To Coach or Not to Coach

By: Karen McGreevey
Submitted: 2008-03-10 19:44:43
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I didn’t intend to work with a coach, I really didn’t!

Not that I didn’t recognize the benefit and value; after all coaches guide the multitudes in some profession anytime everywhere.  Whether it’s many of the “manly” sports like baseball and football, or the not so manly like ice skating, or debate teams.

But coaching just didn’t fit into the picture I was looking at at the time. However, just by chance, an incredible “out-of- the-blue” opportunity landed in my lap; it was so good I knew I’d harbor feelings of regret if I let it pass. In actuality, it turned out to be one of the greatest “business gift” moments I’ve ever received.

It can be yours, too.

Your “gift” coach, a mentor, a sounding board, manages to help you find, or discover, and believe in your strengths and yourself. Coaching styles are mixed with elements of professionalism and creativity. They offer inspiration. A coach can help you get unstuck. A coach is like your mother—with eyes in the back of her head—only this is in a good way; he or she knows just what you need exactly when you need it!

Your coach is there to challenge you, so much so you soon know coaching is not quite a magic carpet ride; you learn you’re not going to get away with not trying to discover for yourself how you can achieve your goals. At the same time, there’s no doubt your coach will be there to cheer and guide you every step of the way.

Coaches, just like all of us, come in various shapes and sizes; although in this correlation, I’m not referring to their physical being but rather the coaching field of expertise they offer.  Some of their disciplines include coaching with emphasis such as:  careers, relationships, performance, business, executive, prosperity, communication and much more. In fact, I suppose there’s a coach for about anything.

To find a coach to most readily suit your needs, you might start by asking around—your colleagues or friends--or perhaps members at one of the specific industry forums can put you in touch with a coach. Or, put your favorite search engine to work.

Much like applying for a job or purchasing a new car, ask pointed questions of your coach prospect. Background information you might want to know about the coach could include how much training or any certifications the coach has taken/earned.  

The overall benefits you can derive from a coach are almost as many and as varied as there are benefits; for instance:

• You have an opportunity to know someone you can trust;

• You learn how to set goals and stick with them to get them done;

• You get to have your very own personal “cheerleader”;

• A coach will get you back on track if you veer off the path;

• A coach will help you stay focused;

• With the help of a coach you can learn to how to get and stay organized

Having had the benefit of working with a coach reminds me of an old saying that sometimes jumps into the forefront of my mind: “Two heads are better than one”.         

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