Coaching: What it is and why you want it
Back in high school, “Coach” taught Spanish, but not well since his real responsibility was the boys’ basketball team. Considering I didn't learn any Spanish that semester, it was evident that teaching Spanish was not his priority. I once had a volleyball coach who yelled a lot and then took us out for ice cream when we won games. And a cheerleading coach who was a habit-wearing nun and a good cheerleader herself (you had to be there). Up until my forties, this was my experience with coaches. Sporty people that wore sweats, running shoes, and whistles around their necks (except the nun, who didn't wear sweats but wore the rest).
Later, I heard about life coaches, thinking the idea seemed a little out there because why would someone need a coach to do life? Honestly, I didn't really think about coaches much at all, figuring they were in my youthful past. I didn't realize the purpose and value of a coach until my early forties, when, in my new corporate job, I was part of a train-the-trainer communications workshop with professional coaches hired to work with us.
This introduction to professional coaching caught me by surprise. I remember the coach, a soft-spoken, middle-aged woman wearing cat-eye glasses and a cardigan and sporting a bowl-shaped haircut. She knew little about veterinary medicine yet was responsible for my small cohort of five doctors. Her role was to make sure we learned from the workshop and tied the lessons back to our work in the markets, where we would train doctors and practice managers in client communication.
What did she do as a coach? She didn't blow whistles or carry a stopwatch. Instead, she asked the best questions in a non-threatening way, in a way that made you think. She seemed so wise and observant and was a great listener. Her superpower, however, was the powerful questions she asked and her ability to wait for your answer. We learned so much from our two days with her; we talked about the experience for years. And for me, it kicked off an awareness and love of coaching as a skill.
Since then, I've had many coaches pass through my life. I've had workshop coaches, executive coaches, business coaches, and public speaking coaches. Everyone was memorable and left a significant mark on me as a person and a leader. As an example, the reason I made a career change in 2022 was because my coach led me through a visioning exercise when I was at a very low point and didn't know where to go next. From that exercise, I realized I had a dream to teach and coach veterinary leaders, which included public speaking and writing, so here I am today, making it happen. Thank you, Sherry.
What is Coaching, and Why Should You Want It?
Coaching is a process in which a skilled coach helps a person or group achieve a goal. They help the client identify challenges and apply self-awareness so they can change their behaviors to achieve an outcome. A coach doesn't have to be experienced in your field, but many are. While certification isn't required to coach, there are many high-quality certification programs that provide in-depth training and continuing education for coaches.
The reason a coach doesn't have to be an expert is because they don't need to have the answers. They do need to know how to ask the right questions to unlock answers from their clients. A good coach shouldn't tell you what to do but find out what you want to do and, with an objective perspective, guide you to find the most effective solutions. A coach also doesn't do it for you. While they help you make the plan, you're the one who has to engage, activate, and follow through.
Here are all the things a coach has done for me and can do for you:
Develop self-awareness by getting to know yourself with personality assessments.
Envision and define your dreams and turn them into real plans and goals.
Connect with your best self, provide encouragement, and build your confidence.
Understand your gaps and weaknesses for development or mitigation.
Create accountability with action planning and follow-through.
Teach you how to solve problems and rebound from failures.
Help you reach career, business, or professional goals.
As you can tell, I'm a fan of coaching and think everyone should have one, but be prepared to pay for a good coach, which can range from $100-$500 per session for life or fitness coaches and from $500 - $5,000 for business coaches, with niche executive coaches being the highest paid. If it seems expensive, know that it's also a very worthwhile investment, with a 95% satisfaction level by coaching participants who often make higher wages or achieve more productivity. When I did a quick Google search, I found numerous studies that report a very high return on investment in coaching.
So, in spite of my childhood coach experiences, my perspective on coaching has changed 180 degrees, and there are likely sports coaches out there who do these same things for athletes (but maybe not in grade school). How else could we have world-class athletes and Olympians?
My passion for coaching is why I started Reality Vet Coaching & Consulting. While I do have deep experience in the industry and hospital operations, and I can provide direction and advice, that's the consulting side. The coaching side helps my clients find their own way, which is life-changing and much more likely to create lasting results. So, are you ready to try coaching? Join me for the next blog, where I'll discuss the differences between coaches and other advisor roles and how to utilize one best.
