A new year has started and with every new year come new resolutions.
Somehow many of us like to think that we can start again with a clean slate. A blank page. A new chapter. But the truth is there is no clean slate and nothing new to be expected if we aren’t willing to open our eyes and seize the chance to do new things, different things to get the new and different outcomes we’re hoping for.
One way (and in my view, the most effective way) to open our eyes is through coaching. Coaching is available in almost every field and can help you in improving your personal and professional lives.
Coaching can be a rewarding experience in many aspects, but it is important to find the right coach and to do what you can to make the coaching experience as beneficial as possible. Keeping that in mind, here are my suggestions on how to get the most out of a coaching engagement.
Finding the Right Coach:
The coaching experience begins by finding the right coach for you. You can ask friends and relatives to recommend coaches, but once the interview process begins you should ask relevant questions to make sure your coach relates to you on a personal and professional level.
In a professional sense, they must have the qualifications you are looking for. They should have first-hand experience in your professional field and should also have a proven track record of helping others in your industry. Be sure to ask about people they have helped that were in similar situations to yours and even follow up by speaking to some of their past clients.
On a personal level, it is important that you can relate to your coach. Remember he or she is someone you will have to open up to, so you want them to show the right level of understanding and compassion for your situation.
Your coach should also show signs that he is truly invested in you as an individual and interested in taking you to the next level.
Make a Commitment:
Once you have found a coach that is right for you, it is important to commit to making the suggested changes necessary for you to move forward.
You can meet with your coach and listen to them all you want, but if you don’t actually take their words to heart and follow their suggestions, the experience will be a complete waste of time and money and you’re never going to reach your goals.
Clarify Your Expected Outcome:
When you hire a coach, you should have specific goals that you would like to achieve through your work together.
These goals should be clearly communicated to your coach so you can both get on the same page. While goals, like making more money or being a better leader, are both respectable, they are also vague. Think instead of changing certain behaviors that will make it easier for you to reach your goals. If you are having trouble identifying these behaviors, your coach may be able to help you.
Get Ready for A Challenge:
Even though you are paying your coach for a service, don’t expect to sit back while he or she does all the work.
A good coach will challenge you to do better and it is important for you to rise to these challenges so that you can achieve your goals.
Stick with Your Coach for at Least Six Months:
While many of us might be impatient for a change to occur, if you think changes are going to happen overnight, you are being a bit unrealistic in your expectations.
Remember that many changes start as smaller behavioral changes that gradually make for larger changes that can result in those bigger positive improvements you are looking for.
Six months is a good length of time for you to base your coaching experience on. If you don’t feel like you are moving in the right direction at this juncture, you might want to consider finding a new coach or discussing ways to change the path you’re on.
In Conclusion
Everyone can use a guiding hand in their lives and the right coach can offer that guidance you are looking for.
Be sure to make the most of your experience by finding a coach that suits your needs and by remaining open to his or her ideas and challenges.
When you’re ready to invest in yourself through coaching and would like to explore if we’re a good fit for each other, simply send me an email at [email protected].
