Coaching is a growing profession and a skill set. It is becoming much more common-place whether people like it or not. It is a skill set that health professionals are adopting as part of their clinical work to empower clients and reduce the feelings and behaviour of helplessness, it is a skill set that leaders/managers/professionals are either adopting or participating in. As a profession it is a way of working with people and groups in a very constructive manner to move forward from something to create change and a different outcome. It works with individuals, groups, organisations and countries. It is not counseling, it is not punishment, it may feel ‘woo woo’ (particularly for the uninitiated) but it isn’t. It can be emotional, it can be hard work, but it is worth it.
The idea of coaching is about the person/group working on what is chosen or required and the coach listens, analyses and has some great questions, picks up the bulls**t and explores where there seems to be unseen potential and passion, explores various avenues and opens up possibilities, all while holding the space for those they are working with to allow them to do the work required. It is structured at times and at other moments feels far more free-flowing. It is like a dance. It takes trust and it takes commitment from all parties involved. The outcomes, however, are extremely worth the work.
Why is it becoming more common-place? I think that as a global society we are changing from what was w0rking, that is no longer working and it needs to be explored at all levels from the global society and the systems within right down to the systems of the individual, so that we are in a better place to move forward for the next generations and then for these generations to change as required to keep evolving.
We live in a much more complex world than previously, change happens at such a frenetic pace. Our governments and policy-makers can not keep up, and sadly our governments and top levels of organisations are changing as quickly as we can change our outfits when we are not happy with the ‘look’. This shallow way of operating does not offer stability to anyone or anything and because they don’t understand how to work with what presents at this moment in time, it creates more up-heaval to all involved, more unhappiness and perpetuates the issues we see playing out around us. Communications between generations seem to cause a lot of conflict as can different cultures and genders, it is difficult to find common ground, common respect, or motivation or understanding because of differences in communication, beliefs and backgrounds, this can often be seen on a world level, and plays out closer to home too. In saying all of that with the complexities playing out, it does not mean this is the first time in history that it has looked like this, it is just different and at a faster pace and because of the complexities involved needs to be approached differently.
Without the difficulty that these hurdles present we won’t be able to move forward, around, make better decisions as required. Without spending the time to explore these hurdles of present time and understanding that what got us here is not going to move us beyond it is where coaching plays a part. Whether you believe in it or not, whether you believe you are above it or not, whether you care or not. It is part of the bigger picture where change will be approached, enabled, sustained and accomplished. So hop on board.
Have a great week.
