Tip of the month, Inside Track, December 2010
6 steps to get the most out of coaching
Just by having a coach and chatting on a regular basis, you will get plenty of value – you don’t have to work hard at it. This is because the synergy that occurs as a result of the coach – client relationship is what makes the biggest difference to any well-motivated client.
If you do want to maximize the value of the coaching relationship, introduce these 6 steps to your next session:
- Focus on how you feel and want to feel, not just on what you want to produce.
Don’t forget the intangibles, such as feeling happier, more peaceful and more inspired. - Talk about what matters most to you.
You may talk about anything you want. This includes your goals, your life, your needs, what you want to improve, what’s bothering you, an idea you have, a problem you are dealing with, even stuff that may not appear to be all that ‘useful’ to talk about. - Sensitise yourself so that you see and experience things earlier than before.
Reduce whatever is clouding your ability to see or numbing your ability to sense. The more you can feel, the faster you can respond to events and opportunities. You can help by reducing or eliminating alcohol, television, adrenaline, stress and caffeine. - Feel coached during the 10,000 minutes of your week not just the 30 minutes of your session.
There are 10,080 minutes in a 7-day week. What you and your coach talk about during your sessions will resonate with you during your week, and some of the seeds or ideas that have been discussed will grow between sessions. - Reduce the drain in your life. Coaching works because it focuses you in two areas. First, you’ll be helped to stretch yourself further, take more actions than you would on your own. At the same time, you will also be identifying and reducing things that drain you, such as tolerations, stressful situations, difficult relationships, pressured environments and recurring problems.
- Design and strengthen your personal and business environments.
Use part of your coaching time to design the perfect environment in which to live and work. Where you live and how you live are key to your success. Who you spend time with and are inspired by can make the difference between success and failure. Be willing to invest some time – and money – in improving your environment so that you feel supported to be your best.
