Reflections: 10 Years as a Coach
December 05, 2011 at 9:43 PM
With 2011 coming to an end, so does my 10th year as a coach. Over the years I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to assess, coach, and/or train hundreds of people ranging from recently released prisoners to senior executives in business and government; large organizations; non-profits; and small businesses. I’ve had the opportunity to ride sidecar with people as they face challenges in their personal and professional lives – cheering them on when they succeeded, holding their hand and supporting them when they don’t, and giving them a good swift kick in the ass when they need it. I am honored that the clients with whom I’ve worked have let me into their lives so they can grow and flourish.
It’s impossible to spend as much time with people as I’ve had without learning something about the human condition along the way. Each client and each organization has taught me something. The common denominator is that deep down people want to have a positive impact and make a contribution to their family, organization, community or the world – even when they don’t know how. People don’t get up in the morning and say; “I want to fail, be mean, disappoint or anger people” – it just happens sometimes, even when people are doing the best they can at the moment. I’ve learned that there is no playbook on how to get along with others. Whether at home or at work , people’s attempts to get their needs met collide with others who are trying to do the same.
Finally I’ve learned that human beings are incredibly resilient and have the capacity to adapt, grow, change and evolve. In order to do so takes time, effort, support, and a willingness to step out of their comfort zone. They must be willing to fail for the sake of growth. It is this willingness to transform that inspires me the most because, at its core, leadership development is human development. As we develop our capacity as human beings, we develop our capacity as leaders - creating a better world for all of us.
And so, it is with tremendous gratitude that I look back on the last ten years and with great hope that I look forward to ten years to come. I am grateful to the mentors, teachers, colleagues, friends and family who have supported me along this journey – I am clear that without them, I wouldn’t be where I am. Most importantly though I am grateful for the clients and organizations who have entrusted me and served as my teachers. Each one lives on in my heart and will inform my work for the decade to come.