COACHING FOR SUCCESS

Two inspiring business and life coaches share their views on the growing phenomena and the benefits coaching can have on personal and professional relationships. Niamh MacSweeney reports.

WHY HIRE A COACH?

Vincent Byrne explains why coaching works and how to find the right coach.

Many people might be sceptical and hesitant about taking the step and hiring a coach. But according to Vincent Byrne, entrepreneurs should realise the value coaching can offer and the benefits it can have on personal and professional success. “We are all living in a different climate and we are constantly trying to move to the next stage in life. So we need to look at our life, decide who do we want to be and work out how we can still keep a good balance,” he explains.

VALUE OF COACHING

Although Byrne agrees that in business people are working under a lot more pressure, he maintains that coaching can act as a counter-balance. “Coaching really is putting in work in advance to prepare well for what is ahead. People learn that when you achieve your goals it creates momentum and the motivation to do things is the motivation for tomorrow as well.”

Convinced of the benefits coaching can have, he attributes the growing phenomenon with success. “Coaching is associated with success because it is concerned with improving performance,” he says. According to Byrne entrepreneurs are the best people to work out their own problems and relationships. “Sometimes from just talking it helps to give a little emotional distance from the problem and by doing that maybe they can see something that they couldn’t do before.”

THE RIGHT COACH FOR YOU

Finding a coach that you like and that you would feel comfortable working with can be a big decision to make. The best advice is to initially talk to three or four coaches in order to find the right one. Byrne adds that it is eqally important when deciding on a coach to establish if the coach is accredited with a body like the Coach Institute and the Life and Business Coaching Association of Ireland. “The important thing is that a coach is trained to a high degree and has expertise in some discipline where the coaching will be used.”

COACHING AS A CAREER

If you are thinking of becoming a coach, Byrne has plenty of advice. Perhaps the most important consideration for any potential coach is passion. “You must have a clear idea of why you want to be a coach and what you think the benefits of coaching will be,” he says. He also maintains that generally coaches don’t seek the limelight. Coaches work behind the scenes and tend to be people that like interaction and can communicate well. “As a coach you want clients to do well especially as you are dealing with their dreams. Coaches want to understand and to bring a sense and balance,” he concludes.

HELPING TO UTILISE YOUR POTENTIAL

We all have a purpose in life. For Eileen Meehan her vocation is helping others to utilise their potential and find their own purpose.

‘Asha’ is sanskrit for hope, something that has been very important for this emerging entrepreneur. Meehan admits that in every interaction she finds herself trying to figure out how people could lead more fulfilled lives. Combine her helpful nature with her entrepreneurial spirit and it is only natural that she should be attracted to the prospect of forging a successful career as a coach. “It came quite naturally as it is something that I love. When you find what it is you’re supposed to do, it’s a very empowering and freeing sensation,” she says.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

At present the market for coaching in Ireland is extremely good but Meehan warns that although the country’s economic status is “fantastic”, there are still some underlying issues that need to be addressed. “It’s now easier to fall into a career trap; it’s easier to get a well paid, secure job. Many people don’t have the motivation to pursue a life path that they really want. Meehan supports her argument with a quote - ‘Sometimes doing what we’re good at prevents us from doing what we’re great at’.

BENEFITS OF COACHING

Clearly Meehan loves the diversity of her job. From the variety of clients to the different approaches she must adapt, the various aspects of the job give her the immense satisfaction. According to Meehan all coaches offer tailored solutions to clients. “I offer a total support to people, with unconditional positive regard, helping them in any way I can to discover what it is that a fulfilled, purposeful life means for them.”

She explains further, “some people respond extremely well to affirmations, meditation and visualisation exercises, but others need more concrete action activities. I try to utilise whatever method of change that connects with the client.” Ent rep reneu rial at ribute s Meehan believes that total belief, persistence, and faith is the key to entrepreneurial success. Although there can be disadvantages to being your own boss, for her, the positives clearly outweigh the negatives. “Not having a stable salary every month and having to assume total responsibility for business decisions isn’t always easy. But now I have much more energy and motivation and am able to create exactly what I want, working in the manner that best suits me.”

ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT

Meehan doesn’t focus on failure and believes that she is generating a greater acceptance and understanding of life. “I keep my mind occupied with useful thoughts because I’ve learnt that what you focus on expands, so it’s not logical to focus on failure.” She believes that thought-processes are very important. “Thoughts create feelings which in turn create external results. If your mind is kept on how much value you can add to people’s lives, then you will see the results you want,” she concludes.

WORK/LIFE BALANCE

Balancing Genius with Life: Developing your Work/Life Balance “Genius is mainly an affair of energy,” said Matthew Arnold once. How much do you have of it on a daily basis and what kind do you have? So you left the rat race to go it alone in search of higher fulfilment and yet you seem to be working more hours and taking more risks than ever before. You tell yourself that it will be worth it in the end. Sure it will. But how are you faring physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually on the journey? Is your energy nervous energy, dutiful energy or real pure ecstatic and abundant energy, the sort that gives birth to amazing things? Lorna McDowell is a life/executive coach and motivational speaker on personal development and business creativity. Trusting Your Gut Entrepreneurship and great gut instinct go hand in hand. Listening and trusting your gut works best when you feel on form. When you feel off form, everything is tainted with tiredness and all too quickly sets off a negative spiral of events. You doubt your decisions, you start to procrastinate and opportunities may be missed. Before you know it, you’re irritated, exhausted and in an argument. Staying on form means staying in your body and not getting lost in your head. Entrepreneurs, by nature, spend too much time in their heads, ecstatically spinning, ideas, often abandoning the body in pursuit of intellectual hit. Finding That Energy Our bodies can tell us so much about situations, if we choose to listen. In the words of Deepak Chopra, “the idea of perfect health depends upon perfect balance. Everything you eat, say, think, do, see and feel affects your overall state of balance.” Re-read this quotation with heightened awareness of the day you are having. Lorna McDowell is a life/executive coach and motivational speaker on personal development and business creativity. Visit www.xenergie.com Top Tips For Increasing Abundant Energy And Awareness: Meditation: Start the day with 20 mins meditation (engaged silence) to connect to all parts of yourself and set your mood for the day Exercise: Stretching exercises eg yoga, pilates, help you become aware of all extremities and muscles of your body, developing your overall awareness Walk: Walk 50 mins a day in nature, alone and in silence Make mealtimes a joyous ritual – don’t hurry it! Eliminate: Detox your body for a week at least 3 times a year and the clutter in your office weekly. Drink 8 glasses of water a day Breathe: Busy people often forget to breathe properly. Half a breath allows only half a life. Deep breathing from the stomach up to the diaphragm ensures good circulation and calm, grounded states of being Stay Alert: Change your position every 50 mins to stay alert – after this time, ultradium rhythms in the mind send it into trance so you will lose concentration and awareness unless you move Buffer Zones: Create ‘buffer zones’ with rituals between scenes of your day eg 5 min walk, between meetings Sleep: Hit the sack before midnight