Are you ready for coaching?

I frequently am asked what it takes to be a good fit for coaching. After thousands of hours of coaching hundreds of client, I have found the following:

If you identify with, and can honestly own, at least five of these characteristics you are likely a great candidate for coaching with me. You are:

1. Sharp. Concepts come quickly, and you develop plans to implement them even faster. You are usually 3 steps ahead of everyone else, and your brain works faster than you choose to talk. You often prefer to read than listen to someone talk because you can read and absorb information much faster than others can share information. You may have had an academic arch-nemesis in grade school (the one who always beat you at speed drills, or read 3 books on the last day of the reading contest), or you were someone else’s. It’s possible you compared yourself to peers of similar acumen, and so you didn’t realize you were actually something special until adulthood.
2. Responsible. You deliver. You get stuff done. You are the one people go to when they want to get something done right, which means you do far more than your written job description. You believe a deadline is actually a deadline, not a suggestion. You deliver when you say you will. Your word matters. You hold yourself accountable, and you are self-motivated. It doesn’t mean you are a super-human, but you’ve been called that at least once.
3. Humble. You know you aren’t perfect. Learning and growth drive you. You understand people should be valued. You do not consider any task beneath you. Your value and worth is tied to who you are, the many ways you serve, and not to the tasks you accomplish.
4. An explorer. Maybe you’re not a natural risk-taker, but you explore all of the potential and consider things from multiple perspectives. You do your research before settling in. You actively pursue the crazy, the unheard of, the unchartered waters to find the best solutions.
5. Curious. You ask questions. Learning delights you. You want to know more, to conquer new knowledge, and to play with ideas.
6. Cutting edge. New questions, new approaches, new angles, and new methods come naturally. You don’t want to do what has already been done. You want to contribute something new.
7. A starter. You love to develop ideas, things, or people. You start new things. You may be the type who then sustains and runs it, or you may relish the idea of passing it off to trusted colleagues and start the next great thing.
8. Playful. You are fun, in your own way. You believe that work should actually be fun, and yet you may be one of the most serious people you know. You never met a mundane task you didn’t want to infuse with a little pizzazz. You may have turned grading or reviewing into a competitive game of office bingo, or you just may love it when others bring the fun and you’ll join in. You’ll either play, or play along, as long as the work gets done with excellence.
9. Joyful. You love “fun facts to know and tell.” You smile easy and often, even if you are reserved. More than three people have seen you laugh so hard you can’t talk – whether from exhaustion in a late night working session, after hitting too many brick walls in a brainstorming session and throwing out an incredibly stupid (or genius) idea, or about something hilarious your kid said.
10. A game-changer. Your ideas really could change the world, and make it a better place. Cliche as it may be, you have said at least once in your life “go big or go home!” You have big dreams, big goals, and the brain to make it happen.
11. Have tenacity.You are determined. Your game face inspires people. You do not give up, even when others may tell you to. You fight for the somethings you care about – whether it was the top grade, the spotlight, the role of principal dancer, or just being picked on the team. Just because you fell down a few times…or maybe smacked straight into a wall does not stop you. You are the epitome of “if at first you don’t succeed – try, try again.”

What do the data say about coaching?

Gee, I thought you’d never ask. Actually, I totally knew you’d ask. You are the type to want facts. The International Coach Federation (ICF) is the place to find the latest research on the validity and power of coaching.

Search for what you care about in the free section of the research portal. Click here to go directly to the ICF research portal.

Are you ready to see what the possibilities are?

If you’re intrigued by coaching but didn’t find yourself in my list, it’s ok. I’m probably not the right person for you, but there are literally thousands of certified coaches worldwide. I can try to connect you to someone else, or you can search the database of coaches at the International Coach Federation site.