The Trouble with Coaching

The Trouble with CoachingnnThe trouble with coaching is that it challenges you to play a bigger game. And, when you engage in playing a bigger game, feelings of self-doubt and overwhelm accompany you onto the playing field – alongside the feelings of excitement and bravado! Fortunately, a great coach can provide expert guidance through this time of temporary turmoil with personalized teaching that expands your capabilities. Coaches not only help you play bigger, they help you play better, and win! Players who think they can play a big game without a coach are deluded. Athletes who are playing big games don’t even think about playing without having a coach at their side. And neither should you. Having a coach is assurance that you will play at your best. The pitfalls of playing without a coach are isolation, frustration and overwhelm, to name a few. So why do some business owners, professionals or those involved in the game of business think that they can play a big game without a coach? It just doesn’t make sense, does it? Playing an unwinnable game just isn’t any fun! Many leaders and executives are stuck in an unwinnable game. How do you know when you are playing an unwinnable game? If you aren’t starting your day enthused about what lies ahead each day, or worse - dreading the day ahead of you, chances are good that you are in an unwinnable game. Another related clue, is that at the end of the day you feel drained and exhausted rather than energized about how you played that day. You will likely feel like you’re further behind than when you started. You feel depleted. Yet another clue is that you continue to fuel yourself with coffee and snacks to get through the day. All of these situations - along with routinely feeling isolated, frustrated and overwhelmed - are indications of playing an unwinnable game. An unwinnable game is scoreless and feels useless. Another problem is not playing a game that matters – a game worth playing. Ask yourself, “Why am I playing this game?” If your game does not have meaning for you, if there is no compelling reason that taps your gifts – your purpose in life, obstacles will continually be bigger than your desire and you will feel defeated. So how does coaching address this situation? An experienced coach helps you design a winnable game worth playing! When you have a winnable game worth playing, and you know that you can win on your own terms, you are able to play bigger, play better and win. And, most importantly, have fun!nnnOnce you and your coach have designed a winnable game worth playing, your coach works with you to develop a game plan, which includes daily practices, a weekly scorecard and relevant strategies. After your coach puts you “in the game”, your inner game and environmental design (people, places, things and ideas that support you – or not) are addressed. Your progress is continually monitored, and adjustments made, to take advantage of what’s working and eliminate what is not. Everyone has a desire to play games, to play ‘the game of their life’. Coaching addresses the problem of playing an unwinnable game, and eliminates the related symptoms of isolation, frustration and overwhelm. As a coach, I help my clients design a winnable game worth playing, and help them see where and how they can play bigger and play better. I coach winners! Call me if you want to be counted among the winning players on my team! All Rights Reserved 2007 Steve Brewsternwww.brewsterconsulting.comnwww.stevebrewster.comn403-283-5706