We all strive to gain greater success and understanding of our careers, personal lives, and learning goals. Many of us, however, find it difficult to reach our loftier aspirations on our own. Empowering yourself through a professional coaching relationship can provide the necessary motivation and direction to fulfill these goals.
Some might balk at the idea of professional coaching, but many successful people – including the likes of President Obama and Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Google – enlist the help of coaches. No matter who you are or where you are on your life path, a reliable and experienced coach can make the seemingly impossible possible.
1. Achieve Direction
People need coaches for a variety of reasons, but assisting a client in achieving direction can be the most important. Changing the status quo is a daunting task, and it’s easy to feel bogged down by the enormity of the goal or life change. A successful coach ensures you’re not limited by your own negative beliefs or the opinions of others, which might thwart your potential.
Andy Murray, the former No. 2-ranked tennis player in the world, always had the talent and physical ability, but it took a coach’s help to overcome the self-limiting beliefs holding him back. The process of openly discussing the challenges you face can help you actively reach your potential, rather than remain inhibited or afraid of the task at hand.
2. Visualize Goals
A coach cannot only replace any negativity surrounding a goal with positive steps, but he can also help make the steps empowering for you. Once you begin openly discussing your goals with someone, you are more likely to achieve them, and a coach can reinforce your decisions as you move forward. By visualizing and communicating your goals, you can let go of any perceived worries and attain a clear pathway with identifiable steps and accomplishments.
3. Create an Active Plan
Once you’ve worked to articulate your goals, a coach can help you formulate a practical plan to reach them. Breaking down a goal into manageable chunks and navigating those daily tasks to achieve your long-term goal can alleviate the frustration or anxiety that arises when your goals aren’t immediately accomplished.
What daily steps can you take to begin climbing toward your goals? The monumental mountain quickly becomes surmountable when you see the applied path. Every success is a process, and a coach makes that process clear.
4. Embrace the Journey
A common misconception about coaches is that they give advice to their clients. A passionate coach is someone who takes his clients through their own words to conquer the journey the clients have described. When I was younger, I went from being completely disinterested in physics to becoming an airline transport pilot. Someone believed in me and listened to my goals. With that assistance, I was able to embrace a whole new journey.
Self-discovery and renewed self-confidence are the ultimate cognitive and emotional goals of our journeys. People attach different, specific goals to those two life goals, but, when you attain that confidence and knowledge, you get a new lease on life and realize your ambitions.
With our current global economic and social dilemmas, lots of people are in need of coaching. Children and students need someone to believe in them and help them transition into adulthood. College graduates need someone to help them enter the workforce and utilize their skills. Older adults, who might find themselves starting over in a career, need guidance and assurance they have the necessary skills. New outcomes are possible, and coaching can provide a great return on your investment to reach those outcomes.
Why Coaching Is a Worthwhile Investment
The Economic Times reported that coaching resulted in a ROI of almost six times the program cost. In addition to a 77 percent improvement in relationships, those who completed a coaching program noted a 61 percent improvement in job satisfaction and a 48 percent improvement in quality. The results are tangible on a personal performance level.
To ensure you’re choosing a coach who will bring you the greatest benefit, look at testimonials and background to determine whether a coach is qualified. Most coaches offer new clients a free introductory session to see if the relationship is a good match. Use this time to evaluate whether he’s someone who makes you feel comfortable.
Coaching can make a sustainable difference in anyone’s personal or professional life. Many people believe coaching might only be something you need if you’ve hit an unfortunate run. The truth is everyone can benefit from assessing his or her current satisfaction and envisioning a better future. Your mindset determines your success. Invest in yourself.