The career differentiator, Coaching!

Over the years I have had the unique privilege of mentoring several people from many parts of the world.

It is a two-way enriching experience. While people want to learn lessons on how to advance in their careers, I learn from their journeys and enhance mine. It is awesome to give back in this way, just as I continue to be mentored by others.

Around 2012, I learnt of a different secret sauce. Probably the most important ingredient in realising one's true potential. It is about more than career success. It is about fully self-actualising.

It was the year I met Maggie Lawrie

Ha! I laugh at the memory! I was the absolutely most cynical person to have a coach assigned for professional development. My boss at the time thought that having a coach was the best thing for his leadership team. I went along with the boss's wishes rather reluctantly. But let's face it, when the boss says something is good for your next steps and you have no real logical reason to disagree beyond your aversion to trying something new, you run with it, right? Well, I went along. A few sessions and this would be over and done with, I thought.

That is how my experience with coaching started. Coaching has enhanced my journey far beyond my career. It has enhanced my whole life and while I have met a number of coaches in that time, I have consistently worked with Maggie for what is now over a decade.

In our careers we can so easily focus mainly on how to get the next promotion and next opportunity, which is great, but is that enough? And does that alone truly maximise what you can offer your company and the world at large? That is the purpose of coaching - to bring out the very best of your potential.

I have had a couple of conversations this week where I have been asked a familiar question, 'how does a trained engineer write a book about leading change?' Simple, through coaching I learnt and nurtured other skills and passions beyond the obvious. It is really that simple. I am passionate about change, particularly change to create The Bold New Normal for Africa, but I needed the space to reflect on this, put voice to it and marry it with all the other things I am capable of doing. This realisation has enhanced my career far beyond what I had imagined.

So, while I say thank you to Maggie today for an awesome journey, I encourage you to consider the role of coaching in your journey. Drop me a message if you have any questions if you are considering coaching and I will do my best to share my thoughts.

Go create your Bold New Normal, the very best of what you have to offer and achieve!