The hardest coaching session I've ever had.

A few years ago, I worked with a new coaching client. Let’s call her Keri.?

This is how our first coaching session started:

“What would you like to discuss today?” I asked.

“Uhm, I’m not sure.” Keri responded.

“Ok, what is top of mind for you right now?” I changed direction.

“I’m not sure.” said Keri.

“Ok, what would you like to get out of this coaching package in the next few weeks?”

“Uhm, I don’t know.” Keri answered. With a shoulder shrug.

After the third “I don’t know”, I knew we were in trouble.

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For the next 55 minutes, I pulled rabbits out of hats, made coins disappear and sawed my assistant in half.

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Using all the tricks I knew to get Keri to engage in the coaching. ??

Keri is a Director working for a large company in Europe. The past 9 months had been challenging for her.?

She and her manager did not see eye to eye. To say it politely.

Her biggest project was months behind schedule.?

Her workload was unsurmountable.?

And she was just passed over for a promotion. A dream job she’s had her eye on for a few years.

Things were not better in her personal life.?

She felt stuck after being overlooked for that new job. And frustrated because she didn’t know how to change the situation.

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I’ve never in 8 years of coaching seen a client so low.

Fast-forward two months. We’re having our 5th coaching session. Keri is animated, excited and talking the whole time. I struggle to find a gap to speak or ask a question. ??

In the past few weeks, Keri expanded her internal network. She was talking to the SVP of another department about a new position. She had several difficult but necessary conversations with her manager.

And now she was telling me about a new goal she has: She wants to climb Kilimanjaro and ask the company to sponsor her. ??

From frustrated and defeated. To energetic, happy and progressing. After only 5 x 1 hour coaching sessions. That’s the equivalent of half a working day spent.

Only half a day. From the start of your morning until lunch time. That's what it takes.

It’s shocking really: The change I see in people after only a few hours of coaching.

Coaching is powerful. It simply works. Because of the structure and science of coaching. Expert coaching gets results.

Mentors are good but coaching is “next level”.?

Do you have a coach? If not, get one, my friend.

Jeanette ??

ps. actually, I'm not a big fan of mentors. In my experience, this isn't the most effective way to advance your career. But I'll tell you about that another time.

#sales #career #success #coaching #leadership