Why Do I Coach (Part Two)?
Who Am I and Why Do I Coach? (Part Two!)
So, my last blog post was some background information aboutme, perhaps boring in parts and interesting in parts depending on your personalviewpoint. Now, I would like to tell youwhat drew me to coaching and why I became a professional coach.
I mentioned in my last post that I worked as a paralegal forseveral years. During that time, Ilearned that attorneys, while having wonderful educations in law and practice,did not have training in how to run a business or manage people. Some of the attorneys I worked with were justterrible managers and a few just downright mean to their staff. I often thought that there should be some sortof service that would teach them how to run their businesses and how to managetheir staffs effectively and professionally. I even wondered sometimes if I could teach them things that wouldhelp. But at that point in my life, Ididn’t have the self-confidence to even investigate what that could look likeor even whether any such services existed.
About six years ago, a colleague I worked with (and awonderful friend then and now!) took a certificate course at the universitywhere we worked called Professional Coach Certification Program. At the time, the course was only offeredthrough an in-person format. My friendenjoyed it immensely and has moved into being a coach on a part-time basiswhile she continued to work her full-time job. The more she explained to me what coaching was and how it worked, themore intrigued I became about the whole idea.
I knew I didn’t want to work full-time at a 9-5 job forever,even though I love what I am doing now. I look forward to the opportunity to make my own schedule and accomplishsome of the things in my “To-Do After I Retire” list that has been growing forover 40 years!! However, the in-personrequirement for the coaching program at our university was a huge stumblingblock as I lived 90 minutes from work and the additional travel was just notworkable.
Then COVID hit and changed our world as we knew it in a lotof ways.
Now, the coaching program was offered in a virtual formatwhich made it so much easier for me to do. So, a few years ago I signed up and began the course. It took eight months of hard work and lots oftime to accomplish, but I enjoyed every minute of it. It was not only theory and information, butwe began coaching each other from the very first class which allowed us topractice the things we were learning as we went along – such a valuablelearning experience! I obtained myinitial certification about 18 months ago after the class ended and amcurrently working toward my next certification level (there are fourlevels).
So, that is HOW I got here, now why do I coach? What do I do? Why do I enjoy it? What is thereward for me in coaching? Well, I havealways seen myself as a “helper,” even from a young age when I was helping mymom with my younger siblings. Later, inmy professional life, I always tried to do my job to the best of my ability,but also to help colleagues as much as I could at the same time. I have always been a big believer in workingas a team and being as collaborative as possible.
For me, coaching is an extension of that teamphilosophy. At its core, I believecoaching is having conversations that help people. Through coaching, a client can use the coachas an objective and impartial sounding board to bounce ideas from, to listen tointernal struggles and form a team with the client to solve problems. A coach can offer the space to voice variousideas and goals knowing that there is no judgment in the coaching space. Too often in our lives, we hesitate to voicean opinion or a new thought for fear that it will be dismissed or ridiculed. In coaching, however, there is no judgment,no dismissal of feelings or ideas, and no ridicule.
What does a coach do? As a coach, I listen to everything my clients say and often what theydon’t say. I watch body language andfacial expressions for clues as to what a client is feeling apart from whatthey are saying (these don’t always match as you know). Then I ask questions. I may ask a client to expand a bit onsomething they said or ask them to perhaps explore an idea they expressed, butthen dismiss it as silly. Perhaps I mayask Why is that silly? Who said it issilly? What led you to thatjudgment?
A coach asks questions that can lead a client to view aparticular issue from different perspectives or even question whether a fearthe client has is truly justified or a leftover judgment from something thatcould have happened years in the past.
These are just a few examples, but asking insightfulquestions and listening closely are the true marks of a good coach. Too often in our daily lives, we listen topeople while at the same time trying to formulate our response to what is beingsaid instead of staying in the moment and really paying attention to what isbeing said and how it is being communicated. What a true pleasure it can be to know that someone is really listeningto what you are saying and honestly interested in hearing it. How often have you been talking with someone,and you just knew you didn’t have their full attention??
What do I enjoy about coaching? I enjoy meeting new people and learning aboutthem most of all. I find all people tobe fascinating in both their differences and their similarities. Wouldn’t the world be incredibly boring if wewere all the same?? And, most of all, Ienjoy helping people in whatever small way I can in this vast world ofours. I consider that a privilege and amhonored each and every time someone chooses me as their coach. Sometimes these relationships are short,maybe just a few months, and other times they last longer, but I value eachone.
All of you is welcome in our coaching sessions; yourthoughts, fears, feelings, failures and secret yearnings are safe with me. My goal is to get you focused on what youlove, value and want from life.
· What would you like as a goal if you knew youcould not fail?
· Do you want to develop more work/life balance?
· Would you like to Increase the belief andconfidence you need to pursue big goals and dreams?
· Would you like to overcome obstacles that hinderyou from reaching your objectives?
If any of these questions resonate with you and you want tosee how coaching can help with any or all of them, reach out to me and let’ssee what we can accomplish together! Changeis both challenging and thrilling. Iwill help you overcome your obstacles and access the joy and excitement oflife!
