on embracing better
What do the best athletes, actresses, executives, business owners, and musicians all have in common? Talent, drive, commitment, and a coach.
In many fields, (sports or acting as two examples) coaching is seen as necessary to success or an essential element of becoming great. However, in other places (hello, mid-level executive ranks in Corporate America) often coaching is seen as "a nice to have", or even as remedial. This mindset is holding us back, limiting the potential of our companies, and causing the greatest workplace exit we've seen in our lifetime.
I'm not saying Lebron James is great because he has a coach, (he's got a lot of other things going for him) but imagine if he practiced all of those hours with no one telling him to lower his elbow or reviewing tape with him and working with him on dropping his shoulder when he rolls to the left? He would be practicing, but potentially building the wrong habits, with suboptimal form. Hello, tenured-but-very-poor-managers that are common in every workplace today. You may have 15 years of leadership experience, but no one has told you that you have spinach in your teeth, and it's been there for the last 15 years.
In Corporate America we're missing a huge opportunity to make sure those reps (zoom meeting #4,445) are done correctly and that the skills leaders are building, using, and cementing are the right ones. When I was one of those Mid-level Corporate Executives I strove to make the time to really coach my leaders; to help them to understand that growth is a good thing. That being Senior Leaders didn't mean they wouldn't make mistakes or stumble and have bad days. These reps would get them ready for the big leagues. These tweaks could help them to excel, not just skate by.
People invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in an MBA education, but when it comes to a coach or a leadership development program it's hard to fathom even a $5k price tag. Why is this, when it's been proven time and time again that the 'soft skills' actually matter more than we think? The skills that can be learned through coaching are the qualities that are holding many back from making Partner, or Vice President, or taking that leap to starting their own company. These changes can net clients millions of dollars in return; so that ROI feels really good. For coaching to have an impact people have to be willing to do the work, the hard work.
Effective coaching shines a light onto what's really holding you back; possibly revealing why people are self-sabotaging, or not willing to put themselves out there in a meaningful way. If done well, coaching addresses fears and limiting beliefs; which can be hard, scary and intimidating. An MBA can allow you to go deep into a P&L or into the textbook approach to leadership, which for some people is an easier place to go. But, an MBA can't uncover the reason you're not living your values, satisfied with your success, or making Partner at your firm.
Have you ever thought about what your life could be like if you could only [fill in the blank] or how you could find more meaning in your role/career? Or, have you ever wanted to get help from someone who wouldn't judge you for not knowing how to lead, coach, or develop a compelling strategy? Or, figure out what's holding you back from making the leap into what you really want to be doing? Find a coach and see what so many others see. Also, ask around and find out how many people have coaches behind them, helping them to stand out from the crowd. I challenge you to make 2022 the year you try it. Invest in yourself, your happiness, your future, your success.
I know when I took the leap and invested in coaching for myself it changed my life. I quit my job, rid my life of anything that didn't bring me joy and didn't help me to truly live my values. Even though I'm a bold person, I wouldn't have had the confidence to walk toward my future without the help of a coach challenging me to change my beliefs about myself and my life. Without my coach I would have stayed fearful of what I was walking away from instead of making the switch to seeing the joy and the potential in what I was walking toward.
Trust me. You're worth the investment. Your life, career, business, employees, and partners are worth it, and they deserve the better you. reach out if we can help you in any way.
