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I made a mistake last week ...
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Hi Reader, Coaching: I Made a Mistake Last WeekI hope to correct it here. When I introduced my executive coaching services last week, I fell short in explaining the value and possibilities of individual coaching — not necessarily from me, but absolutely from someone. That was the important point I didn’t make clearly. What I hope you’ll see now is why individual coaching is so valuable to so many — and what it could offer you. See for yourself. The Value of Coaching is IncontrovertibleI'm going to take a few moments this week to talk directly about coaching — today for yourself — and on Wednesday, for your team. One of the most obvious places you can see it is in sports, both college and professional. There are countless top performers in sports, as an example, who acknowledge that they’ve had coaches for their entire career. Why do Tiger Woods and Tom Brady need a coach, you ask? They’re already pretty good and headed to the Hall of Fame. They recognize they can always get better – and understand they can’t always see their shortcomings or how to correct them. It's clearly worked for them throughout their professional lives. Here is a small sample of some of the leading voices in the world of High Performance on the value of coaching. Andy Stanley, Next Generation LeaderAndy Stanley observes, in his book, Next Generation Leader, that “you will never maximize your potential in any area without coaching. It is impossible." He further emphasizes that a good coach... "helps you measure your performance against your strengths instead of against someone else’s." Bill Gates, retired Founder of Microsoft“Everyone needs a coach… We all need people who will give us feedback. That’s how we improve.” Gates's statement comes from his 2013 TED talk: Everyone Needs a Coach. Eric Schmidt, former Google CEOSchmidt recalls advice he received from John Doerr. (John Doerr is the billionaire investor and Chairman of venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, an early investor in giants like Amazon and Google.) “You need a coach.” Schmidt’s initial reaction was essentially, I’m an experienced CEO — why would I need one? Then Doerr asked whether tennis players have coaches. Schmidt says that argument got him, and he immediately hired a coach. It’s about PerspectiveThat’s the overwhelming judgment from executives, athletes and performers. It gives them a perspective they can’t get for themselves. It’s the same reason in professional football, for example, that you see a team of coaches in the press box high above the stadium who get a perspective on plays and players that couldn’t come from any other source. Who Does That For You?Who gives you that perspective? Who notices what you’re missing, questions your assumptions and helps you think through a difficult decision? If you believe coaching could help you become more effective and prepare for greater responsibility, ask your boss to support it. In many of the cases I’ve seen, companies pay for coaching for their leaders. Explain what you want to improve and how that improvement would benefit the organization. If company support isn’t available, consider whether coaching is an investment you’re willing to make in yourself. Explore what coaching can offer you. You can learn more through my complimentary 5-Part Coaching Series or start with a conversation. Don't Stop Leading! |
Sword Tips
Become a member of the Sword Tips community and subscribe to our Weekly Leadership Insights series. After signing up, you will begin receiving practical strategies, tips, and insights about the world of Leadership.
Hi Reader, Yeah, I know. You saw the title and thought, oh no, he's not going to talk about Annual Planning, is he? I hate that stuff so much! Yup. I get it. Have You Finished Your 2027 Plan? Should have … could have … might have? If it isn’t finished, any chance you’re waiting for a clear view of the future? When will the wars end? Will the rising cost of living stop growing so fast? What will the future look like when it does? For sure, there’s plenty of uncertainty to go around. You don’t...
Hi Reader, Friday is when I share a few leadership ideas, interesting discoveries and questions that caught my attention during the week. In case you missed the earlier Newsletters this week, you can find them here: On Monday, we talked about Lies vs. Mistakes and began our conversation about the challenges of admitting our mistakes in How Often Have You Heard, "The Coverup Is Worse Than The Crime"? On Wednesday, I shared The 6 Powerful Benefits of Admitting Your Mistakes to help you overcome...
Hi Reader, On Monday, we separated the “mistake” from the “lie” and talked about how easy it is to slide into denial and coverup while failing to see the value of admitting our mistakes. Let’s dig a little deeper and consider the many advantages of admitting our mistakes. Before we get there, let’s be clear about one thing. Honesty Is An Integral Part Of Our Integrity. No, they are not the same thing. Honesty is telling the truth. Integrity raises the bar, aligning your actions with your...