Confession time.
I don't like being coached. Ooh - that sounds like the ad where the guy says 'I don't like beer' and the whole room goes quiet!
This is ironic as I love coaching others.
Personally, I struggle to talk about myself and have the spotlight shone on me when I'm becoming coached. In spite of that, I recognise the importance of coaching and every year work with at least one coach to support my learning and development.
I'm sharing this as I've recently started working 1:1 with a group of leaders who are part of a larger leadership development program. They may have signed up for the workshops but didn't necessarily sign up for 1:1 coaching. This means that some resistance can occur upfront which limits coaching effectiveness.
My role is to put these people at ease, and discover what will work the best for each of them to be able to tap into their brilliance.
Seth Godin describes the importance of coaching in a recent blog.
Titled 'A coaching paradox', Godin says "at the top tier of just about any sort of endeavour, you’ll find that the performers have coaches.
Pianists, orators and athletes all have coaches. In fact, it would be weird if we heard of someone on stage or on the field who didn’t have one. And yet, in the world of business, they’re seen as the exception. It turns out that the people with the potential to benefit the most from a coach are often the most hesitant precisely because of what coaching involves.
Talking about our challenges. Setting goals. Acknowledging that we can get better. Eagerly seeking responsibility…"
That's the stuff I struggle with and I know some of my clients do too - and yet it is what makes me and my clients bring out our best.
If you want to explore this idea, and how it can help you, book a 20-minute discovery call with me.