Why Coaches moved into Coaching

Chris Farrance

Independent Management Consulting Professional

I successfully rose through the ranks in the 80s/90s in a strong hierarchical command and control environment where the focus and my preference was on process not people.

I chose coaching as a means of developing my people sensitivities prompted by my grandchildren, the growing diversity of the people I was meeting - where one size doesn't fit all - and of course Generation Y

In the event the coaching accreditaion I did pressed all the righ buttons and whilst I still feel I am not much further on from 'conscious incompetence' it has been a rewarding journey.

Roland Desjardins

Owner/Coach at Velocity Business Advisory

I've spent 25 years in Fortune 500 corporations that taught me useful knowledge and techniques for running a successful business.

With my curiosity and desire to help people be successful I felt I could contribute a great deal to independently owned business owners' visions for their business.

What I've learned so far is that I will be learning as much about running a business as business owners will and that turns into a journey for both of us.

Ellen (Elly) Jackson

Career Coach & Entrepreneur in Boston, MA

I'm from the old school of career counseling, where we did the same things as a coach. It's just a word change basically, although a whole industry has been created around the word coach as a profession.

I started out many years ago in the field of social service, helping people who were cold and hungry get food stamps and welfare. Many times all I could offer them was counseling (coaching) on how to survive until the first check came. I then went into child protective services rescuing abused and neglected children. I advised parents and recovering drug addicts on how to stay sober and what to do to get their children back.

A few years later I met someone who was working in corporations to help downsized employees get back to work. This was much easier, but many times heartbreaking, especially when I was the first person they met right after the boss said to clean out their desk and that this was their last day.

I learned that if this is the work you're called for, then take it up and all will work out OK. I'm inspired every day at the resilience of my clients. Some achieve their dreams against high odds. Some just try hard and don't give up hope. They truly lead me to a better place every day.

Michael S Grove

President Elect at Organization,Consulting,and Work Psychology Division of the New York State Psychological Association

I started from the world of psychology where I received years of training in individual,family ,couples and group therapy.I also started learning how to lead organizations in making necessary and often painful changes. Through university teaching I gained experience in training other professionals. When I was asked to consult to companies in the 1970s I began executive coaching .As part of doctoral dissertation I consulted to the University of the West Indies on the redesign of nation wide systems delivery . After my coaching/consulting practice developed ,I gained experience in a wide variety of industries.

Kathy Mallary

Helping professional/ business coaches find clients and make money with their own signature coaching system.

One thing that stands out is an article I happened to see many years ago. I think it was in either Newsweek or Time -- but there was this picture of this guy sitting outside in a beautiful national park, next to his motor home. He was talking on a cell phone, and he looked HAPPY.

His name was Thomas Leonard, and the article was about coaching.

I remember looking around my office (a tiny little space with a desk, a chair and stacks of files on every surface) and then looking at that picture and saying to myself...OK, I want what HE'S having!

Re expectations and learning -- when I first started coaching, I didn't expect to make a job out of it, much less a career. I thought it might be something I would do as an adjunct to my "real" job. I just loved coaching and wanted to help people.

I also expected to be able to master the skills of coaching just by going through a training program. I got certified in 1997 and have continued to study coaching as a student and even spent 7 years designing curriculum and teaching in a coaching certification program -- but that's not where mastery happens. Mastery happens in live coaching sessions over time with real clients.

Something I didn't expect was that I'd not only love coaching, but marketing as well. In many ways, learning marketing has been far more challenging than learning to coach, but it turns out that the combination of marketing + coaching is what lights me up. Marketing opens up a can of worms for many people, but the coaching helps transform the worms into food for growth.

I've always wanted to help people grow spiritually and emotionally; but I never expected that helping people become better marketers would be the path to personal growth that it is.

