Do I need a coach?
We have started the year with a flurry of activity. In 2020 the world paused and it seems that in 2021 everyone has hit the ground running, wanting to make up for the lost time of last year.
One of the key questions I am frequently asked is: ‘Do I need a coach?’ Both organisations and individuals are increasingly considering coaching as they begin to recognise that in order to be successful, they likely need additional support.
When considering whether you need a coach, it’s important to ensure you understand what a coach does and does not do.
Firstly, let’s start with some basic definitions, or principles, of coaching, and with understanding the difference between coaching and mentoring.
What is a coach?
Coaches do not have to be experts in the fields in which they coach. Instead, their expertise is based on their ability to ask powerful and challenging questions in order to help the coachee identify alternatives and options and encourage them to see different points of view. Coaches also hold coachees accountable for taking action. Coaches do not give advice or recommendations; instead they are curious and supportive, and encourage coachees to find their own solutions.
What is a mentor?
A mentor, on the other hand, is a trusted advisor who has knowledge and expertise in the area in which they are mentoring. Their role is to share their experience and offer feedback and advice based on their own personal experiences. Mentors share their technical, business and sometimes personal experience for the mentee to learn from. As a leader in your organisation, you are most likely an expert in your field and a natural mentor to those in your team.
What is a coach and how can a coach support you?
A good coach will:
- challenge you to see a different point of view, creating greater awareness
- be a confidential sounding board and support
- assist you to hold yourself to account
- be objective
- help you to create and execute your plans.
A coach is not:
- a silver bullet – they cannot fix all your problems
- a counsellor, psychologist or health professional
- a mentor or manager who will tell you what to do.
Additionally, there are many different types of coaches, including life, executive, career, leadership and sports coaches. All coaches support organisations and individuals to maximise performance in their area of expertise. All the best leaders have coaches. Olympians, artists, executives, actors and athletes rely on coaches to help them see what they can’t see themselves, to hold them to account and to believe in them when they’re finding it hard to believe in themselves. Like a sport or acting coach, an executive coach sees the talent and skill in the person they are coaching and helps them to accelerate their performance and impact.
At Peeplcoach our expertise is in the area of career, leadership and executive coaching. If you would like to find out whether you are ready for a coach, or if you would like to find out more about how coaching can help you or your organisation, please visit our website for resources and our FREE program or contact us on service@peeplcoach.com.
