BUSINESS
Is Coaching Worth the Investment?
WORDS: Diane Demetre PHOTOGRAPHY Supplied
Engaging a coach to help achieve better results in life or business is standard practice in America but still in its infancy here in Australia. Perhaps Australians prefer to have a chat to their mates rather than seek professional guidance in creating happier, healthier, and wealthier lives. Whatever the reason, the misperception of what a coach really does continues in our culture, not least because many people call themselves coaches with little to no experience, expertise, or quantifiable results.
Coaching isn’t therapy or counselling. It isn’t about digging into the past and laying blame. It involves improving the performance of the client and helping them get the results they want through proven strategies and systems. Good coaches encourage the client to take the steps to achieve the goals that relate to challenges and opportunities in their client’s working and personal lives, while keeping them accountable along the way. Just like a good sports coach, the coach explains the process and runs the client through their paces, showing them how to improve and reach the finish line faster, easier and with more confidence.
Coaches guide their clients in articulating core values, dissolving limiting beliefs and installing new habits, while empowering them with the knowledge to create new, improved results the rest of their lives. They fast-track their client from where they are to where they want to be, saving them precious time and suffering.
But what’s the difference between a coach and a mentor? A coach guides and provides the framework for the client to follow whereas a mentor is someone who has already achieved the results the client wants. The value of a combined coach and mentor cannot be underestimated because the depth of the mentor’s experience helps with the client’s confidence building, self-image, perspective, and creating a success driven mindset. A mentor empowers the client that they too can achieve the results they did. And if they possess strong coaching skills the trust factor between the client and the coach/mentor multiplies and rapid results ensue.
Many people mistakenly believe that coaching is only for people who have something wrong with them. But that’s not true. It’s ideally suited for individuals who are:
- Ready for change.
- Committed to their personal and professional growth.
- Searching for a proven success path to manifesting more in their lives.
- Determined to get clear on their purpose, goals, and desired outcomes.
- Seeking to improve their overall health, psychological resilience, and well-being.
As the prospective client, it is wise to either get a referral from someone who has already been coached or mentored by someone they would recommend or do the required research yourself. Here are a few hints on fact-checking your prospective coach or mentor:
- Arrange a free strategy call with the coach/mentor.
- This should be a structured call with the coach asking you specific questions about what outcomes you want. It shouldn’t be just a chat.
- The coach should give you practical take-aways at the end of this call regardless of whether you decide to engage their services.
- Ask the coach what they have achieved in their life. For example, don’t get coached on making money by someone who has none.
- Check the coach’s testimonials and credentials.
- Go on your gut instinct…you must feel comfortable with them before you embark on this life-changing journey.
- Ask about their fee structure and their guarantee. Any reputable coach will happily give you a money-back guarantee which demonstrates that their process works.
In conclusion, good coaching and mentoring can save you decades of trial and error, restore lagging confidence, and open your mind to opportunities you’d previously overlooked. Your investment can be returned many times over in a lifetime if you find the right coach/mentor for you.
If you’d like to know more, visit https://mastermindset.com.au/master-mindset-coaching/
