed. Alongside my work as a leadership coach I habitually take advantage of coaching services offered by a fine colleague.
When I sat down to reflect on what it is I really reap from being coached, I came up with two lists: What I actually receive for the money I pay and then the internal benefits I draw from the relationship.
From my wise, witty coach, I get:
1. her full and undivided attention focused solely on my agenda.
2. feedback that is honest and often highlights something I am showing yet not seeing.
3. pictures of what I’m saying. (She makes simple graphics, charts, lists which show what we worked on.)
4. a partner in crime who holds me accountable to my stated goals.
5. an incredibly satisfying and positive customer service experience.
In the process, I give myself:
1. a break. I don’t have to do everything on my own. I can get help and move forward faster.
2. time and space to fully be who I am and explore who I want to become without fear of being laughed at or shamed.
3. a tangible self-affirmation: I deserve to have a coach – who I am and what I do are worth the money I am investing.
4. the challenge of living up to my own expectations, complete with a built-in accountability feature.
5. 100 reminders, large and small, of why this is the field of work I am also choosing for myself.
As a result of the work I have undertaken on myself with the aid of my superb coach,
- you are among several others reading this post,
- I have coaching clients of my own,
- I am proud to share my work with groups through workshops and talks, and
- I am fully convinced that I am in the right field at the right time.
Curious about what kind of difference Sherri Spelic Coaching can make in your life right now? Click here to find out more.
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