Career coaching for success is something that can pay big dividends for anyone — college graduates who are looking for their first professional position, those who are in mid-career (and mid-life) — and maybe especially for those who have lost their job…or lost their way.
The first thing to do is recognize you need help. The second thing: Ask for it.
For many of us, that’s the hardest part. Men and women both — we believe we should be able to do it all. We’re strong and capable and independent people. Ask for help? We’d rather poke out our eyes with a sharp stick.
The thing is, we all need help on occasion. And there is no shame in asking for it.
Where can you find that help? You can read books on various topics. This is a wonderful way to get new ideas, but there’s no conversation involved, no give and take.
You can approach a colleague, a friend or family member for assistance. These could be excellent resources, and most people are willing to help. However, there are limitations here, too.
At best, assistance will be short term, as people have their own lives to live and challenges to face. At worst, you could be asking for help from people who will (inadvertently or otherwise) sabotage your efforts because they have a stake in keeping you just the way you are.
When you change your life, other peoples’ 聽lives change as well, and that makes people uncomfortable.
A colleague may worry about losing a work buddy. Your best friend may feel like you’re leaving her behind. Your spouse could be concerned about how your changes will affect the family income.
Why coaching works
This is why career coaching — any type of coaching — works. A coach doesn’t carry any emotional baggage into your relationship; your coach wants what YOU want. Period. Your coach’s only goal is to help you get to where you want to go.
How does that happen?
My coaching begins with a wide-ranging questionnaire that addresses all avenues of your life, including where you are likely to procrastinate, what gives you energy, how much money you need, how your life would change if you got what you want and much more.
Based on that initial assessment, we’ll talk about where you want to go and a plan on how to get there. We meet regularly (usually over the phone, but it could be in person) to talk about what you’ve accomplished on your plan. If it looks like you’re slacking, we figure out why and go from there.
Don’t have any goals? That’s part of what your coach is there to help you determine.
Some likely points of conversation:
- Are you sure you want what you say you want? Clients often come to coaching with a specific goal in mind — only to learn that, well, maybe that wasn’t it at all. And that’s perfectly OK. Coaches will help you examine your stated goals, or help you come up with new ones, and keep you accountable along the way.
- Why do you want what you want? Is it money? The satisfaction of a job well done? The ability to work alone or, conversely, with a group of like-minded people? Taking chances, and doing new things? The key element in this is how, ultimately, it makes you feel, because emotions are about the only movitators that work long term.
- What are you really good at? This involves an entire host of skills, not just how well you can make an Excel spreadsheet sing but how you interact with others, how well you solve problems, and your leadership abilities. Are you well organized? Do you play well with others? Are you a great listener?
- What do you want out of your next (or first) job?聽The opportunity to travel and see the country or the world? A clear path to career advancement? The chance to learn and do different things?
In order to benefit from coaching of any type, you have to be ready for it and willing to do the work. It’s not just about accomplishing tasks, but about self-discovery as well. What about you? Are you ready for coaching?
All helpful tips about career coaching! I hired a business coach for a year, so I understand first hand what a coach does and does not do. 馃槈 Thanks for emphasizing that it鈥檚 important to be prepared to do the work. You can鈥檛 hire a coach and expect that to solve it all. Hiring a coach is the first action in a long list of tasks.
Excellent points, Meghan. I have had a number of prospective clients who said, “I want you to find me a job” or similar tasks. I was like…hold on there, hoss! That’s not how it works. It’s all about the client taking responsibility for his or her own outcome. I am there to guide and support and encourage (and kick butt when called for), but doing the work is the client’s job. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you had a wonderful experience with your coach.
Great point that we need to be prepared to do the work. Too many folks want the easy way, and there aren’t any short cuts.
If you want it — whatever “it” might be — you’ve got to work for it. At least most of us do! Thanks for coming by, Robin.
I can absolutely see why a career coach is the best option if you are looking to make job changes in your life. As you pointed out, Jackie, people you know all have a vested interest in how what you do affects them. Though they may think they are truly helping you, they could just as easily be subconsciously sabotaging you.
Very true, Tami. And it’s not just making career changes — it’s any kind of change…moving house, divorcing, etc. Appreciate your comment.
Jackie, career counseling is so important. So often people hurry up the ladder only to find their are on the wrong building. I know several people who have gone through training like I did receiving a master’s degree but then they don’t use it. They still feel lost. What you offer would be so helpful!
I know what you mean, Candess, about the ladder against the wrong building. And even if it was the right building originally, things — and people — change. There is nothing wrong with saying, “OK, been there, done that. Time to do something new and different.” I’ve done that a couple of times myself and have never regretted taking a new path. Thanks for your comment.
Great list of coaching questions. I also agree that when we change our behavior, it impacts those around us. We don’t live in a vacuum. That’s why whatever we do, it’s a good idea to think about the consequences of our actions. This goes for life in general as well as for work.
We definitely need to think of the ramifications, Claudette, but I am against making decisions that harm us in favor of making other people happy. We have to live with the person in the mirror, no one else.