Coaching: Let’s Get Started
You’ve decided to invest in development by hiring a professional coach. Congratulations! This shows your commitment to growth and recognizing that you can't go this alone. This is one step towards building up your "board of advisors" - the network of support that will increase your success and personal satisfaction in your career.
Selecting the Best Support
When seeking to develop professionally, there are a variety of experts you can turn to for support. With so many options, it can get confusing - what are the key differences between coaches, mentors, teachers, and consultants? Here’s an overview:
A coach works with you to set tangible goals and master specific skills. They help reveal your blind spots, provide honest feedback, and empower you to succeed through actionable strategies.
Mentors take a broader, relationship-oriented approach focused on being a trusted advisor as you navigate career or personal growth over the long term. They will share stories about their journey and provide advice.
Teachers instruct on concrete topics and evaluate your comprehension.
Consultants bring specialized expertise - they diagnose issues, provide recommendations, and may manage execution.
While the roles sometimes overlap, understanding these nuanced differences helps match you with the right support system. You can unleash your full potential with the right balance of guidance, accountability, and care.
At Reality Vet Coaching & Consulting, we're experts in the veterinary industry with a focus on running successful veterinary practices. We also have training and extensive experience in coaching, so you're getting a mix of all these things. We put on the best hat for the situation based on your needs. Sometimes, we coach, but sometimes, we teach, and sometimes, we consult, always with the goal of helping you succeed because you need a little bit of everything.
Prepare for Coaching
If you decide to engage with us or any coach, prepare for your session to get the most out of your investment. Here is how:
Start by reflecting on what specific goals or areas of improvement led you to seek out support. Get clear on what motivates you and what you want to accomplish. Then, jot down topics and questions you want to cover.
Review your calendar and block off time for each session, eliminating possible distractions. You'll want extra time before and after each meeting to both prepare and capture notes and the next steps.
Finally, set your intentions. Coaching is most impactful when you bring an authentic and thoughtful presence, step out of your comfort zone, and commit to taking action between sessions. Approach this as a partnership. Understanding your coach’s role and putting care into readying yourself will help you show up fully present and ready to do the work. Personal breakthroughs await!
There is nothing more powerful and game-changing than recognizing that you need help and bringing in expertise work with you to navigate the challenges of leadership and running a veterinary practice. This is just the first step of a very rewarding journey. Embrace the challenge and be ready to put in the work. We're ready to work with you!
