Who needs a Coach?

With a growing trend towards coaching, one is forced to wonder...What is it, and do I need it? Who needs a coach?

Try asking yourself, what was I doing 5 years ago? What was I dreaming about achieving in my life? And then ask, have I achieved what I intended to achieve? What about my dreams of 10 years ago? Or even 20 years ago? If goals and dreams are not being achieved, it is a sign that you may benefit from working with a coach. It is not that you are lazy. Maybe you have procrastinated to some degree. The main problem is trying to maintain focus in the face of the ongoing hurricane of distractions that life throws at us.

THE SIX "A"s OF COACHING
The benefits of coaching can largely be summarized in these five elements: Awareness, Alignment, Action, Accountability, Alliance, Augmentation.

Awareness of who we really are, and what we really want. Awareness of our self-defeating patterns, all the things that we are blind to.

Alliance is a much needed element in this world. Rather than going it alone, it can be a huge help to have an ally, a professional who is focused on supporting you and guiding you towards your goals.

Alignment of our Goals, Purposes, Values, Ideals, Needs and our inner Beliefs, as well as the Principles we are applying as we try to succeed. These are other factors tend to go out of alignment. This is why we feel that we are merely ‘treading water’ a lot of the time.

Accountability to a coach is a powerful aspect of the coaching scenario. However motivated we may be, the simple fact of reporting to someone each week can cause us to blast through problems and barriers.

As for the question of trust, I recommend that you have one or two sessions with a coach before making a decision about whether the two of you can work together.

Action towards our goals begins to happen for real because of all of these elements of coaching. We are making realistic plans, brainstorming ideas and solutions, working out how to use our available resources, and then we actually take action. Our coach insists that we do.

Augmentation of your knowledge and skills will occur with coaching. The coach may have know-how and skill sets that they can transfer to you, or they may guide you towards your needed enhancement.

Imagine how different your life might be if you'd had those coaching elements working for you for a few weeks, or a few months.

ACHIEVERS WHO HAVE HAD COACHES
Many famous people, and achievers in life, have worked with coaches. Television present and business woman Oprah Winfrey has worked with a number of coaches, including Martha Beck. The former Microsoft leader Bill Gates was coached for years by Bill Campbell.