Sunday, January 25, 2009

Six Myths of Coaching

Coach
The Real Jim Wilson

Would you like to be more successful?
Would you like to have more fun and love in your life?
Would you like to make more money?

As a business and personal development coach I find that many people have preconceived notions about the concept of “Coaching”. If you would like to hire a coach, the following “realities” about coaching will help you in the decision process.

Myth: Find a coach that has a similar personality to yours.
Reality: Coaching is about growth and commitment. Having someone of the same personality may limit your growth and development. Having a coach of a different personality style may offer a fresh perspective and force you to go outside your comfort zone to reach new potential.

Myth: Professional Coaching focuses strictly on your professional life.
Reality: You cannot totally separate your personal life from your work. A coach has to be ready to listen to any and all challenges. Coaching is about personal growth and development that can help people grow professionally.

Myth: You have the questions and your Coach has the answers.
Reality: Not always true. Many of the answers are inside you and a good coach will help you discover them. A coach needs to be a good listener first. He or she needs to correctly identify the areas of improvement and not always give advice or criticism.

Myth: Coaching is only for trouble or poor performing people.
Reality: The best coaching clients are the ones who have potential and are not reaching it or employees who have reached a stumbling block or plateau. It is much better to introduce coaching too early rather than too late.

Myth: You can’t change a person's personality. Therefore, coaching is limited in how far it can help.
Reality: True, you can’t necessarily change someone’s personality. However, coaching can give you a new awareness and new skills to help you change your behavior.


Check out http://www.wilsonmotivational.com/

Let's meet. I'll buy you a cup of coffee and talk about how we can work together in a coaching relationship.