By Dr Peter Chee and Dr Jack Canfield
Great coaches thrive on challenges and flexibility. Obstacles should be seen as opportunities for improvement, not only for coaches, but for the coachees too. The coaching conversation is an opportune time to challenge the coachee to stretch and grow so they reach for higher achievements.
It is important that coaches challenge their coachees as just plain sailing along the journey is never good for a coaching relationship. If the journey contains no challenges, there would be no growth and development. Coachees who received challenging assignments gain more as they are strengthen in the process of overcoming adversity to attain their goals.
When coaches pose an obstacle sincerely to a coachee, they are indicating the coachee is capable of achieving more. This is not to say the coachee has to accept the challenge. It’s still their choice, and they might take on the hurdle only partially or come up with another challenge. Of course, they might also fully accept the challenge. Whichever way they decide, they are likely to end up better off with the challenge than without.
Problems are to the mind what exercise is to the muscles, they toughen and make us strong
– Norman Vincent Peale
In our many coaching conversations over the years, there are always people who desire to have more time to accomplish things. Sam is one of them. A high-flying manager in a digital advertising agency, she handles many client accounts from various industries and does her best to ensure these are optimized properly.
One of her goals in life was to earn an MBA. She felt doing so could be a good step for career development. However, she felt overwhelmed by her work and would destress by loading up on social activities after office hours.
As the coaching conversation progressed, Sam realized that her social life was taking out a huge chunk of her time. Time she could use to work on her MBA instead. We then challenged her to carve out 20 hours a week to study. Feeling that was too drastic, she settled on 10 hours to begin with. Being flexible coaches, we agreed.
Nonetheless, we continued to drive her towards the goal by gradually increasing the hours set aside to study. The challenge grew to 12 hours, then 14, then 16, all the way to 20 hours a week. At every step, we followed up with her regularly and held her accountable to her commitments.
Despite a slow start, Sam managed to finish her MBA in 18 months instead of 24 months as she powered through the semesters. She was so proud of her success that she took us out for a Michelin-starred meal to celebrate, and to thank us for believing in her. Her story shows that challenging people in the right way can reap the right results.
Great coaches understand that coaching is not a quick fix. Coaching is the process of helping people find their own solutions and challenging them to win in the face of adversity. The bigger the problem and the bigger the goal, the bigger the gain will be when it is conquered.
The beauty of coaching is that when people face high aspirations and tough obstacles, they can learn how to develop themselves to become more masterful. As a coach, you need to be courageous. You will constantly believe in people’s greatness and rise to the challenge of any given situation facing the person you are coaching. When faced with challenges and the need to be flexible, you tackle it with faith, confidence, and enthusiasm and work persistently to win. When you are able to thrive on challenges and flexibility, you will be well on your path to coaching greatness.
EUREKA VIDEO
TRANSFORMATIONAL COACHING QUESTIONS
LATEST HAPPENINGS AT ITD WORLD
UNLEASH THE POWER OF TALENT
AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT WITH US IN DANANG!
This is the FINAL CALL to register for the 51st Artdo International World Conference happening from 18 to 20 August 2024 in the picturesque city of Danang, Vietnam!
Register to join more than 20 thought leaders who will generously share the latest innovative approaches, insights, and best practices that builds high performance for organizations and leader
In addition, delve into thought-provoking discussions, forge robust networks, and create unforgettable memories with global experts and industry captains over three exciting days to unleash the power of talent and skill development.
Grab this opportunity to equip your team and you with the knowledge, skills, and tools to enable profound results. See you then!
MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND DEMONSTRATE OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP WITH CCMC
Differentiate your leadership and make outstanding impact in work and life with the Certified Chief Master Coach (CCMC) program.
Equip yourself with transformational coaching approaches to unleash the genius of C-suite executives, senior leaders, and top talent in your organization.
Gain fresh perspectives, innovative approaches, and new capabilities directly from world-class gurus and experts.
Be inspired by live demonstrations; engage with industry captains; connect with like-minded peers, and grow in confidence by completing challenging projects over your CCMC journey.
Register today and we will get in touch with you for the coming intake kicking off on 27 Sept 2024. See you then!
