Could a career coach really help me?

Words by Emma Pratt, careers coach at NABS

You’ve heard of career coaching haven’t you?  You might even have a friend or colleague who’s worked with a coach.  Perhaps you’ve contemplated having career coaching yourself, but you’re not entirely sure what it is and then, you don’t really need a coach do you?  After all, you’ve done alright so far, you’re intelligent and you’re resourceful.  So why would you need a career coach and how could career coaching possibly help you?

The benefits of coaching are actually almost limitless as our career needs, challenges and aspirations constantly change and evolve over the course of our working lives.  Be it the desire to be promoted, optimise performance in a current role, develop leadership skills, increase confidence, gain insight, or work out a career path, coaching can be of benefit at various career stages to achieve many different goals.

Similarly coaching isn’t more relevant to one person, level or industry than another, everyone can benefit from coaching.  Having a sounding board, challenger and motivator by your side will help you navigate career goals more easily, clearly, quickly and with more confidence.  In fact, some of the world’s largest and most successful corporates, business leaders and even politicians, with Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson, Donna Karan and Bill Clinton among them, are known to have a coach.

With International Coaching Week taking place the week of May 19th, there’s no better time for the Career Coaches here at NABS to share our expertise and the benefits of career coaching.

WHAT EXACTLY IS COACHING?

The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as bringing fresh perspectives on personal challenges, enhanced decision-making skills, greater interpersonal effectiveness, and increased confidence… Those who undertake coaching also can expect appreciable improvement in productivity, satisfaction with life and work, and the attainment of relevant goals.

Coaches can help you move from one place in your career to another, helping you to find the insights and answers for yourself.  Coaches are not teachers, mentors, counsellors or therapists but will instead help you reach your fullest potential and achieve satisfaction, success and ultimately fulfilment in your work, by looking forwards, with your active participation.  A coach will motivate you by increasing your awareness, responsibility and commitment to action.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF COACHING?

There are numerous ways in which career coaching can benefit both you and, importantly, your organisation.  In fact, according to the ICF Global Coaching Client Study, conducted independently by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, 99% of individuals and companies who hire a coach are “somewhat or very happy with the overall experience” and 96% would repeat the process.

SOME PERSONAL BENEEFITS OF CAREER COACHING

• Taking a pause from the day-to-day for an hour or so to focus on yourself and your career.  This gives you both the space to think without distractions and to have someone else focus fully on you. How often do any of us give ourselves the time to do that?
• Helping you to become clear and focused on what comes next in your career.  Is it developing a roadmap to achieve your career aspirations, achieving promotion, developing new skills, achieving more fulfilment from your role or creating a better work/life balance?
• Identifying your values, interests, skills, strengths and motivators, and working through what might be holding you back as well as what can move you forward
• Developing personal effectiveness, prioritising demands, gaining clarity, refining ideas, setting better goals and performing at your fullest potential
• Having a sounding board; someone to challenge you, expand your thinking, create options, develop strategies  and who will motivate you to action

Perhaps the best questions to ask yourself when deciding whether or not to work with a coach is ‘Where do I want to be in a years’ time?’ and ‘What will happen if I don’t make the change to get there?’  If the answer to the latter isn’t appealing then it’s time to talk to a NABS Career Coach.

“Coaching helped as I had somebody to listen to my story in a completely objective way, pick up on certain points I hadn’t and to challenge me on some of my ways of thinking.  I can now see the beginnings of some real structure and focus that I will really be able to build on.”

Testimonial from NABS career client

To celebrate International Coaching Week NABS are holding a lunch time drop-in session so you can experience career coaching for yourself.  Come along for a career coaching power hour where you can learn more about coaching and how it can benefit you.  You’ll also walk away with some powerful coaching tools to apply immediately that will help you on along your career path, whatever it may be.

NABS COACHING POWER HOUR – Wednesday 21st May 1pm – 2pm

To book your place call 0207 290 7070 or email nabs@nabs now.