6 Compelling Reasons to Get Yourself a Coach

A coach is someone who can act as a sounding board for your ideas, helping you stick to commitments and championing your progress as you pursue your goals.

Photo by Ed Uthman

Here are some reasons why you need a coach:

1. They help you focus

   One of the things I love about meeting my coach is that he helps me refine my ideas and get down to the one or two practical things that I can begin taking action on.

2. They hold you accountable

   A good coach will ask you how you’re doing with the targets you’ve set yourself. Living in a world full of distractions and voices competing for your attention, it’s so helpful to have someone helping you to stay on track.

3. They give feedback

   Although the role of a coach isn’t to tell you what to do, they are listening to your process and can mirror back what they see. This can be key in identifying inconsistencies and blind spots.

4. They help you carry your load

   Going after a dream is hard enough. Why would you choose to do it alone?
   Having one other person checking in with how you’re doing really helps to ease the load and prevent you feeling isolated, or like you’re the only person who cares about what you’re doing.

5. They share their connections

   Most of the people who have coached me have connected me with resources or people who have helped me get unstuck from problems I’m having.

6. They can track your long term progress

   Because your relationship has an element of commitment to it, you can be assured that your investment of time and energy explaining what’s going on in your life isn’t wasted. They’re invested in your journey, often more than friends will be.

So how do you go about getting a coach?

Many people out there pay to be coached by Strengths Coaches, or Life Coaches, or even Counsellors. These professionals are helpful, but if you don’t have the budget, don’t worry.

Look for someone who you respect and who you know is a good listener. Consider someone who has expertise in an area you wish to grow (although this isn’t essential).

Then ask them if they’d be willing to coach you, clearly defining your expectations (How often do you want to meet? What will your times together look like? What types of questions would you like them to ask?)

Have you been coached? Did you find the experience helpful?