Do you have a situation that you are struggling with right now? Do you know what you want to do, but you just can’t figure out how to move forward? This happened to me about 5 years ago. What I was trying just wasn’t working and I was getting frustrated. I had been thinking about seeking out an executive coach at that time, but hadn’t found one that I really felt was the right one for me. I attended a session at work that talked about improving your personal brand and the instructor was a coach. I really connected with her style, her story and in the end I trusted my gut. I had a conversation with her about what I was facing and we started working together shortly after that phone call.
I had not worked with a coach before so I wasn’t sure how it would work. She asked me questions and we had a good conversation about where I was struggling. She helped me look at things with a different perspective. I had a story in my head about what was happening and reframing it to look at it differently helped me see how to start moving forward. I left the session with so much energy to work on the actions we discussed over the next two weeks. I knew I had a ways to go to work through the entire situation, but I was taking steps to address it. I am a strong believer that “When the student is ready, the teacher will come.” I was at the right point to move forward and she showed up to help me get there.
Those conversations helped me see myself differently which had a direct impact on how others started to see me. My goal was to have her help me with that one situation, but through coaching I was able to figure out what I really wanted to do with my life. That experience helped me see that working with people and helping them to succeed was what I wanted to do with the next phase of my career. I think it was something I knew deep down, but I wasn’t sure it was possible. She helped me see that it was possible and I began working on the plan to get there.
Those 6 months of coaching and the time since then has changed so much about me. I was able to work through that situation I had successfully and move into a new career. I feel like I am a much different person now and I know that I owe that to coaching. I am lucky enough to get to help others move forward on their own paths now. It is very rewarding to see them doing great things in their lives and in many cases exceeding their own expectations.
My message to you by sharing my story is to “move forward.” Don’t stay stuck in a situation that is frustrating, stressful and doesn’t seem like it will change anytime soon. You have the power to change it. You get to make the decision of how you want to go forward and take the actions to make it happen.
If you would like to learn more about coaching, please feel free to read my latest newsletter! It includes more detail about the coaching process, how to choose your own coach and the benefits of coaching. Just click on this link to download the Creating Leadership Connections Newsletter – June Issue.