Can a Coach Help Me with This?
If you’re stuck with something you’d like help with and no one
else comes to mind, you might try a coach, and here’s why:
Coaching developed to fill a need that wasn’t being met.
Actually it developed to meet a number of needs that weren’t
being met, and it’s still evolving.
If there’s something you want to work on, I bet there’s a coach
who does it.
As the existing helping professions have grown and matured over
the past century, redefining themselves, drawing lines and
setting boundaries, there are still huge areas falling through
the cracks. At the same time, our society has been changing so
that formerly existing avenues for assistance and guidance have
disappeared.
I think of when I first moved to the town I live. My former
husband joined an established medical practice and we were
accepted immediately into that community. All I had to do was
pick up the phone and call one of the spouses when I needed a
repairman, doctor, dentist, or sports league for the kids. I
mean one that was good that I could trust. Trial and error I
could accomplish on my own.
The choices were smaller, but it was also word-of-mouth, the
surest way there is to assure satisfaction. “Word gets around,”
as they say. I have myself, from time-to-time said, “You may not
like his[her] personality, but I can assure you [s]he will do
good work.”
What I did not have, that I missed and was somewhat filled by
this occupational community, was a net of extended family with
older, more experienced, and available, relatives I could turn
to.
In the 00s, both of these may be missing from an individual’s
life. You may have moved far from family, and to a place where
you know few people. You may want advice, guidance, resources or
direction in areas that don’t fall within existing services such
as law, therapy or accounting.
One example is someone with ADHD. In some cases medication is
recommended, and also therapy, but at least one medical
association has come out in favor of coaching to fill in what’s
missing.
When you read articles about coaching, I’m sure you hear the
struggles to define the field. These will continue as it
evolves. Coaching began with two divisions - personal life and
business. (Sports coaching having long been in position). It has
since split into many different areas. Niches and specialties
are being formed that are all to the good of the public.
If you were seeking advice in a certain area, for instance, you
might be looking for someone with certain credentials (academic
or coaching or both), or you might want someone with direct
experience and success in that area. Now there are choices.
A quick look on a search engine or a coaching site will show you
the vast variety of coaching specialties. I challenge you next
time you have a dilemma you’d like consultation on, to “think
coaching.” Looking at the Top Tens at www.topten.org can also
give you an idea.
Under Personal Development Basic, you may find “The Top Ten
Things You Should Have in Your Personal Papers by the Time
You’re 30.”
Under Smart Choices, “The Top 10 Things the Wise Vacationer
Knows.” Under Money, “The Top Ten Things to do with Your Tax
Refund.” Under Life Skills, “The Top 10 Ways to Increase Your
Speed and Independence in Getting Information on the Internet.”
Under Recovery, “The Top Ten Ways to Stay Sober Over the
Holidays.” Under Emotional Healing, “The Top 10 Ways Managing
Your Emotions Can Save Your Life When You’re Facing Surgery.”
Under Marketing, “The Top Ten Mistakes Not to Make on Your
Website.”
Under Career, “The Top Ten Skills of Excellent CEOs.”
A coach can help you, and a well-connected coach can connect you
to someone else who can help you. I know coaches who teach
computer, train you for real estate sales, help you market on
the Internet, work with entrepreneurs, launch your ebook, are
successful breast cancer survivors, specialize in potty
training, teach emotional intelligence, know what to do about
in-laws, are relationship coaches, weight loss coaches, ADHD
coaches and bipolar coaches, are MFT licensed and work with
couples on their marriages, communication coaches, mentor new
coaches, work in multicultural issues, guide you in planning
your retirement and many other life skills and areas of personal
and professional development.
One of the best things about coaching is it lacks some of the
restraints of it’s distant cousins, therapy and teaching. For
instance, your coach is free to accompany you to a speaking
engagement to critique your style, or to a business meeting to
observe the interactions and give you invaluable feedback. He is
free to accompany you to court to observe your spouse in a child
custody case. He can also join you with your partner for a
business lunch and negotiation.
Coaches work in all areas of personal and professional life,
helping you develop in your many roles, to move forward, find
your strengths and capitalize on them, increase your emotional
intelligence, become more resilient, see yourself more clearly
and function more effectively. Just as importantly, your coach
can assist in those “mosquito bite” things that can really slow
your life down. I just found out in 4 days I have to have
surgery on my foot. My son lives 600 miles away. My best friend
is a lawyer and will be in Court that day.
Everyone I know works! You can’t take a cab home anymore, they
tell me, you must be “signed out” to someone. I have found
’someone’ - a friend in sales who is always out and about - but
had I not, I wouldn’t have hesitated to call my friend and coach
who lives here in town. A coach is just one more person “in your
corner” and there can hardly be too many of these! If she
couldn’t have helped me, I know she would’ve known a way around
this.
A coach can make your life easier. When you’re stuck, think
coaching. Pretty soon it will be the first thing you turn to!
