I was flipping through a book on coaching the other day and it occurred to me that the process of coaching is rather like reading a good book. Read on to see how.
Coaching Takes You Away From the Every Day
You know how it is when a book catches your eye —you admire the glossy cover. Your interest is piqued, so you flip the book over and read the back-cover synopsis. Then you open to the starting page and dive in. In the same way a good book takes you out of the here and no
w and into a new world, a coach can help you move past your here and now into a future that is limitless and full of new possibilities. Coaching lets you remove yourself from the ‘everyday’ and dive into a world of ‘what if’ and ‘why not?’ for a little while … to create a space where growth and learning can thrive.
Coaching Teaches You Something New
Every book offers new learning. Sometimes you come away with a head and heart bursting with newborn knowledge; sometimes just one small ‘aha’ learning. Same with coaching. Your coach helps you unearth information – about yourself, others, the world around you – that you didn‘t know before. Your new learning might cause you to grow in leaps and bounds, to the point that those around you comment on how amazing your transformation has been. Or you may adjust just one or two behaviours so subtly that it takes time for others to acknowledge the ‘new you.’ Either way, you will change … and they will notice. And the ability to change is necessary for survival!
You Control the Pace of Coaching
Part of the pleasure of reading is that you control the pace. If you need to put the book down and cogitate for a while because the last section offered lots to mull over, you can, knowing it’ll be waiting for you to pick it up again when you’re ready to move forward. Similarly, your coach will let you set the pace for your learning. If you need a little extra time to work through a new learning, or follow through on an action item, your coach gives you the time you need. A book doesn’t force you to move forward before you’re ready. Neither will a coach … unless you’re merely stalling due to discomfort or an unwillingness to move forward. Then they will step up and hold you accountable to move forward.
And that’s one great thing a book can’t do for you!