Tony Pottle

Owner, Time to be Great Coaching and Consulting

I ran across an article in 1989 by Brian Tracey and he reviewed the profession of coaching. I thought it was a neat idea and I continued moving up the ladder at the large, Fortune 500 company I was at. It was not until I had been an executive for several years and I had achieved sustained success, that I started wanting to work with other leaders to help them achieve success as well. That led me down the Organizational Development path and professional coaching.

My expectations were to take leadership competencies - as defined by the person and not the title - to a higher level for as many people as possible. I have learned to trust myself and to help others trust themselves so that the best can come to surface.

JeTaun Newcomb

Owner, Newcomb Career Consulting 101+

It began for me as a staffing specialist for ExxonMobil and then working for a non profit that allowed me to not only assist with job placement, but also allowed me to train in applications, resumes, interviewing, retention and transitioning! WOW! It is awesome and also sad that some did not know how to fill out an application or submit a resume. I then went on to run a staffing agency where I was able to work with companies and fill their employment vacancies.

Now my passion is to work with anyone with a criminal background or who are convicted, condemned, and confused (which are most of the US right now). Hence the brand name of Convict Career Coach!!!

I expect to help 365+ people a year and to change the "mindset of millions"!

What a great discussion!

Andi Roberts MBA

Bilingual Spanish & English Facilitator Coach Trainer

For me Peter, it seemed to be a natural extension as what I do as a people / business developer in my two other roles as a facilitator and trainer.

My expectations were for it to be challenging, energizing and rewarding and so far it is all three and that is a good thing.

What have a learnt:
A solid coaching education has been fundamental in improving my coaching skills.
I have learnt a lot about coaching style from oberserving / hearing other great coaches in action
Not all clients are, at the moment in time you intersect with them coachable,
I still have a lot to learn as a coach as learning is a journey without an end point.
I like it, coaching that is.

Posted 13 days ago | Reply Privately
Dorothy Oger

Partner at Performance Partners

I started some 8 years ago as a trainer within a company where there was also an important element of coaching involved. The coaching was meant to help participants put their learning into practice. Two years ago, I became certified as a NLP Practitioner from the NLPU in Santa Cruz, CA. I have always been interested by personal development, either for myself or in support for others. So it was also a natural path towards coaching (though I am currently still more of a trainer/facilitator than a coach).

My mission in life is to "become what I am" and to help others "become what they are". And coaching seems to be one preferred way I can fulfill this mission.

What I have learned: you don't improvise yourself a coach, like you don't improvise being an olympic medallist. You need to constantly hone your skills and especially you need the right attitude. You need to withdraw yourself from the equation and create the most optimal environment for the coachee. If something goes wrong in the coaching, most of the times you can look at yourself. It is up to the coachee to do the work, you are here as an enhancer, facilitator, accelerator - but you can never do it by yourself. What I find most difficult is to clearly define the parameters of the coaching (goalsetting, timing, realistic ambition). Keep working at yourself, keep learning and you'll find coachees that you can help and that help you become better. Sharing with other coaches is important too and being open to look at yourself for improvement.
Todd A. Osborn, MSM, CHS-III

Global Emergency Preparedness Manager

Please allow me to provide a somewhat different perspective in response to your question. I started coaching as an Army Officer when I was responsible for the health, welfare and development of my soldiers. I found that despite all of the frustrations and challenges, I really enjoyed that aspect of my duties and my soldiers were very engaged in the process.

When I entered the private sector I quickly found myself disappointed and missing the coaching aspect of my purpose. I entered into John Deere’s coaching program and later was selected to coach up & coming corporate leaders in the Dartmouth-Tuck Leadership Program.

When I decided to start coaching independently, I was not prepared for the business aspects of the profession. I am now setting up a business that offers emergency preparedness consulting and leadership coaching.

I have learned that specializing, marketing and establishing strategic partnerships with coaches in other niche areas is a better approach.
Nicola McCall

Expatriate Coach, Live Life Now Coaching

Oh what a joyous question to reflect on Peter - thanks for asking it. The wonderful reflections of others are fantastic to read too.

