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Morning Column
Flawless Coaching: How to Get Maximum Results from Your Coaching Experience
By Mike Jay
For years, when most people heard the word "coaching," they thought of
athletes training on the field or people in the arts learning to perfect
their craft. Coaching in the business arena was rare and something only the
very elite executives indulged in. However, in the mid-1960s, a mindset
shift started to occur as the business world began to adopt the sports
coaching model. And during the last twenty years, the field of business
coaching has evolved into an indispensable service that professionals at all
levels rely on to increase performance and drive results.
As such, business coaching is growing at a rate of approximately ten
percent each year. Current estimates state that over one million people
worldwide are being coached right now in business matters. So why the large
increase in such a short timeframe?
Today's business arena is much different than it was in the 1950s and
1960s. Most business professionals will freely state that they often feel
they're in "over their heads," and that there's too much complexity in
companies today. In addition, the pace of change and the acceleration of
progress and technological advancements are too rapid for most people to
keep up with. And even though we're in a global economy, many people feel
more isolated than ever before, whether they're an entrepreneur, an
independent professional, or a business executive. That's why many people
are acknowledging that they need a thinking partner or someone who can ask
them the questions that need to be asked so they can deal with the pace of
change and the sheer number of things taking place in the marketplace today.
Unfortunately, these same people don't know what to expect when being
coached or how to gauge if it's working for them. They don't know how to
make their coaching experience and relationship with their coach
flawless-that is, to the point when they perceive that the coaching is
perfect for them.
Whether you are one of the million business professionals currently being
coached or are in the process of finding the right coach to help you, the
following guidelines will enable you to have a flawless coaching experience.
· Know yourself.
To make coaching flawless, you first need some knowledge about
yourself-knowledge that goes beyond the surface. Therefore, set aside some
time and sit down with pen and paper. Write out your answers to the
following questions: Who am I (go deep to uncover what you value and what
makes you "tick")? What do I want in business and in life? Where am I going
professionally and personally? Yes, your coach will likely help you
fine-tune your answers to these questions as the relationship progresses;
however, if you begin coaching without this self-knowledge, then your
chances of having coaching success are greatly lowered.
· Be authentic.
The more open you are to feedback, the more flawless your coaching
experience will be. Being authentic means you have the ability to receive
feedback without getting defensive. You can accept what other people's
opinions are of you, and you can use their insight to improve. Even though
you may not agree with everything people tell you about yourself, you need
to be able to acknowledge their perceptions and analyze what they tell you
objectively. Ultimately you may decide to discard their suggestions and
opinions, but at least you took the time to evaluate their feedback and
decide whether it applies to you.
· Have a structure.
A coaching structure involves meeting with your coach on a frequent
basis-either every week or every other week. Such a structure holds you
accountable and keeps what you and your coach are working on in the
forefront. Meeting less than every other week makes it easy for you to
forget your goals. When that happens, the coaching process will falter and
you'll wonder if it's worth the time or expense. Therefore, have a structure
so your objectives are always top of mind.
· Enlist the help of a support team.
You need to receive regular feedback from your support team about what
you're trying to accomplish and whether you're making progress. Your support
team can include anyone you know as long as they meet three important
criteria: 1) They must be accessible to you and able to respond whenever you
ask. 2) They must be vested in your growth, development, success, and
happiness. 3) They must always tell you the truth no matter what. Once
you've identified the correct people to be on your team, tell them, "I've
hired a coach to help me work on _______. I'd like your help. In 30 days
I'll come back to you and ask you how I'm doing on ______." Make sure you
keep your support team up-to-date on your goals and objectives so they know
how to measure your progress, as they see it. Then, call upon them at least
once a month for some honest feedback on how they perceive your coaching
results.
Flawless Coaching for Flawless Results
The beauty of flawless coaching is that the process is perfect, but neither
you nor your coach have to be. That's because coaching is a methodology that
works to keep "the main thing" in the forefront. Flawless coaching is not
about knowing; rather, it's about inquiry, discovery, disclosure, and
acceptance. That's what ultimately makes it flawless. So no matter where you
are in your coaching journey-whether you've been coached for years or are
just starting the process-put these suggestions to work for you and your
coach today. By doing so, you'll greatly improve your results and your
ability to reach all your professional and personal goals.
About the Author:
Mike Jay is a professional business coach, consultant and entrepreneur who
has logging more than 10,000 hours of coaching sessions, serving business
leaders in more than twenty-seven countries. Mike is the author of several
books on executive coaching, leadership and resilience including "COACH2 THE
BOTTOM LINE: "An Executive Guide to Coaching Performance, Change and
Transformation in Organizations." " More info at www.mikejay.com or contact
generati@msn.com
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