Why use a coach?

If we want to improve ourselves or a situation, or if something is simply not working for us, what do we do?  We identify what we actually want and take stock of where we are now, which enables us to understand the gap.  We then work out what we need to do to achieve this change, create a plan and take action.  Bingo, problem solved!  Or is it?

Sometimes we can work it out on our own, or with a bit of help from family, friends, a boss or a mentor.  Sometimes we can’t and that’s where a coach comes in.

Research shows that nearly 50% of the time we operate on “auto-pilot” and are not consciously aware of what we do. 

  • What we do is driven by how we feel.  
  • How we feel comes from what we think.  
  • What we think comes from our experiences and beliefs – a lot of which are sub-conscious.  

Our beliefs and habitual ways of thinking and behaving have developed over many years and are deeply ingrained, so it can be difficult for us to recognise them and make changes on our own.

Working with a coach can enable you to achieve the changes you desire.

The role of the coach

The coach is not there to tell you what to do or fix the problem for you – it’s your life, your career and you’ll want to find your own solutions. 

What you will want, is someone who can navigate your through the maze of thoughts and questions you have in your mind, help you make sense of them and enable your to reach the solution.  Someone to guide you skilfully through the change process, keep you on track and get you to the finish line. 

So, what does a coach do and how does the coaching process actually work?  The coach plays many different roles and will:

  • Create the environment for you to think and talk freely
  • Clarify where you are now and where you want to get to
  • Ask the right questions to expand your awareness, so you gain new insights
  • Play devil’s advocate to challenge your thinking, when required
  • Help you identify obstacles and ways to overcome them
  • Help you recognise patterns of behaviour that aren’t working for you
  • Enable you to identify alternative, more helpful, ways to think, feel and act
  • Enable you to identify options and decide which option is best for you
  • Collaborate with you to create a transformation action plan
  • Support you as you put the plan into action, building your confidence
  • Hold you accountable for taking the actions you decided upon
  • Boost your self-belief when you hit setbacks
  • Review results with you and identify where adaptations are needed
  • Support you as you create more effective habits for success
  • Celebrate your achievements