The Workplace Coach

It’s a trick question because almost everyone will benefit from coaching and often the people who benefit the most are the ones who don’t really need it.  You see most people think of coaching as a remedial process, as something that is required to ‘fix’ a problem or address a deficiency.  And while coaching can do both of these things and much more, it’s usually the high performer, the self-starter, the already successful professional who stands to get the most out of coaching.

How can this be true?  

Have you ever been so invested in a project or piece of work that you develop tunnel vision?  You know, a bit like a racehorse with the blinkers on so they don’t get distracted as they are running down the straight.  You are completely focussed on the finish line, eyes on the prize, and you are giving it all you’ve got.  Except your attention is so narrow that you don’t even see your competition gaining ground on you from the outside, and it’s not until they sweep past you just before the finish line that you realise that they are there.  A coach will help you remove those blinkers so that you can see what else is happening and make different decisions accordingly.

Or perhaps you have been in your current role for a while, and even though you were the up and coming super star goal kicker when you first took up the role, maybe the shine is wearing off and it’s been a while since you had a decent win.  The attention you are getting from your Executive these days is not the same as the back slapping high fives you used to get.  You may have seen those little rounded mirrors on the side mirrors of your car?  You know what they are for?  Those mirrors show what’s in your blind spot.  They offer a different perspective. That’s what a coach will do for you, help you see what’s in your blind spot.

Here are three things that an experienced coach will bring to the table that will make all the difference to you:

• They are not you.

The coach has a lifetime of different and unique experiences than you.  They see the world through a different lens, they will have a whole new perspective on whatever is challenging you or keeping you awake at night.  They have successfully helped other clients deal with similar situations.

• They are not emotionally attached to the outcome.

The coach is only invested in your growth, development and success.  They are there to help you arrive at the best possible outcome for you. Their only goal is to help you clear away the obstacles, get clarity on the next steps and help you overcome whatever is getting in the way of your own success.   

• They will tell you what you need to hear rather than what you want to hear. 

Any successful performance driven professional or any leader in an organisation will often be surrounded by sycophants. Those ‘yes’ men and women who will tell you what you want to hear and stroke your ego at any opportunity.  A no-nonsense coach is not going to do that, they will instead serve you powerfully and authentically to help you achieve the BEST outcome. 

Engaging a coach is an investment in yourself. 

If working with a coach meant that you achieved your goal in three months instead of twelve, what would that be worth to you? 

If working with a coach helped you get that next promotion in six months instead of six years, what would that be worth to you?

If working with a coach helped you find a better work life balance and to manage those stress levels that are keeping you awake at night or could be a heart attack just waiting to happen, what would that be worth to you?

If working with a coach helped you build a stronger relationship with your partner, colleague or client, what would that be worth to you?  

The bottom line is that finding a coach that you vibe with, and working with them over a period of time, will almost certainly improve your life in many different ways. 

So now I will ask again, who doesn’t need a coach?

Email us at info@theworkplacecoach.com.au to find out about our coaching packages.

The Workplace Coach