Hiring a Coach - Is It Right for You?

Leadership

Oct 15

The idea of having a coach or mentor is nothing new. Royalty has long used an advisor for helping them make decisions; modern officials do the same. Businesses often use a board of directors to help drive the business forward, cultivating growth and success while guiding the CEO and key decision makers. Athletes have coaches to direct them on the field, in the court, and on the ice.

Why? Because coaching works.

Having someone who can take a high-level approach to guide you through decisions to ensure that you’re living your best life-- whether it be in your professional career or for your health and wellness-- can add perspective and accountability when pursuing your goals. So is hiring a coach right for you? Let’s take a look.

Is Your Path Convoluted?

Lots of people know what they want. They envision an end goal and see themselves sitting on that board of directors or operating their own business in a field of their choosing. Yet, while they see the destination, the path might be confusing. What steps should they take to get there? What’s the first stepping stone, and the next and the next? Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

A goal without a plan is just a wish. If you have a goal in mind, but you don’t know how to get there, or you get overwhelmed when thinking about it, a coach can help. A good coach will listen to your goals and help you identify barriers. They can help you craft a course that will show you how to reach your goal, what steps you need to take, and when. In essence, your coach acts as your GPS while you keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.

You’re Ready to Change

If you’re not really ready to make a change, don’t bother hiring a coach. As with anything, you need to be willing to put in the work to make the magic happen. If, however, you find yourself truly ready to do something different, the best time to hire a coach was yesterday. The second best time is right now.

When you’re really ready to make a change, you’ll know it. It’s the same concept as hitting rock bottom; once you’re there, you know it, and you can start the climb back up. If, however, you’re really content with all areas of your life, leave the coaching until a time when you’re ready to transition into a new career, pursue a new goal or improve upon areas that could use improvement.

The Stakes Are High

Consider this: you’ve worked as the CEO of an organization for a long time. You’re nearing retirement age (it’s not only the young who benefit from coaching!) and want to transition into being on a board of directors. You know that there are only a few seats and a lot of competition, so what do you do?

A coach--particularly one with executive and board experience-- can help you prepare for this transition, covering everything from setting up your resume to interview preparation. They might use their industry knowledge and direct you toward certification courses and recruitment services that can help your cause.

When the stakes are high, you want to handle things right the first time. Working with a coach ensures that you’re not missing any steps and presenting yourself in the best light possible when making a significant career change.

Do You Thrive on Extrinsic Motivation?

There are two types of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation comes from inside yourself, while extrinsic motivation comes from external sources. For example, you might be intrinsically motivated to do well at your job because you are passionate about it and enjoy how your work makes you feel. You might be extrinsically motivated to do your job well because doing so means you get a huge bonus at the end of the year.

While intrinsic motivation is a sign of self-awareness, a lot of people require an external boost. Some argue that accountability is a myth, that you’re ultimately only accountable to yourself. While in many ways the theory proves correct, some people operate better if they feel as though they’re accountable to someone else. After all, it’s one thing to disappoint oneself; it’s a whole other thing to disappoint someone else.

If you’re someone who is more productive when you have set actions to report to someone, coaching could be right for you. While at the end of the day, you are really only accountable to yourself, a coach can motivate you by adding structure to the pursual of your goals.

Are You Stuck in a Closed Mindset?

Let’s talk about growth mindsets. A growth mindset is when you believe that you are capable of doing better and becoming successful. A closed mindset speaks to self-esteem issues and barriers that you set up for yourself. This all ties into the psychological aspect of Whole Person Development. Sometimes, before you can reach your goals, you need assistance making that shift from a closed mindset to a growth mindset with the help of a coach.

That’s not to say that having a growth mindset doesn’t necessitate the benefits of a coach, simply that you’ll have a shorter journey ahead of you.

Hiring a coach can help you bring your business or your career to new levels. A coach can help high-performance employees reach their full potential, and a powerful businessperson who struggles with confidence and self-esteem believe in themselves. Long story short, if you have big goals and dreams and want to make them a reality, a coach is right for you.

Ready to get started on your journey? Take a look at Bloom Leadership’s comprehensive coaching packages here.