Last week I wrote about what a (business or life) coach is. This post is dedicated to why everyone needs a coach and what they can do for you. Professional athletes, who get paid millions of dollars to play a sport professionally, all have coaches. The coach serves as the person from the side-lines, observing the individual and team’s actions, and providing correction action, suggestion, and direction. In the same way, a professional (business or life) coach is there to help see what you cannot, for a number of reasons, provide suggestions, direction, and potential corrective action. The question is, do I really need a coach?
 
This can be challenging for several reasons:

1. They can be expensive.
2. I don’t know why I need one.
3. What can they really do for me?
4. I thought only athletes need coaches?

 
A coach is there to see what you cannot. You may be too close to the situation to have an unbiased position, they are able to see things from a different perspective and provide insight otherwise left unseen, or may simply be better at something than you are and can help solve an issue by asking the right questions, providing new insight, or giving you a little nudge in the right direction.
 
Reasons why you may consider hiring a coach:

1. I am looking to grow in my profession.
2. I would like to become a better leader, marketer, writer, etc.
3. I have a short-term goal to achieve
4. I have no clue what to do (who says you need to know what to do?!)

 
Number 3 (above) could be done in a number of ways – hiring a consultant to help resolve your issue, bringing on a new team member to fill a void, training for yourself or your team, etc. There are a several ways to accomplish your goal, a coach is another method (depending on what it is).
 
What to look for in a coach. Look for someone who:

1. Is an expert in the area you are looking to improve.
2. Has a proven track record.
3. Lives a morally and ethically sound life (a quick internet search shows a lot)
4. Has some of the characteristics and attributes you agree with.
5. Is what you can afford.

 
Number 5 is a little tricky. There are some coaches out there that charge flat rates, per hour, or per project. If it is a project based fee, then this is really a consultant as they should be providing something tangible like a documented improved process, marketing plan, etc. Some are better than others. You may be charged $100-$1000 per hour (or more), or have a nominal (or significant) retainer. The reason it is tricky, is without the coach, could you have succeeded without them? Had you not paid the $2500 per month retainer for 6 months, would you have been able to improve your marketing return on investment by $500,000, or hired the right team and increased revenue by 30%? The question is, would you rather spend $5000 and earn $30,000 or spend $20,000 and earn $100,000?
 
How to be a good coachee:

1. Be open to suggestions.
2. Take action based on the suggestions.
3. Understand that you don’t know everything (and you don't have to).
4. Communicate openly with your coach.
5. Leverage the accessibility of your coach.
6. Don’t underestimate your coach’s ability.
7. Hold your coach accountable to what they say they will do for you.

 
Finding the right coach for your situation may be challenging but beneficial for you, your team, and your organization, no matter how large or small. I encourage you to consider to options and get yourself a coach.
 
What do you think about this? Do you have a coach? Are you a coach? Please share your experiences by posting your comments here.
 
Until next time…
Jared

A while back, I wrote about what a mentor is. You can check that out here. Mentors and coaches are somewhat used synonymously, but they are actually different. A mentor is someone who will guide you along your journey to achieve a certain goal, usually to gain a promotion, become better at a certain aspect of your job or role (such as leadership, accounting, etc.).
 
A coach, on the other hand, is there to help you improve in a certain area of your work (professional business) or life (life coach). Each have a different purpose. Within each coaching type, you will find coaches that specialize in more specific areas based on their area of expertise. For example, some business coaches focus on leadership, efficiency, accounting, or general business practices.
 
A business coach will help with improve:

1. Leadership effectiveness
2. Effective counseling techniques
3. Recruiting and retention methods
4. Work-life balance
5. More…

 
A business coach will also:

1. Act as a sounding-board for decision-making
2. Help during times of uncertainty
3. Generally, be available for questions and consultation during specified hours to help address general best business practices
4. Typically charges a retainer to have access to the coach (much like a retainer for a lawyer)

 
A life coach will:

1. Improve overall life satisfaction
2. Help define life goals
3. Identify possible career changes
4. Improve work-life balance
5. More…

 
A life coach is not a board-certified therapist. A life coach will help identify areas in your life that can be improved upon, and help make recommendations. One of these recommendations may be to seek professional counseling as a means to improve in a certain area of your life.
 
Both business and life coaches will provide recommendations. Typically, that is all they are – recommendations. So, it is up to you to decipher whether (or not) the advice/recommendation given is right for you. Keep in mind that the coach is giving you their best advice, to help you succeed, and be the best you can. Your time is valuable, and so is theirs. If you disagree (completely) with your coach too often, you may not have the right coach for you. If you find this to be true, perhaps seek a different coach. They will do the same (if they are any good). It doesn’t help either party to continue a relationship (because that is what it is) if neither are agreeing with each other or are dissatisfied.
 
Next week, I will discuss why everyone needs a coach.
 
Until next time…
Jared

Last week I brought up the difference between knowledge and wisdom. I could go into depth to explain the differences between the two, but I believe the themes and quotes in this article present the differences quite well – better than I could. A little disclosure here. These themes and quotes were presented by Dr. Alan Kluge, George Fox University, on June 8, 2017. I found this knowledge to be quite valuable and too good not to share. Knowledge gained and shared when appropriate, is wisdom.
 
If you like what you read here, or have additional quotes, themes, or other comments, please post them below or send us an email. I look forward to your responses.

Until next week,
​Jared
 
Themes

• Wisdom can’t be acquired simply through reading books; knowledge is one thing, wisdom quite another.
• Wise people continue to doubt themselves (and that’s part of what makes them wise).
• Wisdom is positively related to happiness.
• Wisdom must be distinguished from mere cleverness (which frequently “poses” as wisdom).
• Wise people talk less, are silent more, and listen more than those lacking wisdom.
• Wisdom is a function of time and experience (which are prerequisites to it).
• Wisdom derives more from mistakes and failures than from success.
• Wisdom has as its antonyms foolishness or folly . . . but not always.
• Wisdom is antithetical to fear. In fact, it’s what enables a person to overcome fear.
• Wise people are also humble. There’s really no such thing as someone who is both proud or arrogant and wise.
• Wisdom, and its quest, breed kindness and compassion.

 
Sayings on wisdom

• It is the province of knowledge to speak. And it is the privilege of wisdom to listen. Oliver Wendell Holmes
• To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one most observe. Marilyn vos Savant
• We can have all the knowledge in the world, but it means nothing without the wisdom to know what to do with it. Marie Osmond
• The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of our own ignorance. Benjamin Franklin
• There is a wisdom of the head, and there is a wisdom of the heart. Charles Dickens
• Knowledge without wisdom is a load of books on the back of an ass. Japanese Proverb
• Adversity brings knowledge, and knowledge wisdom. Welsh Proverb
• Knowledge is learning something every day. Wisdom is letting go of something every day. Zen Proverb
• Knowing when to walk away is wisdom.
• Knowledge is having the right answer. Wisdom is asking the right question.
• Knowledge is knowing what to say. Wisdom is knowing when to say it.
• Knowledge is realizing that the street is one way. Wisdom is looking both directions anyway.
• Knowledge is doing things right. Wisdom is doing the right thing.

Leon F Selzer, (2012).  The wisest quotes on wisdom. Psychology Today, https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolution-the-self/201204/the-wisest-quotes-wisdom