I love listening to podcasts, reading, and attending training on specific areas of interest to me, including leadership, entrepreneurship, or HR knowledge, but when I need help with something specific to me, the most effective way is to work with a coach. My coach works with my individual needs at the time and holds me accountable to achieve my goals. She frequently brings a different perspective to my situation or asks me questions I hadn’t thought about.

Why you might need or want a coach for yourself or one of your team members

• You’re feeling stuck in a current role and not sure how to move up or out
• You need particular assistance in a certain area; maybe you’re struggling to delegate, better manage your time, or build a strong team
• You’re looking for a new role outside of your current skillset

Are you interested but not sure how to get your boss to pay for a coach?

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Show some vulnerability; tell them you are working to improve and want to be a stronger team member. Asking for help can be a sign of strength, not weakness.
• Be a high performer, show determination, do your best, and make a commitment to improve; your organization will be more likely to support you.
• Frame it as a follow up to a training program. “I recently attended training on conflict management; I learned a lot, but also realized that I have a lot more to learn. Working with a coach will help me.”
• Frame it as an opportunity to reach a goal. “I set an aggressive goal this year and I’m seeing improvement. Working with a coach will help me to improve even faster.”
• Be specific. “I’ve grown a lot as a manager this past year, and my results or performance reviews show it. One particular area I still want to improve on is time management, and I have a found a recommended coach who can help me with this.”
• Have a plan and know the costs. “I reached out to Purple Ink about their coaching plans. I can work with a coach on this topic for this budget, and I expect to recoup that cost by increasing my productivity.”

I recently asked one of my current coaching clients a few questions and thought you might enjoy her perspective. Her initial goal in working with a coach was to increase her ability to get promoted within her organization.

What did you get out of being coached?

“Confidence is the number one benefit I’ve gained. Having my coach listen to me deeply and intentionally and then processing my thoughts and responding with reinforcement or a different perspective is really quite life-changing. Coaching provides a safety net. I trust her fully to share my biggest fears and challenges. That’s huge to get these things off my mind and into the open where we can dissect them and think about ideas and solutions.“

What surprised you about your coaching experience?

“The impact it can make in a short time! I was feeling and experiencing changes within a few months. I continue to learn and grow and change with each coaching interaction. I’m also surprised by the sense of peace coaching has brought to me. The process has shown me that my original goals might not be what I want after all. It gets you wondering, questioning, and challenging yourself to think differently and work toward different goals. What mattered to me before is different than what matters most to me now. Coaching has helped me mature as a professional.”

We have recently helped coaching clients to

• Begin their career search
• Enhance their brand in their role
• Think about different career paths in their current organization
• Increase their HR skills
• Creatively solve problems
• Build stronger teams
• Better understand how to name, claim, and aim their CliftonStrengths®
• Work through new situations in a new role

If you’re ready to start working with a coach, we can set up a phone, live meeting or zoom call to meet your coaching needs. Reach out to me to find out who on our Purple Ink team might be the best fit for you or your team members.