So you feel completely lost in your career and have decided to do something about it, FOR REAL.
Hooray!
You are closer to your goal than a lot of people.
Often when people feel stuck in their jobs, they complain A LOT about doing them. But that's the extent of it.
They may send out some resumes to get a new job. But those "new jobs" are usually alarmingly similar to their current role. So they end up with the same job in a different building.
You want something more. You want a complete career makeover.
So, how do you get there?
Although this may seem self-serving, the answer is that you get some help. (I did.) And often that help is going to come from a coach.
What is Coaching?
Here at Legally Bold, we help professional women clarify the next steps of their careers so that they can do the work they love or build the business of their dreams.
To achieve that goal, we use coaching.
Wikipedia defines coaching as a "form of development in which an experienced person, called a coach, supports a learner or a client in achieving a specific personal or professional goal by providing training and guidance."
However, the actual practice of coaching is a bit more nuanced.
With coaching, we upend the old patterns that stop our clients from achieving dream goals. We help our clients reflect on and gain awareness of who they are and what's most important to them right now.
We also help them rediscover their strengths and challenges and broaden their lens as to what is possible. New options start to open up, and they begin clearly to see what actions they need to take to reach their goal.
Do You Really Need a Coach?
We all believe that we are capable of setting and achieving goals on our own.
We think that if we just summon enough willpower, we will get the dream career, the dream job, and drop the stress weight we gained from feeling stuck in our old jobs in one felled swoop.
Except that doesn't happen. Year after year, when it comes to our real goals, we end up staying right where we are.
If an athlete wants to improve on the field, do they rely on willpower? Nope.
Even the most talented athletes in the world (I'm thinking about Serena Williams and Usain Bolt here), hire a coach. Why? Because they know that winning or losing starts with your mentality, and coaching is the fastest and best tool to get you in the headspace you need to achieve.
So do you need a coach? Yes. Daniel-San. We all do.
The difference between coaching & therapY
Often people confuse coaching and therapy, but they are not the same thing. Therapy pairs a mental health professional with a client who is seeking mental wellness and healing. And therapy usually involves reconciling and making sense of some past traumas or situations.
Coaching does not analyze the past. Rather, we aim to help clients find the best path to achieve their goals in the here and now and to move forward.
The difference between coaching & consulting
At Legally Bold, we also use consulting to help our clients build dream businesses. Coaching and consulting are not the same skill. When we act as a consultant, we are working in our capacity as expert business builders. We teach our clients skills they don't know, analyze their business, and help them create strategic action plans.
Coaching isn't about the coach teaching the skills. It's about facilitating clarity, defining life goals, providing accountability, and addressing any mindset issues (aka limiting beliefs) that keep clients from their dreams.
How To Pick A Coach?
Picking a coach is like selecting any other professional service provider. It's part art and part science.
You do your research and try to get to a feel for a coach's approach by reading their website, blog posts, and articles. You can also download any free content they offer and listen to them talk about their business on podcasts.
Then you try out their services by scheduling a mini-coaching session. This is usually called a discovery call. Once you've had your mini-session, you should know whether you feel the connection you desire and if that coach is right for you. If not, keep looking.
Want to work with us?
We have an amazing signature coaching experience called Peel Back Your Label, aimed at helping professional women like you take back their careers.
We bring all of our training, practical experience, and skills to bear in helping you get the career you want without burning you out. Find out all the details about our program by clicking here.
And let me know your thoughts on this post by leaving a comment below.