Who needs coaching? (2)

An idea is never given to you without you being given the power to make it reality. You must, nevertheless, suffer for it” (Richard Bach).

I recently watched a television programme, which involved a relationship coach assisting young men and women to meet and choose someone that they would be happy to have a mutually beneficial relationship with. In the process, a lot of emphasis is placed on the client being more aware of his or her natural instincts, disposition, likes, dislikes, desires, tastes, beliefs, etc., as regarding various types and levels of relationships with the opposite sex.

A lot of work is carried out in this respect with a designated ‘dating coach’ whose major assignment is to help elevate the self awareness of the client in such a way that he or she is first most comfortable with whom he or she is. This is basically about knowing yourself and accepting who you are. The idea is that self awareness (personal strength, weaknesses, habits, etc) and self acceptance in a positive way provides new perspective, which generally reduces the possibility of being over critical of self and others.

What I enjoyed most about the programme was the gentle and systematic manner in which the coach made the client more aware of natural abilities, habits and behaviours that could potentially attract or turn off a promising date and sabotage a good relationship. Not only that, practical and realistic ways to deal with the perceived weaknesses, as well as enhance the positive points or areas of strength were developed by both the coach and client. As a result, the client was more confident and energised to move forward. 

It is most amazing that, irrespective of the environment, situation, circumstance and setting, the same principles of coaching remain constant. What is most constant about coaching is its facilitation of outcomes through inspiration. In other words, the end result of coaching is always to achieve a desired outcome. This is achieved while having someone that you can trust and bounce ideas with alongside you as a coach and partner in achieving your goals.

Truly, from time to time we all need someone to help us along the way, using their natural, acquired or special skills to help us move forward or advance to another level. That is actually the baseline idea of coaching. It is that in life, each of us needs someone that would help us in some ways, without being negatively critical, or judgmental of our talents, abilities, desires, fears and aspirations, but rather assist us to nurture our best potentials to yield positive results for self and others.

A good coach will not judge the client when he or she fails, but would rather encourage him or her, especially by pointing out the potentials that have been spotted and showing how these can be fully realised and unleashed. The coach in this regard would be helping to position the client to take decisions more confidently and to make certain crucial moves more assuredly. 

Imagine the impact in your life, if you had a skilled individual in your life that took such an interest in you that you felt as confident and comfortable as you could ever be regarding the successful achievement of your goals. This is exactly what coaching in any form offers to the client. Importantly, as a professional, collaborative and outcomes-driven method of learning, coaching will always support you to achieve specific goals and perform at a more effective level, essentially through increased self-awareness and energy (passion, drive and enthusiasm).

Sometimes coaching is useful as a mirror of our lifestyles and gauge of our actions, activities and aspirations. For instance, younger people are usually exuberant, largely fearless and daring, almost to the point of being reckless. They often get carried away by the strength and agility of youth, which can make them think that they are invincible. Older and more mature people on the other hand can be so cautious and defensive on account of the realisation of their limitations that they fail to be proactive and remain conservative when and where decisive action is needed.

The question then is; which group out of the young and the old would need coaching more? Obviously, both groups need coaching. Each group would need the proper balance that is required to operate and perform most appropriately within their strengths and opportunities. Coaching in this regard would practically offer the benefit of holding up the mirror and the gauge, so that the right perspectives can be developed and applied in excellent decision-making and taking action. You can read more about the transformational power of coaching at www.ceedcoaching.com.

Emmanuel Imevbere