Do you feel uninspired by your current job? Is the excitement of climbing up the corporate ladder dwindling because you think you are underperforming? Are you running a team and not seeing the results you hoped for?
Hiring a career coach is an excellent choice if you’ve answered yes to any of these questions. A career coach is an expert in career planning who partners with you to help maximize your personal and professional potential. Career coaches can help you with career planning, resume building, interviewing, negotiation, and more. The role of a career coach can change over time. His or her guidance will shift to reflect your needs at your current career stage. If you think a career coach would be beneficial for your career, here are a few things to consider :
1. Start internally. Once you have identified that you need career help, we recommend visiting your human resources department. Most departments have sections that specialize in optimizing the performance of their employees. A member of this team can recommend a career coach that will meet your needs. Ask your personal and professional network if your human resources department cannot provide a career coach to fit your needs. You’d be surprised at how many professionals hire a career coach, especially when moving up the ranks in management.
2. Research your career coach or career coaching company. When it comes to coaching, one size does not fit all. Take the time to Google your prospective coach. Review their website, social media profiles, and thought leadership content. Ask yourself, are they knowledgeable about the type of career coaching that I need? Look for testimonials from former clients who work in your industry. What was his or her experience? Did the client identify the coach as knowledgeable? What result was the coach able to help this client achieve? Simple questions can help you save time while combing your list of potential coaches.
Once you’ve narrowed down your list, it is time to consult with your coach. Most career coaches offer free consultations. During these consultations, it would be best if you asked your prospective coach about their coaching styles. This will help you identify if their structure works well with your learning style. Ask your coach about the methodologies and tools they will use to help you achieve your goals. These tools should resonate with you to ensure your success at the end of the coaching term.
3. Do the work. You’ve hired the coach; now it is time to do the work. A career coach is there to help guide you to your set goals while holding you accountable for the process. Most career coaches will present you with assignments specifically designed to help you grow in your career while helping you achieve your goals. Kevin’s YouTube video, Why a Career Coach is Worth the Spend, talks about the benefits of doing the work and how his career coach was able to help him move from a Director to Senior Director in the NBA while receiving honors from outside organizations. When you do the work set by your coach, you will see the results you are looking for. You will gain confidence as you watch your accomplishments grow personally and professionally.
4. Fall in love with the process. Of course, as you progress in your coaching, some days/weeks will be more challenging than others. However, your goal should be to fall in love with the daily practice moving you forward to your career goal, not the individual task itself. When you fall in love with the process, you appreciate the small repetitive, often dull steps that take you to that next level. Building a muscle of appreciation is vital because it is what will ultimately lead you across the finish line to the success you desire.
Do you need assistance getting to the next level in your career? Our career coaches are here to help you. Click here to request a consultation.