I had an interesting conversation with a previous client this past week that really put a smile on my face. This particular client engaged my coaching last year, and over the course of 9-months we worked together developing some new habits and initiatives for his business. In January, our engagement ended, but we continued to keep in contact grabbing lunch a few times throughout the year, times that gave him the opportunity to update me on things going on within the business.
I had cause to reach out to this client this past weekend, I had a referral for him that I wanted to discuss. After the discussion regarding the referral was finished, my client told me some of the changes he had instituted within the business.
He told me that within the last couple of months had instituted changes that had initially been discussed during our engagement period last year. One critical change involved staff, he recognized the need to hire an office manager, and recently had hired one who was making a tremendous impact on the business as a whole.
Additionally, an employee that I had recommended letting go, he let go, and another put in notice as they weren’t happy with policies previously initiated, but not enforced.
The comment he made that really wrapped up the conversation was this, “I recognized that I was initially looking for coaching to use as a crutch, not as a catalyst for change.”
I like that statement, a catalyst for change.
When I approach a new opportunity, my most important criteria is making sure that I am a good fit for the client, and likewise the client a good fit for me. There is no cookie cutter approach to coaching, each person is unique, and therefore deserves a unique approach specific to where they are in life.
Inversely, a client who is simply using coaching as an excuse or that bounces from one thing to the next without ever putting anything into practice isn’t really looking for help, but simply a crutch.
It does no good to listen, learn, and add tools to the toolbox if you never put them into practice. Change requires action, excuses don’t.
As my client conveyed the changes he made, it was exciting to recognize that he saw value in the coaching provided. The plans developed during our initial times together for the most part sat on a shelf and collected dust.
Several times during our engagement he commented that he wished things were progressing quicker, and I would gently remind him that the plans initially developed created a roadmap to achieve desired outcomes, but the kink in the plan was his inaction to start the process.
Thankfully, the process was started, change has occurred, and coaching went from being a crutch to acting as a catalyst.
What things are you using as a crutch in life that you need to toss out?
What things are needed to act as a catalyst to kick start the plans you have for your life?
If you aren’t moving forward to accomplish the things you want to accomplish in life, perhaps its time to engage the help of a coach. I assure you, there are plenty of crutches in life, a coach can help you overcome those and get that forward momentum going again in your life to get you to achieve the things you know you are capable of.
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Personal Success Coach is pleased to offer coaching packages starting at $299 per month. Each session is intentional and deliberately designed with you in mind to address the issues important to you taking you from where you are in life to where you want to be.