Finding time to think

We went away at the weekend, it wasn’t particularly far and wasn’t for long, only a day and half, but the change of focus allowed us to raise our heads up above the messy day-to-day.??We had the chance for the 'driving chat', you know the one where there is only a road in front of you, so you finally get round to talking about all the things you’ve been thinking about.??We looked at new things and different things and familiar things in a different way and resolved some problems we’d been musing over and made some decisions for the future.??None of it, on this occasion, was life changing but that didn’t mean it wasn’t important.??

It's not always possible to get away though, so how do we build the space for reflection, contemplation, and exploration into our everyday lives???For some it’s exercise, getting out of your thoughts and into your body can give your subconscious mind room to manoeuvre; I’ve had some of my biggest aha moments when running or hiking.??For others the calm provided by prayer, meditation, yoga, and tai chi provides the headspace to hear your thoughts and connect with your intuition. Or maybe doing a left-brain activity if you’re right brain dominant or vice versa will give you a needed tilt in perspective.?

In a professional context coaching can provide the same space but with additional focus.??A coach will support you as you work to resolve an issue, develop an opportunity, strategize, transition to a new role or life phase or focus on your own development.??A coach that has invested in their own professional growth will bring a combination of experience and expertise to assist you as you delve into your own experience to identify what your next steps could or should be and how to take them.?

A coach shouldn’t have the answers, but they do have the questions and it’s the questions that will help you find the perspectives to build on your own knowledge and expertise.

If you’re looking for the answers then you probably want a mentor, someone who is an expert in your field who can offer specific advice and guidance based on their experience.??Coaches and mentors both have important roles to play but they’re not the same.

I take great pleasure in being a coach, it provides me with personal and professional satisfaction and gives meaning to my professional life.??I work with an amazing cohort of leaders from Australia to Zurich and many places in between and learn something from them each time we talk.??

If you’re interested in finding out more about coaching, I’d love to have a chat. You can find out how to contact me here https://otusadvisory.com/contact-us

#coaching #leadership #headspace #support #perspective #otusadvisory