The Art of Coaching and Being Coached
Coaching worked for me
Coaching is a partnership between a coach and a client. I would describe it as a team effort, in which each party gains from the relationship. I find myself learning as much about myself from coaching as my clients find out about themselves.
There is usually a goal, a single target. The route to that target can be broken down into manageable steps, sub-routes or streams. The goal and the routes can be external or internal.
As an example…
During my recent coaching journey I set myself a 12 month goal “to set myself free to work as a professional actor.” This was after a long period out of the theatre world.
I came up with three milestones:
1. Improve Skills
2. Get Fitter
3. Network
The mini-steps toward those milestones began simply by booking some theatre tickets, running in the park and doing some riding lessons. Successfully carrying out those minor tasks gave me faith that I could achieve a bit more.
So I started booking classes with TV directors and theatre casting directors. After seeing plays, I tweeted some responses @ the appropriate directors. And I increased my running/jogging times, cut down on calories and felt much better about everything.
My coaching sessions helped me to focus not only on completing the practical steps, but also on my internal journey - becoming the best version of myself that I could be. After 12 months, I would have felt that the process had been worthwhile in and of itself. However, in addition, I managed to land a leading role in a professional theatre production - the first I have had in a long time.
Coaching worked for me, and I know I can help my clients make it work for them.