Coaching isn’t just about the hour you spend with your coach, discussing challenges, exploring solutions, and setting goals. It’s about what happens between those sessions, in the quiet moments of reflection, in the unexpected insights that emerge as you go about your day, in the subtle shifts in perspective that can transform your approach to leadership and life.
When I challenge my clients, question their decisions, or offer a new perspective, the real magic often happens later. It might be on the commute home, during a morning run, or in the middle of the night when a sudden realization jolts them awake. These “aha!” moments, these flashes of insight, are where the true transformation begins.
The Power of Openness and Curiosity
One of the keys to unlocking these insights is cultivating an attitude of openness and curiosity. When your coach presents a challenging question or offers feedback that might feel uncomfortable, resist the urge to dismiss it or become defensive. Instead, approach it with curiosity. Ask yourself:
- “What is this feedback trying to tell me?”
- “What can I learn from this challenge?”
- “What new perspectives might be available to me?”
One of my clients has a wonderful approach to this. They take detailed notes during our sessions, and sometimes, when faced with a particularly challenging question or observation, they’ll simply say, “I don’t know what to do with this question/comment right now, but let’s see what comes up.” This willingness to sit with the discomfort, to remain open and curious, often leads to profound breakthroughs and insights.
Beyond the Quick Fix
Coaching is not a magic pill. It’s not a quick fix that will instantly solve all your problems or magically transform your leadership overnight. It’s a process, a journey of self-discovery and growth that requires time, effort, and a willingness to engage with the uncomfortable.
But coaching has the power to:
- Challenge your assumptions: Help you see things from a new perspective and question the beliefs that might be holding you back.
- Expand your awareness: Increase your awareness and your understanding of your impact on others.
- Unlock your potential: Empower you to tap into your strengths, overcome your challenges, and achieve your goals.
- Create lasting change: Support you in making sustainable changes that will benefit your leadership, your career, and your overall well-being.
The Invitation
So, if you’re looking for a quick fix, coaching might not be for you. But if you’re ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery, to challenge yourself, and to create lasting transformation in your leadership and your life, then coaching might be the perfect catalyst.
