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 Coach Institute of Ireland

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

Eileen Meehan Asha Coaching

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.

SPEAKING THE SAME LANGUAGE

The potential growth for coaching is endless but first coaches need to connect with entrepreneurs. Terry Judge of Mind Solutions While the coaching phenomenon may be taking off, Terry Judge of Mind Solutions believes that the number of entrepreneurs that have a coach is quite small. “There is disconnect between the language that coaches and entrepreneurs use. “There is huge potential for coaching to grow further, but the reason it hasn’t is because the language that coaches use is not really the language that entrepreneurs use”. EXPECTATIONS Judge is definite that if you are going to speak to somebody you have to speak the same language. “Entrepreneurs want to know what the results are going to be. They want to know what they are going to get from this. I don’t tell them what to do, its up to them to come up with the solutions to their challenges, my job is to bring clarity and focus,” he says. RESULTS “It is hard to articulate the views that go around your head to somebody else. Fear uncertainty and doubt is within us all so the quality of our lives is determined by the quality of our communication with ourselves.” “With training people can go on courses but that doesn’t necessarily deliver any behavioural improvement. Coaching ensures that the person continues to change and enables them to reach their objectives and goals.

SUCCESS IS A JOURNEY, NOT A DESTINATION

Is success the result of hard work, exacting plans and driving determination and ambition? Lorna McDowell suggests that it could be easier. Lorna McDowell According to Deepak Chopra in his book, the Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. “Once we understand our true nature and learn to live in harmony with natural law, a sense of well-being, good health, fulfilling relationships, energy, and enthusiasm for life and material abundance will spring forth easily and effortlessly.” Even the Bible said, “Ask and it shall be given” The wealth experts say it’s that simple. The thing that gets in the way, though, is human nature. Fear of failure and lack of confidence are possibly the greatest demons to success. According to Carl Jung, there are four aspects, or archetypes, common to all humans that cause us to limit ourselves. Victim-mentality, childlike behaviour, the self-saboteur who goes so far and then dives for cover, and the prostitute that sells themselves short of their true worth, are archetypes common to all of us. Success in business is about survival, but survival is a limited state. Abundance on the other hand is rich and the transition from one to another is as simple as changing your thoughts. THINK YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS Your success will grow in relation to selfbelief and confidence. What you think in one moment, will manifest in the next. Find the easy way. Great struggle involves great resistance, leading to burn out and frustration, spreading energy of insufficiency into what you produce and your relationships. Be clear about what you want and how you want to get it. Value yourself first and others will value you in return. Energy flows where attention flows. Continual focus and motion, considered intention and regular attention keep things flowing in the right direction. The harder you hold onto something, the more likely you will lose it. Be prepared to let go of controlling the outcome. Trust and believe that there are many creative ways to achieve your goals, some that you may not even be aware of. Express your passions through your work and you can succeed. The only sustainable goals are desirable goals. Keep wealth circulating. The more you hold onto money the more likely you lose it. Wealth is meant to keep moving. It is a currency that creates happiness for the giver and the receiver. Pay every bill with pleasure. Network constantly. Where there are friends there is wealth. Success is a journey, not a destination. OFFER The first ten respondents who mention this article will receive a copy of Lorna's latest success CD A Trip into your Creative Mind. Website: www.xenergie.com