To Coach or Not to Coach
HOW TO KNOW WHEN
I frequently notice people and circumstances that are ripe for coaching, and I know that this method of change makes a difference for nearly everyone who tries it. But there is a personal timing factor to pay attention to, in order to have a successful coaching experience.
So how do you know when it is time to hire a coach? It depends on the thing that you want, and on the season or phase that you are currently in with your career and life.
If everything is just the way you want it to be in your work and life, then please do NOT hire a coach! Just enjoy, and hey! Ride that wave for as long as you possibly can!
If you know that you need to make a large-scale change, but cannot find the motivating energy to do so, ask for a free consultation with a coach. The conversation could shed some light for you, on whether or not the timing is right for a coaching partnership.
If you are in a transition of some sort, such as being promoted, moving to a new company, beginning a new career, changing careers or transitioning into retirement, coaching can be very useful and even comforting as it provides you with a personal space to assess and process your thoughts, events and changing circumstances.
If you are in a growth and development space, you will love coaching. You might be in a role that requires you to solve problems and innovate, or maybe it is time to focus on improving your ability to communicate and lead. Coaching will provide you with a safe lab for practicing and processing new learning.
If you want to make change happen on a large scale, whether for business or for yourself, you can benefit from coaching. After training and consulting have done their part, a coach will help you bridge the gap between knowledge and action. Coaches stand in the gap with you.
Stated simply, the timing is good for coaching if you have a motivating reason to pursue a goal or make a change. You do not need to have a “positive” motivation. You might be feeling frustrated, anxious, or generally stuck. What matters most is that you are ready, willing, and able to chart a course to a better future and pursue it.
Here are some of the more common uses of coaching:
To become a more effective leader
To improve work performance and job satisfaction
To better manage the demands on your time and energy
To discover, develop and pursue a vision/mission
To discover how to have a greater impact on people and the world
To deal with a curveball – suddenly changing circumstances – to regroup
To become more intentional in aligning your purpose/mission with your daily work life
If the skill you want to develop or the change you want to make can be accomplished by reading a book, taking a course, or hiring a consultant, excellent! But if something more is needed, then it may be time for coaching.
