Coaching has been around in many forms since people sat at the feet of Socrates.  It is a method of questioning and probing first for what the client wants and then helping them break down the steps necessary to achieve it and holding them accountable to getting it done.

Most of my clients come to me because they want to take themselves and their businesses to the next level but know that if you keep doing what you’ve always done you will keep getting what you’ve always got.  As Einstein said, “The significant problems we face today cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." so by having a coach you have someone on the outside looking in with a clear perspective.

Who hires a coach?  High achievers, people who are already succeeding in life, but may feel stuck or want to improve a certain area of their life like time management, work/life balance, goal setting, communication, relationship building, etc.  Many times people are so busy that they want to make change or improvements but get so caught up in the day to day obligations and crises that they never get around to it.   So having a weekly appointment to focus on their goals and keeping them accountable is often the only way they would ever stick to their plan. 

One busy executive I worked with created a whole life plan, something she was far too busy to even think about before.  She created a new business with a great new business partner, she got control of her time and delegated more effectively, started working from home on Fridays. On the personal side, she set a goal of where she wanted to live and the type of house she wanted and found it, she started running again and doing 5ks and joined the board of several charities that were important to her.

How does coaching work? You probably want to call and speak with a coach first to see if they are a good match for you.  It is important that you have a good fit of personalities to get the best results.  Once you choose the right coach, they will probably have you fill out a questionnaire to see what your goals are and what your challenges are and then you will set weekly appointments to meet by telephone.  Most coaches work by telephone which allows you to easily fit the appointment into a busy schedule without having to drive somewhere and allows you to stay on track even during the busiest week.  During your coaching session you will break down your goals and create action steps to help you not only reach your goals but to eliminate your challenges. 

Each week you will have baby steps to complete so you are not overwhelmed by a huge goal or change you are making in your life.  You will then be held accountable to have completed the tasks in the agreed upon time frame for each step.

Unlike friends or family, a coach is an impartial, non judgmental and totally in your corner. No goal is too big or too small to work on and achieve if it is important to you.  As Mark Twain said so eloquently, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did.  So throw away the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream, Discover.”  So I urge you to stop take a moment and ask yourself what do I want and what steps are you taking to achieve it.
 

Stacey Hylen

Stacey Hylen is the principal and co-founder of HYLEN SUCCESS COACHING. Stacey specializes in working with high achievers around the world who are ready to go to the next level of success. Stacey was chosen by Mark Victor Hansen and Robert G. Allen as a speaker on the promotional tour for their book, One Minute Millionaire.  Stacey is a contributing author to Living an Extraordinary Life.  Hylen Success Coaching:  Stacey Hylen 1-450-763-0713 or 1-866-763-0713 (toll free) www.HylenSuccessCoaching.com