When I was 20 I was asked to complete a secondment as a Food & Beverage Manager at LEGOLAND Windsor. It was a BIG job. I was to be leading a team of 100 plus team members, overseeing 30 plus carts and stands across the entire theme park, and I needed to manage a budget of over £2M.
Having had barely any work experience myself, the role scared the hell out of me, and I tried as hard as I could to get out of it… with no luck.
About a week before I was due to leave, I was in the car was my then manager, driving to a learning event and discussing the upcoming move to Windsor. I told her how sick I felt about it, and she simply asked me questions and listened. By the time we arrived at our destination, I was jumping for joy at the upcoming opportunity.
I didn’t understand then how I’d had such a large change of heart.
I realise now that my manager was coaching me through my fear.
And at the other end of that car ride, I saw an amazing opportunity that I simply couldn’t resist.
Long story short, for a myriad of reasons, I hated every moment of my time at LEGOLAND. Yet it was one of the most important and empowering experiences of my career. It taught me that there were no limits to my capability, a lesson I was grateful to have so early in my career.
What is coaching, really?
Coaching is a way to help you develop the resources and strategies needed to create positive changes in your life. Whether it's to regain control of your life and find ways to move forward or to achieve the goals, you've already set for yourself.
Coaching starts with clarifying what you are trying to achieve and identifying any barriers stopping you from getting there. My job as a coach is to listen deeply and help you uncover any unhelpful beliefs or habits hindering your progress.
Through this process, you gain insight into yourself and discover ways to approach any challenges or obstacles standing in your way.
Some topics that coaching could support you with include:-
- Values alignment
- Strategic decision making
- Overcoming self-induced obstacles
- Forming habits and routines
- Increasing your credibility
- Enhancing your management & leadership skills
And... so much more!
The benefits of coaching
Gain a greater sense of control and agency over your life
By working with a coach, you learn how to set clear and achievable goals and develop effective strategies for achieving those goals. Together you can decide on the best action plan to progress towards your desired outcomes.
This strategic approach can help you feel more confident and empowered, ultimately leading to greater satisfaction and happiness.
Identify self-limiting beliefs that are sabotaging your success
By recognising self-limiting beliefs, you can replace them with ones that will help you reach your true aspirations, whether professional or personal. Through coaching, you'll have clarity on actions to make positive changes in your life and uncover the motivation to take those steps forward.
Develop a positive, growth-oriented mindset
When you can identify and overcome your challenges, you can begin to see yourself as capable and resilient. This mindset helps you develop a more optimistic outlook on life, to build stronger relationships, and manage your emotions more effectively. All of which contribute to you achieving the goals you've set.
Harness accountability, support and encouragement
One of the key challenges of change in any setting is that it can be difficult to maintain motivation and commitment over time. To achieve your desired outcomes, you need to be willing to put in the effort and make the necessary changes.
Staying committed to your goals can be difficult, especially when dealing with challenging emotions or life circumstances. You can overcome this challenge by working with a coach who provides ongoing support and encouragement as you work towards your goals.
A coach helps you stay accountable with regular check-ins to monitor progress and give feedback and guidance to help you stay on track.
Form short and long-term goals
One of the challenges in any self-development is developing both short and long-term goals that are achievable and based on reality. By working with a coach, you can create objectives that are measurable, tangible, and rooted in who you want to be.
The process helps build positive momentum and encourages steps towards even the most ambitious visions.
How is coaching different to counselling?
Since counselling and coaching are often used interchangeably in a therapy setting, understanding the difference between the two can be challenging.
One significant distinction lies in the aim of each approach. Counselling focuses on alleviating the distress caused by past issues that have made it difficult to move forward. It’s a past-focused modality. In comparison, coaching seeks to create a positive change and develop skills that can help with personal development and achieving future goals. Coaching is future-focused.
Additionally, while both approaches involve two-way conversation, coaching usually takes a more directive approach than counselling.
Both coaching and counselling may target subjective feelings such as emotions and motivations. But coaching tends to be ultimately goal-orientated – orienting effort towards obtaining specific, tangible results.
You can find out more about counselling in my previous blog here.
What to expect when you begin working with a coach
A coaching relationship within a therapeutic setting is designed to help you understand yourself better and uncover practical solutions for leading a fulfilled life.
When working with a coach, you can expect to feel seen and heard and receive compassionate support. As with counselling, the coach partners with you on your personal growth and self-awareness journey.
Your coach will provide insight into identifying the core questions that need answers and supply evidence-based treatments to help you reach your desired goals.
Whether offering helpful advice for tackling psychological issues like anxiety or developing meaningful connections, coaching can leave you feeling empowered through body awareness, cognitive reframing and learning positive behavioural patterns.
In conclusion, coaching in a strategic psychotherapy setting can be a powerful tool for helping you overcome your challenges and achieve your goals. By working with a coach who provides feedback, guidance, and support, you can develop the skills and strategies you need to succeed.
Have a winning day,
Bx