My interest in coaching came out of wanting to work with people who had gone through a similar circumstance to mine - I didn't know this was coaching at the time. I had lost a great deal (job, husband, home, etc) after a hit and run accident when I was in my 20's. I had to restart my life with little support and for me when I got back to work, on a professional career and qualified, plus in a happy relationship, I wanted to share what I'd learnt about myself with those in similar circumstances. I began to volunteer for a charity to listen to others who were "victims" of crime. So many were trapped in their "victim" status and in repeating their story that I began to read about moving people forward and changing their stories. I read small articles about people who were coaching in London and USA but they seemed removed from the real world - lifestyle, monthly phone sessions, trendy etc.

At the same time professionally, I worked in Employee Relations and often had to advise managers and employees on issues that arose in the work place - this was often done through a confidential call line. I found myself often "coaching" - getting them to reframe, consider alternatives/ perspectives.

Both work I enjoyed immensely and had training on communication, listening skills, negotiation but at this time not "coaching".

In 2006 after 4 years of living as an expat spouse in 2 countries and with a view point to returning back to the UK and HR work, I trained as Coach and did a Post Graduate in Coaching. We didn't move home....but I realised the power of coaching an expatriate community - the isolation of an individual, a couple, a family without their regular home network around them - the need for a sounding board, a reflection, a push, a challenge; someone who gave them space to just be who they were - I really like Nancy Kline's work - Time to Think and what I hope I offer my expatriates is a safe space to reflect on all they are learning, coping with and doing at the same time of planning and organising and reconsidering goals, future life, work, home, etc.

What have I learnt - well as I go through the same things that my coachees do - I need to reflect and withdraw from coaching at times. I need to have supervision from peers and others who help me to consider what I am doing with coachees.

That being a coach on one's own is a difficult thing - need to interact and be with others of similar mind and learning is essential on a regular basis.

That running a business on one's own in a foreign country is hard work - setting up systems, organising work, spending time on finding and following up on leads plus at the same time working with coachees and developing one's coaching practice and learning - there are simply not enough hours in the day - then managing parental and family responsibilities.

BUT - when you love what you do - you do it, but support from networks such as these are great.

Hope I make sense! Love to hear lots more from others in this network!
Marian Kerr

Owner, Director of Marian Kerr Consulting Limited trading as Contemplate Life Coaching and Write With You

Hi

I hope this discussion is still open.

I got into coaching because it formalised what I have always done. I am fascinated by people and have a real passion to see them step into the true power that comes with knowing and accepting who you really are. It took me years to learn this, and I want to share it with others. Like many coaches I've been through 'stuff' - but I think it is what we DO with it that counts, more than the experiences themselves.

I expected that coach training would provide a framework to build on. It has to a certain extent and I continue to train and to learn all the time. As a business it is challenging. I have set up a coaches network to try to build co-operation, sharing and mutual support to overcome some of the isolation.

I am continually learning more about myself and about what amazing creatures we humans are.

Cheers ~ Marian
Lynn Scott wrote:Hi PeterI became a coach (2001/2) when I realised that the way to really harness sustainable change was to work 1-1 with people rather than running training courses (which is what I mostly did before) and to hold them accountable for doing the things they said they were going to do whilst giving them the individual support and challenge that they wanted/needed. I learned that in order to be effective as a coach I have to do a lot of work on my own issues/blind spots/behaviour (and of course this work is on going in my own supervision and other personal development groups that I belong to). I expected that I would find this work extremely fulfilling and rewarding and at times frustrating or difficult which is pretty much what has happened so far!
Rachel Anderson

Coaching was something I evolved into doing without realising, until someone fed back to me what a huge difference I'd made to their life just by listening, believing in them and helping them to keep perspective. Then I was hooked! I had expectations of a big personal journey in deciding to make it my profession. I've not been disappointed...