Hi! Thanks for visiting this new site – hopefully you’ve found some information that’s helped you decide if coaching is for you. If you’re still undecided, I’ve made a list of five questions you might want to ask yourself to get you started.
They’re pretty big ones and might feel a bit awkward/silly/like you’re being asked to hug a tree, but whenever we want to change something we have to start somewhere, right? Perhaps grab a pen and paper and jot down some thoughts. You never know what might leap out….
- “What do I want to change in my life?” Because coaching considers you as a whole person, in the context of a full (sometimes uncomfortably full) life, this question isn’t as easy as it sounds. You may start by thinking you’d like more recognition at work, but if you dig a bit deeper it might be about something else – do you seek approval to feel good? Do you just feel you deserve more respect? Do you think you’re deserving of a promotion that hasn’t been delivered? Do you just wonder if you’re in the right job?! Sound familiar? If it does coaching might be a good way to get some clarity on where to start.
- “What do I actually want? I don’t know any more!” You are not alone – ask the average adult what they really, truly want and they will certainly look at you blankly for a moment or even perhaps like you’ve gone quite mad. We’re shy of addressing this big question because it has the potential to unravel a lot of ideas about who we are or who we want to be. If you need some help clarifying what would make you feel genuinely fulfilled, perhaps you should talk to a coach!
- “I’ve tried to make changes before, but they don’t stick. How do I make them permanent?” This happens to us all, and it’s a really good reason to use the “whole person” perspective – giving up smoking in the middle of redundancies at work? Trying to get healthy whilst your caregiving schedule is punishing? It’s worth looking at every goal holistically to give you the best chance of success, and to make plans that fit into your real, normal life.
- “What if I don’t have it in me to make big changes?” Think of every hard day you’ve had – you got through them all. And making positive differences in your life, whether that is in your job, your own confidence, your work-life balance or your home, is something you’ve already got the tools to do. You just need someone to help you arrange the toolbox logically and pass you nuts and bolts!
- And finally, this is a really important one: “Do I want coaching or do I want therapy?” Coaching and therapy are very different disciplines. Coaching offers support and guidance with specific personal goals– we don’t solve problems for you, we help you gather your resources to do that yourself. Therapy addresses emotional and psychological distress and deals with mental well-being. Of course the two can work brilliantly in parallel with each other, but if therapy is needed then coaching is best discussed first with a qualified talking therapy professional.
If those questions have got you thinking about coaching, why not get in touch? We can have a chat and see if it’s for you.