What coaching means to me
To me, coaching means helping others become the best version of themselves so they can achieve their ultimate goals.
As a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, in March of 2020, I was furloughed from a job in study abroad that I adored. Little did I know, that this would lead me to discover a new passion: coaching.
The day I graduate the MOE Coaching Course
Throughout my life I have enjoyed helping people. As I made my transition from academic to professional life, I struggled to see how I could apply this to a long-term career or vocation. Then, last year, I discovered the MOE Coaching Course through one of my mentors. Wanting to make the most out of my time on furlough, I reached out to see if the organisation were delivering any courses, however they replied to say they were not set-up to do online courses at that moment in time, but to check back soon. Sure enough, less than a week later, MOE contacted me and said that the first official online MOE Coaching Course was live for signups. I moved swiftly as these courses are known to fill up fast. I was just quick enough to secure one of the last spots in the course! Then, my journey began.
I’m going to be honest, I had a huge misconception about what coaching is - something I realised on day one of the course. I used to think that coaching was all about telling people what to do and how best to live their lives, almost like a consultant. It was a pleasant surprise to discover that coaching is indeed quite different - we are not supposed to have all the answers. This makes sense, as nobody has all the answers! We must define our own truth and determine ourselves what success means to us. What I discovered instead is that coaches are there to guide their clients to find the answers themselves. This is accomplished with clear communication, strong active listening skills, and a questioning methodology called GROW. Coaches help their clients or, as I like to call them, ‘coachees’, dig deep inwards to make positive strides in their daily life by utilising their own desires, motivations, and words to help them flourish. When you feel a bit aimless, unsure of how to reach a goal, or feel like you are in the dark, a coach can help you shine a light on the hidden potential that was inside you all along.
My coursemates came from a variety of backgrounds and, as part of the course, we coached one another. I learned a lot with every session that went by. One thing that became perfectly clear to me was that you are always going to gain something out of a session. There is a freedom in speaking to an unbiased individual that helps provide clarity of thought. One of my biggest takeaways from a session where I was being coached was that my main goal in life is to help “bring peace to other people”. I was able to identify this personal goal thanks to a coach who asked the right questions. It was from this moment that I knew I wanted to start my own coaching business. I took the coaching course to learn transferrable skills, little did I know I would be here today! I am grateful for that coach and my coaching sessions every day.
Being coached requires venturing into vulnerability. This is a brave thing to do, however will help you make strides towards your goals and dreams. It’s almost like giving yourself a second wind. That said, you need to be kind to yourself, and willing to make a few mistakes along the way to achieving your goals. You’re not going to get it right every time, but a coach can help you reap the rewards and lessons of both your stumbles and successes. I know this to be true because coaching helped reinvigorate my life in a period of chaos and confusion.
One important distinction to make is that coaching and therapy are different things. One major difference is that therapy focuses a lot on your past, while coaching focuses on the now and the future. The future is exciting because a lot of it is up to you to determine. I started my own coaching practice because I believe in the power of coaching, as I have seen it first-hand help so many, including myself and those I have coached.
As a coach, it is important to continue learning and growing. I top-up my skills by attending webinars run by the Association for Coaching (of which I am a member), reading books that teach me new skills (Brené Brown has been a favourite!), doing online research to discover new ways to help enhance my coachees’ experiences, and attending further trainings. Another key part of my development as a coach includes being coached by another coach. I do this because I want to ensure that those I coach are getting the the best version of me I can put forward.
Coaching means something different to everyone. To me, it means helping others be the best version of themselves. I want to help you blossom.
