Yesterday, I observed an amazing coach in action. He’s a neighbor of mine who helped my husband maximize his potential in the world of home maintenance. I watched closely, as I knew I could apply his techniques to the world of business coaching.
I’ll readily admit that neither my husband nor I are the DIY type of people. In fact, we’ve probably been responsible for sending a good number of our contractor’s children to college, given what we paid these people over the years. I’ve been OK with that for a long time. But lately we’ve taken an interest in HGTV, which makes every project look doable. We thought we’d take our chances and get our hands dirty. And so began our entry into DIY landscaping.
Hiring Someone Who Has Been There
One only had to listen to our neighbor’s advice to know that this man had years of hands-on experience in the area where he was providing advice. His demonstrated expertise allowed my husband to contemplate approaching this project in ways he had never considered. My husband’s speed in taking on these new tasks increased considerably as his confidence improved.
I often wonder why people in the business world hire coaches who have never done what they are expecting their clients to do. Think about it. Would you hire a skydiving coach who has never actually jumped out of a plane? Probably not. You’d want someone with many successful dives under his belt before you put your life in his hands.
There are no barriers of entry to becoming a coach. That probably explains why there are an abundance of coaches. That’s both good and bad news for you. The good news is that there is most likely someone out there for everyone. The bad news is that you will have to sift through dozens if not hundreds of coaches to find one that is right for you. You can cull this list down significantly by seeking someone who has personally achieved success in an area where you would like to achieve success.
A Good Coach Teaches You How to Thrive Long After They’re Gone
There were a number of times when my husband seemed to wane. His coach continually encouraged him to keep going. I know my husband wished that his coach would step in and do the work for him, but that wasn’t going to happen on this guy’s dime. He knew if he did so, he’d leave and my husband would be no better. The coach continued to give support, while my husband continued to sweat.
As a coach, I’ve been tempted to jump in and rescue my clients when it appears they are unable or unwilling to do the work that is necessary to achieve the objectives we’ve mutually agreed upon. I have to remind myself that doing so would be a disservice to them, as they would falter the next time this situation occurred and I was not on hand to catch them.
A great coach will build on your strengths. They’ll help push you to your limits, but they won’t do the work for you. A reputable coach should work towards making you independent, not dependent. If it’s been a year or longer and you are still working on the same things with your coach, then perhaps it’s time to get rid of this person who has now become your friend and hire someone who isn’t afraid to tell you what you need to hear.
The Right Tools for the Right Job
Everyone knows that you need the right tools for the right job. Trying to saw the limbs off of a tree with a small saw isn’t going to cut it when you are taking on trees that have been around longer than you have. It may seem like a large investment to purchase a power tool that can cut your work time in half, but you’ve got to weigh out what your time is really worth and what else you could be doing if you were able to complete tasks more efficiently.
My husband’s coach guided him in the proper selection of tools and even loaned him a few that he had on hand. It was great to work with someone who knew which tool was needed and when.
When hiring a coach, be sure they have more than one tool in their toolkit. Anyone who begins with methodology, rather than with your objectives, should be immediately taken off your short list. Seek someone who asks what you would like to accomplish and why, before they tell you how they are going to use the internationally recognized XYZ approach to coaching that is more time consuming, more expensive, and considerably less effective than what you truly need.
My husband has scheduled his second appointment with his new coach to tackle yet another project, house painting. Check back soon–I’m sure I will have some great stories to share!
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