Having a coach is a significant investment.
Whether you invested or your organization invested on your behalf, you want to make sure you make the most out of your time and money.
A coach can help you achieve your goals, help you get to the next level in your career, navigate challenging periods of transition; what you want to get from coaching will be unique based on your situation. The possibilities are endless.
No matter what the area of focus is in coaching, it's crucial that you, as the coachee, know how to make the most out of your coaching experience.
When a coachee comes to a coaching call and says they have nothing to work on, nothing to discuss, I suggest cancelling the session. If you have nothing to discuss, I have nothing to coach.
This is a risky thing to do, but in the long run, it always works out better. I like to think of coaching as "strategic time out to work on what matters most to you right now."
Without focus, intention, and meaning, coaching can just become a very "Nice" conversation, and you don't have time for that.
Here are some of my top tips about how to get the most out of your coaching session:
- Identify your most pressing issue. You want to come to the call with a topic to discuss. Reflect in advance by asking yourself, with everything I've got going on right now, where am I stuck? What's the most important topic we should discuss today? Where do I need clarity? Choosing one issue at a time is an essential skill to master; learning to discern important from less important is crucial when everything feels important.
- Keep a coaching journal. I highly recommend keeping track of what we discuss from session to session. This will help you self-reflect but will take your discussion to deeper levels. Review your notes before your session, recap what's changed since we last spoke, and what needs to focus our time on the next session.
- Be open. You must be able to be open and honest with your coach. Connection and trust are at the heart of this relationship. Your coach should ask you deep, thoughtful questions that help you get to the root of your issue, other possibilities, and what needs to happen next. When you provide honest, transparent answers, YOU will have meaningful results. If your coach has spent time peeling back the layers to get to what is "real" because you are holding back, this can make the process longer and more challenging. It's okay to be uncomfortable at times; that's where life changes.
- Prepare to be challenged. Your coach should make you go to places you don't want to go. This will require you to look inward, think critically about yourself the role you are playing, and sometimes face some hard truths. Remember, this is done in service to you, to challenge you, to help you grow, and to hold you accountable to the change you said you wanted.
- Expect change. What got you where you are won't get you where you are going. Coaching is about change, mindsets, behaviours, results. Coaching is not about maintaining the status quo. It will take time and effort, but the payoff is enormous. Small changes can make a big difference. Your coach will be there with you to support you through this every step of the way.
The bottom line, your coach wants to see you win. We are in your corner, rooting for you, challenging you, and holding you accountable. We keep things confidential, create a safe environment for you to show up fully and vulnerable, listen intently without judgment, ask meaningful and honest questions, ensure you do what you say you are going to do,
Your job is to show up, ready to do the work.
Would you like to experience a coaching demo with me?
Book a call with me today to discuss your goals.
