Are you thinking of hiring a coach, but unsure if it's the right thing for you? Here are 5 common phrases uttered by people who would seriously benefit from a good coaching process.
1. "I just wanted more success in life!"Behind this statement is an acknowledgement that your life could be better for you. To that point, congratulations. Acknowledging things are not quite OK is a huge step. In situations like this, coaching will help you (and you alone!) define what "success" looks like and how you can choose to move forward to it.
2. I don't know what I want to do with my life..."When you find yourself in an existential rut like this, you tend to choose a path, any path, just to be able to say, "Well, at least I'm doing something!" This puts you at risk of making your life waddle down an unsatisfactory road. In these situations, coaching (and in particular, career coaching) can help you define what is really important to you, what your mission is, and how you can go about fulfilling it.
3. "I've always wanted to (___move abroad / manage my time / get fit / get that juicy promotion / whatever___) but I wouldn't know where to start."Sometimes, the objectives we choose are vital and huge. That's OK. Many good ones are. A coach can help you break down that mountain into workable little pebbles, and suddenly you'll have climbed miles. He or she will also help you prepare for the inevitable obstacles.
4. "I can't figure out the people around me! What on Earth do they think they're doing?"In this case, there is a discrepancy between what I expect others to do and what they actually do. Our innate, subconscious tendency is to perceive this kind of discrepancy as some sort of affront, which will inevitably cause attrition. This is quite common during restructurings and among new hires within a company, particularly expats and their families. Here, a coach can help you reframe your experience that would otherwise become an obstacle, so you can gain perspective instead of bristling. Thus, you are more ready to sustain progress instead of succumbing to the challenges of change.
5. "I've figured out what's wrong with my life, but there's nothing I can do about it."This one is my favourite. Coaching helps you realize you're responsible for your own decisions, including those that involve where you want to go with your life and your career. This makes you an agent of your circumstances, instead of their victim. The feeling of empowerment that ensues is brilliant, and it truly changes everything.