A little over a year ago, I quietly started coaching professionally.
When I mentioned this to a close friend a few months ago, she wrinkled her face up and said, "That sounds murky."
It made me laugh, because, well, it's true. Modern coaching as a profession has blown up on many levels, and we all know too many "life coaches" who should be anything but.
So, what is healthy coaching?
I would say that it is the magic that happens when people fully support and see each other in the correct space of intention and change. The role of coach has popular phrases like"accountability partner," "thought partner," and "a person that helps you shorten the learning curve." (I welcome input from my coaching friends and colleagues who are getting this.)
It has been an eye-opening and beautiful experience to have a seat at people's tables while they articulate their challenges, hopes, and dreams. Even more so when they start to see the map of progression for themselves.
I often ask people:
- How many people do you have in your life that will spend an hour with you twice per month, listening to your struggles and ideas?
- And do so with total focus on you, asking clarifying questions, being judgement-free, and holding you accountable for the intentions you put into place.
Most always, the answer is ZERO.
People are too busy to listen to each other for that long.
Through my life, I have always had an invisible sign hanging around my neck that reads, "Tell me everything." And, oh, have people told me stories? My trade and passion for most of my life have been that of songsmith. It's in my blood, and I continue the path to this day. Stories come to me and out of me.
As they do for everyone.
Being a songwriter for 40 years has taught me how to listen to the music and stories people have in their hearts.
Coaching is a fantastic vessel to be of service to other people.
It's as simple as that.
You can set up a conversation HERE.
