5 Reasons to have a Coach

Many people might think of a coach as someone who  stands on the sidelines at a football game and shouts at the players. Or you might think of a coach as someone who helps you learn what you need to pass a test, or to master a specific skill.

As it turns out, in the purest sense of the word, to coach simply means "to help someone on a journey" - like the coach that carried Cinderella to her ball to meet her prince... but hopefully your coach won’t turn out to be a pumpkin.

A coach can be a brilliant way of helping you to make an important decision in life, or to achieve something worthwhile - especially if you feel stuck or feel like something's holding you back.

A coach is simply a person who listens to what you're saying (or not saying), asks the right questions and gets you to think through a problem from a different perspective. They don't offer specific advice or tips - that would be a mentor's role. They're not interested in delving into your childhood or the reasons for your low self-esteem or daddy-issues - you'd have to see a psychologist or a counsellor for that sort of help.

A coach is there to help you move forward in life, to break through barriers or to make a key decision.

So if you think any of the following things apply to you, it could be time to call in a coach:

1. If you have an issue burning away in your mind, keeping you awake at night, and you can't figure out what to do about it.

2. If you have some idea about where you want to go, but can't seem to make yourself take the next step, or need help deciding what steps to take.

3. If you don't have anyone you can talk to about how you feel, or if your friends and family don't seem to understand your viewpoint.

4. If you look back at the past couple of years and feel disappointment or frustration at the lack of progress in your life. 

5. If you just want to talk out loud about your issues or problems, and you need someone to listen without being judgemental or offering their own opinions.

It can be really hard when you want to make progress but can't, and it can feel especially isolating if you don't have a circle of peers to support you. A coach can be the difference between success and failure; at the very least he or she will definitely help you to open up.

If you think coaching might be useful for you, contact me and we'll have a chat about it.

As for having someone at the sidelines cheering you on, when you're successful, there'll be a whole crowd of people shouting their support. And your coach will be standing there quietly, smiling at you, knowing they helped get you there.