Coaching Demystified

There's a lot of mystery around coaching, when there needn't be. Here's an inside view that may help you better understand the benefits of working with an executive coach.

I had a conversation the other day with a potential client who reached out to me about coaching. On all accounts, she seems to be a solid leader. However, we both agreed that there were several areas where even a slight improvement could make a massive difference in how she’s being perceived in the organization and what this could mean to her career.

If you’ve been following my work, you know that I firmly believe that?management is all about perception. You might think you’re the greatest leader in the world, but if others disagree, none of that matters.

After a brief conversation, she’s decided to hire me as her coach.

Here’s why I accepted this assignment.

• She’s a good manager who believes she can be a?great?leader. From my perspective, this means that she is willing to do the work required to get to where she wants to go.
• She’s open to feedback. She shared with me a few tough conversations she’s had with her boss and is willing to make the necessary changes to change his perception of her.
• This individual is willing to invest in herself. Like most people these days, she has little time to devote to anything that is not directly related to achieving the objectives she and her boss have agreed to. Our work together is important enough for her to find the time needed to invest in herself.
• She’s willing to be challenged. She knows that I’ll probably push her out of her comfort zone. She’s a bit nervous about this but also excited. So am I. She’s got so much untapped potential. I can’t wait to see her soar.

Here are some questions to ask yourself if you’re in the market for a coach.

• Am I willing to invest?in myself? Coaching takes time, and hiring a?good?coach isn’t a minor investment. Are you ready to give up some things now to have a better future?
• Am I ready to?hear the truth? It’s hard for some people to hear how others are perceiving them. I totally get that. But isn’t it best to know so you can control your own narrative?
• Is there anyone in the organization that I can?trust to be my confidant? You’ve heard that saying, “It’s lonely at the top.” This saying is true. I was in the executive suite for many years, and I can personally attest that trusted sounding boards are in?very?short supply.
• How?satisfied?am I with how my?career?is going? Could I benefit from a boost? If an opportunity were to present itself tomorrow, would I be the obvious choice for this promotion?
• If not now, when??This question is the most critical question to ask yourself. Many people say they’ll get to something and never do. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told, “I’ve been thinking about hiring a coach for “X” number of years.” If you’re ready for a transformative experience, now’s the time to take that leap of faith.

?Matuson Consulting, 2021.

Got a question about coaching? Email me at [email protected] and put coaching in the subject line.