Ask yourself, would any serious athlete think of competing without a coach? Of course not! Why then would any modern businessperson, who faces overwhelming competition daily, not work with a coach?
Maybe it's because we're not sure what a good coach does and how working with a coach will help us. Like the flea on the elephant, most of us see only a small part of the larger world as we go from day to day. The coach helps you to see the big picture, the game you are in, and how well you are playing. The right coach helps you out of a slump and brings your game to the next level.
It’s an odd thing about humans; the only way we can see ourselves clearly from the outside and in context is through someone else’s eyes. Unlike an expert or a mentor, the coach does not tell us what to do, but what she sees, and by sharing what she sees, challenges us to do better. By listening and asking the right questions, the coach helps us find our way past blind spots.
What are these blind spots? There are many habits we develop that seem comfortable but keep us from performing at the top of our game. Things like procrastination, insensitivity to others, not taking responsibility for our actions, and lack of integrity may be hampering our progress. The thing is, we can't usually see them for what they are, so we don't change. And then we wonder why we are not getting any closer to our goals.
The right coach can help us see what is holding us back, and then identify what we need to change. But change doesn’t occur from feedback alone; you have to be willing to put in effort to make change happen. Behavior change comes only after you've constructed a new mental model, a new description of purpose and meaning. Then it's practice, practice, practice, until new habits are formed over the old. That's where working with a coach pays off.
Coaches are “change partners” for those who refuse to stand still, who realize that if you're not progressing, you are going backward. When you work with a trained and experienced coach, you have a partner who will not only set you on the right path, but will work with you right to the end. The basic rule of "adapt or perish" applies to business just as it does to species like the Dodo bird. By helping you become more flexible and creative, coaches help you survive the ongoing evolution of business.
The ways in which you branded yourself and your business when you started are unlikely to be working perfectly today. It's time to diversify your thinking if you're going to stay in the game. Leave your comments below and tell me…What do YOU think is the big deal about coaching?
Talk to you soon.
Coach Patti
About Coach Patti Kouri:
Coach Patti, the owner of Accelerated Performance Coaching Inc., and The Real Estate Game®, strives to maintain an atmosphere of community, connection, and harmony by becoming your resource base to enhance and enrich your personal and business life. Coach Patti was voted one of the ‘Top 50 Most Influential Women In Real Estate Leadership in 2008’ by the 2008 edition of the Swanepoel Trends Report. www.CoachPatti.com and www.TheRealEstateGame.com.
