By now we’ve all heard of coaching. You might even have a friend or two, who have tried coaching, or work regularly with a coach. But what exactly does a coach do?

One of the best ways to define what coaches do, is to start with what they don’t do.

They aren’t therapists. They aren’t here to help you unravel the past, and it’s impacts on your present. They generally don’t work with your trauma or with other mental health diagnoses, and if those are arising and impacting your ability to work in the coaching arena, they are likely to recommend that you seek out professional mental health support.

They also aren’t consultants whose job it its to share their expertise and recommend best practices; or sort out your way forward. In fact, most coaches will actively refrain from giving advice or suggesting a course of action.

So what’s the point?

What Does A Coach Do?

A coach helps you focus on a positive future, by creating greater alignment in the present moment. They help you tap your own awareness and help you make accountability safe and productive. They steward you to do your best, and be your best possible self.

A good coach will do three things:

1. Help you to identify and accomplish the dreams and desires you are hesitating to chase.
2. Create the space to help you grow from the inside out, and support you to identify and overcome obstacles in your way to fulfilling your dreams and desires
3. Hold you accountable to make the growth and changes, and take the actions you chose, to bring your dreams or desires to fruition.

Often times, we feel like we aren’t sure where our life is leading us. We know we don’t have the same energy or enthusiasm for what we are up to that we once did, but we don’t know why or what to do about it. A good coach can skillfully maneuver us through a series of self exploration exercises that help us make connections from the inside out. As we become more self aware, and we apply this awareness to our actions and choices, positive change is inevitable.

At other times, we think we know exactly what we want, but we may not be sure how to get it. We may not be sure we have the ‘know how’ or the capacity to get what we want. But the truth is, if you really want it, and you can envision it; if you’ve got the courage and determination to stay the course through the inevitable turbulence that comes with making big changes, then you can get what you want. But it can be a lonely and ego-crushing experience. A coach is an ally who stands by you whether the seas are smooth or rough. They help you see the beauty in the storm, not just in the calm.

When we’re taking a risk to grow on the inside or make changes on the outside, it can be scary. Here again, a coach can help. A coach listens and helps us think critically about our vision. They ask hard questions and wait for answers. They can help you manage risks by recognizing and mirroring blind spots, by keeping you focused on the goal when you might want to run away, or help you rework a vision that just isn’t being supported by the current realities of the moment. Rather than getting discouraged and giving up, a coach can help us see what is working and help us choose to keep at it, as we make our way to better outcomes.

Should I Hire A Coach?

First of all, you should be looking for change in your life. If you’re not ready to change, coaching isn’t for you. 

Second, you should understand a coach supports you. They don’t do the work for you. They may provide resources that can help you find your own way; and they’ll certainly support your process of discovery and execution of your action plan. They’ll facilitate growth through the coaching conversation and support your thoughtful application of the process. They’ll be an honest and fair accountability partner. The actual outcomes, however, are up to you.

The third thing? You need to be ready to invest in yourself. You need to be ready to commit time and money to make a difference in your own life. Private sessions are a commitment personally, financially and time wise; group sessions are less of a financial commitment, but still require a commitment of time and money, and for you to do the work. Coaching means committing resources to focus on you, to create better outcomes.

Then, what a coach will do is help you look inside and tap your potential. They’ll help you ground and develop into the person who accomplishes their plan. They’ll stand by you in victory and defeat, to find the success in every moment.

Achieving our dreams and desires isn’t always a one way street to the Big Pay Off. But coaching with the right person, is a sure fire way to make the changes you need to live in greater alignment from the inside out. That, can only lead to greater contentment. That itself, is a huge success!

Aren’t you worth that kind of investment?