Coaching assistance: Is a career coach right for you?

Ask the Coach

By Marshall Brown, CPCC, President, Marshall Brown & Associates, Washington
published in AssociationTRENDS. reprinted with permission.

This is the first column in a new monthly series designed to address assn professionals' questions and concerns about their careers in the assn community. But before you can Ask the Coach, you might need a better understanding of exactly what coaching is.

"I absolutely believe that people, unless coached, never reach their maximum capabilities." ­ Bob Novelli, CEO of Home Depot

All of us have heard of them. We hear "coach" and we think of our "sports coach" we had in high school or college. Or we think of a mentor we might have today or had years ago when we first started our career. We may even think of a mental health therapist as our coach. But what is coaching all about?

It's important ­ very important ­ to understand this opportunity of which thousands of people are now taking advantage. Coaching has become one of the leading resources individuals are using to move their careers and their lives forward. So, what is coaching and how can it benefit me?

Coaching qualities
Coaches help you deepen your understanding of yourself and/or specific issues, help you develop an action plan and help you move forward with that plan. A coach rarely should (and is actually trained not to) spend a lot of time looking at past behaviors or diagnosing a mental health problem. Coaching is generally more results oriented and guided by the client's agenda.

The coaching philosophy is based on the premise that nothing (including the client) is broken or needs to be fixed. You set the agenda, and you set the issue or topic on which you want to be coached. It is also the coaching philosophy that you have the answers within yourself. The coach's responsibility is to ask you the powerful questions, to help you observe your behavior, offer various perspectives and options and help you to clarify your desired outcome. Unlike consulting which typically will provide you with a set of solutions, coaches may not have had experience in the client's business at all.

A certified coach is also trained to provide greater focus and awareness of choice. Many coaches spend good amounts of time revealing various options that clients may not have been able to see on their own.

A coaching definition
According to the Intl Coach Fed (www.coachfederation.org) in Washington: "Professional coaching is an ongoing professional relationship that helps people produce extraordinary results in their lives, careers, businesses or organizations. Through the process of coaching, clients deepen their learning, improve their performance, and enhance their quality of life."

The traditional therapy model typically explores the origin of the current psychological or emotional problems. Therapists will often work with clients to understand their pasts, with the idea that that knowledge will allow clients to better deal with and resolve current issues.

Many coaches have developed a niche in the marketplace for their practice. They focus on a specific set of issues and establish a set of core competencies in which to help their clients. Among the many areas of specialization for coaches today are: career coaching, corporate coaching, sales coaching, marketing coaching, exec coaching and retirement coaching.

Do you need a coach?
So is coaching right for you? It really depends. Ask yourself these basic questions:

Am I looking to:

• Deepen my self-awareness?
• Discover what's really important to me?
• Am I looking to improve my mgmt and leadership talents?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then perhaps coaching is right for you.

Many coaches today offer 15-20 min. complimentary phone sessions to help you determine if coaching is the right way to go. The best advice for finding a coach, however, is like finding your doctor, dentist or lawyer ­ listen to what other people say.

Ask for referrals. Ask your colleagues and friends if they know of a coach or someone who might currently have a coach. Interview them, ask them questions about their experience. Ask coaches what training they have and what their style of coaching is. Do your due diligence and the research to find the right coach for you. Trust me, you are worth it!

Marshall Brown, a certified career and executive coach has always had a passion for helping people find ways to live more fulfilling lives. As a coach, Brown helps individuals to find their passions and encourages them to move ahead in reaching their goals. His book, High Level Resumes, reflects his successful work with hundreds of job candidates. Reach him at marshall@mbrownassociates.com.

Ask the Coach addresses questions and concerns of assn professionals about their careers. Send your questions to marshall@mbrownassociates.com.

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