7 reasons to work with a coach!
“What can a coach help me with” is often a question asked when speaking to someone contemplating working with a coach for the first time. In a business setting for example, a coach can help you develop your leadership skills, increase your impact and make better decisions. Here is a short video from Katherine Tulpa, CEO of the Association for Coaching who shares her views of the benefits of coaching for Leaders.
The traditional view of coaching is that they are there to help “fix you”, that there are issues you need to resolve. This is sometimes the case, but in the vast majority of instances I work with people who are already very successful in their roles. So to help answer the question, what can a coach help me with, it helps to understand that the role of a coach is to provide you with the guidance, techniques and encouragement to enable to identify the best course of action for you when considering the challenges you face.
A coaching session isn’t about giving you the answers, but instead is about asking the questions which will challenge thinking around the subject at hand. The belief in coaching is that the person being coached usually knows the best solution but needs time to reflect on the situation. Support and encouragement are essential aspects of coaching, but a large element of challenge is a critical part of the process. The outcome of a coaching programme usually involves a degree of change. Understanding why this hasn’t already taken place is part of the process. Is it down to a lack of knowledge or skill, or is there something holding the individual back from taking the necessary action?
So what can a coach help me with? Here are seven of the most common outcomes of a coaching programme;
- Increased self awareness
- Greater understanding of others
- Increased confidence
- Clearly identified goals
- Improved communication skills
- A greater sense of fulfilment
- Increased knowledge of practical tools and techniques for use with self and others.
If you are considering working with a coach, contact us for an informal chat to explore how we might best help you. We also offer a range of Coaching Cards for use in self reflection or in team meetings.
