Why Invest In Coaching Part 2

Jerome Green, Executive Coach, Jeromegreencoaching.com

In part one of "Why Invest in Coaching," I shared my experience of losing my golf swing in Cabo and regaining it with the help of my swing coach in L.A. This journey restored my swing and brought about fundamental changes for a more consistent and repeatable swing.

When I first touched a golf club in 1992, I was hooked. Golf mirrored my life processes, teaching me invaluable lessons about myself. Through the years, I learned to shoot P.A.R. (Personal Achievement Record) rather than focusing solely on my scorecard. This approach helped reduce tension and frustration, allowing me to focus on one or two aspects at a time, progressively increasing my goals.

Why Does Great Coaching Work?

Great coaching begins with finding a coach you can connect with and who understands your needs and goals. My swing coach, Jimmy, has been my go-to for over twenty years. Despite dabbling with others, I always returned to him. Jimmy's strength lies in his ability to delve deep, identify flaws, and make incremental changes that improve my swing. He customizes lessons based on individual skills rather than adopting an overly technical approach.

Being Willing to Fail

Making a swing change requires a willingness to be uncomfortable and fail. Tiger Woods, often criticized for tinkering too much, exemplified this. His unique ability to reflect and adjust his swing teaches leaders the value of seeking excellence through failure. Leaders, like golfers, must be prepared to reflect, change, and stay the course to drive their goals.

I am a tinkerer by nature, and I can honestly say I didn't have a way to describe it until I read the first chapter of "The Performance Paradox" by Eduardo Brice?o. The primary reason that I love golf is because of how much I have learned over the thirty years of playing the game. As Brice?o discusses in the chapter, if you focus on only performance or only on learning, you will have less success than if you have a healthy mix of both.

Coaching provides both skill development and the exploration and tinkering process when done at a mastery level. I have a golf buddy who calls me a tinkerer, and I fully embrace it. Lately, my tinkering has yielded great performances in my skins and match-play games.

A Swing I Can Count On

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Golf, like leadership, is not a game of perfection. It's about dealing with bad swings, mistakes, and unexpected breaks while maintaining a "next shot" mindset. This resilience is crucial in both golf and business. Dawn Staley, coach of the University of South Carolina Women's Basketball Team, emphasizes practicing for tricky situations, a mindset leaders can adopt for challenging meetings or projects.

In my most recent session with my swing coach, he introduced another adjustment to my swing. At first, I was resistant and not too motivated to adjust because I had just come off a week of excellent results in my matches. I feared that the adjustment would set me back.

I usually don't have this fear, but it took me about thirty minutes to fully embrace the new swing. I stayed on the range until our coaching session ended. I finally started seeing the results and was encouraged to stick with the latest adjustment.

One thing I did was to slow my swing down and let my body start feeling the swing instead of my brain casting doubt on the change. My swing is better this week than last week. The funny thing about golf is that it is one of the most elusive movements to maintain; your swing will break down, but one thing that I now have is a go-to awareness that I can use to get back on track.

Reflections on My Swing Journey

This past month has been incredibly fulfilling for my swing journey. The progress has been significant, from a total collapse in Cabo to marked improvement in ball striking. Observations from my golf group and positive feedback from my coach affirm that this is the best my swing has ever been. This journey is ongoing, and I embrace staying engaged in the process.

Conclusion

Investing in coaching unlocks your potential, whether improving your golf swing, leadership skills, or any other aspect of your life. A great coach can make all the difference. Remember, as Yoda said, "Do or do not. There is no try." Stay engaged, embrace challenges, and strive for personal and professional growth.

Action Steps for Investing in Coaching

Identify Your Areas of Growth

Reflect on your personal and professional life to pinpoint areas where you feel stuck or want to improve. This could be related to your career, fitness, personal life, or hobbies like golf.

Find the Right Coach

Look for a coach who understands your goals and learning style. Through recommendations, research, or trial sessions. Ensure the coach's approach aligns with your needs and personality.

Commit Financially and Time-wise

Allocate a percentage of your income (like 10-15% as you do) for coaching and development. Set aside regular time for coaching sessions and practice.

Set Clear Goals and Expectations

Define what you want to achieve with your coach. Set realistic goals and regularly review them with your coach to track progress and adjust as needed.

Embrace the Process of Learning and Failing

Understand that improvement involves setbacks. Be willing to fail and learn from those experiences as you do with your golf swing and leadership development.

Practice Active Relaxation

When faced with challenges, shift from trying too hard to active relaxation. Focus on doing rather than just trying, a concept that has helped you in golf and can be applied broadly.

Utilize the P.A.R. Method

Implement the Personal Achievement Record (P.A.R.) method by setting small, incremental goals. Focus on achieving these personal milestones rather than getting overwhelmed by the results.

Reflect and Adjust

Reflect regularly on your progress and your coach's feedback. Be prepared to adjust your approach based on these reflections.

Leverage Models like the Development Pipeline

Apply frameworks like the Development Pipeline to structure your growth. Focus on developing insight, awareness, motivation, capabilities, real-world practice, and accountability.

Stay Engaged in Your Journey

Continuously engage in your personal development journey. Keep setting new goals and embrace the process of lifelong learning.

Applying These Steps

• Professional Life: Seek a leadership coach to improve your management skills, set clear career goals, and attend regular coaching sessions.
• Personal Life: Hire a life coach to help with personal challenges, set individual achievement goals, and practice active relaxation techniques.
• Hobbies: Work with a coach in your hobby area, like a golf coach, to improve your skills, set incremental goals using the P.A.R. method, and reflect on your progress regularly.
• Fitness: Engage a fitness coach to create a customized workout plan, commit financially and time-wise, and adjust your routine based on ongoing feedback and results.

By taking these steps, individuals can unlock their potential, overcome obstacles, and achieve personal and professional growth, just as you have experienced through your journey with coaching.