How to Get the Most Out of Your Coaching Experience
Are you thinking about working with a practice-building coach? Here are some suggestions to help you get the most out of your experience:
1. Enter coaching with an open mind.
2. Think about the following questions. If you don’t have the answers, don't worry. You and your coach can find them together.
- What do I want to achieve? Think BIG and long-term, e.g. don’t screen out ideas that seem too big and do think about what you want to achieve in your lifetime or in the next ten years. Don’t worry about strategies or measurable goals. You and your coach will work on those.
- Why do I want to achieve what I’ve identified above? In other words, what is the purpose that will motivate you to commit to your goals?
- What has prevented me from achieving these goals? Perhaps you’ve been working steadily toward these goals and now is the time to give them more focused attention. On the other hand, maybe you don’t know how to market yourself or you don’t like what you perceive to be marketing. Maybe you don’t know how to select and delegate work, so you have more time to grow your practice. What are your roadblocks?
3. Be open and honest with your coach. The more honest and trusting your relationship with your coach, the better he or she can help you develop strategies that will work for YOU, strategies that will help you leverage your strengths and navigate your challenges.
4. Commit to trying new ideas. You and your coach can identify ideas that are an appropriate stretch (neither too big nor too small) to help you achieve your goals.
5. Follow through between meetings. At the end of each meeting, you and your coach should discuss your fieldwork until you’re in agreement about what you’re going to complete before your next meeting. Commit and follow through.
6. Come to your next meeting prepared. Be ready to discuss your fieldwork, successes and any roadblocks you’ve encountered or questions that have arisen since your last meeting.
7. Don’t waste your coaching investment on a mediocre experience. Be open, be prepared, follow through, and if at any time you’re not satisfied with your coaching experience, speak up. Your coach might be able to explain the process to your satisfaction or change the direction of the coaching. If you’re doing all of this and not getting the results you want, consider working with a different coach.?
8. Have fun! Enjoy your coaching process and make sure you and your coach build fun into your business development plan. You’ll implement your plan more easily and attract new clients more successfully if you’re enjoying what you’re doing.