Four reasons to hire a coach
We’ve all been there. For example, when a brilliant idea pops into your consciousness and gets you excited about the possibilities. Then as the weeks go by, you’re always busy, and the idea sits in the back of your mind or in a folder on your desk. Many of us commit to eating healthier,and getting fit but after you finish your work day, you’re tired and you default to old, not so healthy, habits. You may recognize that your current job isn’t meeting your career aspirations, but the thought of trying to find out exactly what work would fulfill you, sounds daunting and overwhelming. It's these situations where a coach can help. And here are four reasons why.
A coach will help you;
Get clarity.
With so many ideas in your head and so many options to pursue, how do you make a decision about what direction to take? Your coach will help you with exercises to identify what you value most in work and life, so you can see how choices that you are considering measure up to what’s important. Your coach may also have tools to determine your personality type or evaluate your current state of emotional intelligence. This will help you know what strengths to draw on when making work or life change decisions.
2. Provide support to map out an action plan
Your coach will help you chunk out the steps to reach your goal so that each activity calls you to action and appears doable. He/she may use a template with SMART ( Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound) goals to establish milestones and a tracking system to support your progress.
3. Act as a sounding board, acknowledge effort or deliver a kick in the butt
Now that you have an action plan that is aligned with what you think is important you need to get down to work. When you feel like you are getting stuck or discouraged, your coach can remind you of who came up with the idea and reinforce your self confidence. When you have a focused listener, you often find the answers by having to describe the issue out loud. Your mentor will acknowledge your hard work and teach you how to manage the negative self-talk that tries to sabotage your best intentions. He/she may ask difficult questions to shape your new perspective or challenge your self-limiting thinking.
4. Establish accountability
Many of us struggle with motivating ourselves to meet a self-imposed deadline. Your coach will act as a witness to your commitment to improvement. Having to report to someone on your progress can be the support that you need to accomplish that desired goal. Your coach will hold you accountable on each step of your journey.
Once you start working with a coach, you begin to develop the hard-wiring that your brain needs to make permanent changes in the way you operate. With each small win, it helps solidify your self-confidence.
A successful coaching partnership leaves you with a sense of direction in your work and personal life and an understanding of what’s important to you. The result is that you feel more grounded in life and more confident when you face challenges. You are sure of your purpose and enjoy the personal fulfillment that entails.
Note: It's important to realize that leadership or life coaching is not a replacement for physician monitored therapy. Individuals with clinical diagnoses need to work with their doctors to find treatments tailored to their particular medical challenge.