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4 Benefits of Working with a Personal Coach

4 Benefits of Working with a Personal Coach

In each of our lives, there are inflection points, moments in which we have key choices to make in our careers or personal lives.  Perhaps you’re trying to decide whether to remain in your current job or return to school to obtain new training or a degree or even to take those special skills of yours and strike out on your own as a business entrepreneur.  Whatever the challenge, you don’t have to make these critical choices on your own.  There are skilled professionals who have the training and experience to help—personal coaches.

A personal coach will help motivate you and clarify your goals so you can make informed decisions and improve the quality of your life.  Personal coaches are skilled communicators and motivators with powerful people and organizational skills.  Although there is no specific degree program that directly prepares people to become personal coaches, most have experience in counseling, consulting, social work, teaching, or human resource management—and many have obtained specialized post-graduate training to enhance their effectiveness.

If you’ve never worked with a personal coach but are considering hiring one to get you from where you are to where you want to go, you probably want to know the precise ways in which a personal coach can help you.  Specifically, your personal coach will help you:

  1. Clarify your goals:  success is at the intersection of what you love doing and what you do better than almost anyone else.  A personal coach will help you identify those activities which energize and motivate you, and then determine from among these the ones in which you excel.  For example, you might be the person to whom everyone comes when they have a problem because they know you’ll be compassionate and have the skills to find a solution—but it might never have occurred to you that those people and problem-solving skills would make you a successful counselor or psychologist.  Your coach will not only help you identify your skills and competencies, but also show you what steps you need to take to launch a new career which better meets your needs.
  2. Stick to your plan:  one of the reasons people’s plans fall off the rails is that they encounter obstacles and eventually lose interest.  A personal coach will help you understand that those obstacles are part of the process of making progress and help you keep your eyes on the prize.   In those moments when you’ve experienced failure and begin to lose heart, your coach will remind you of how much progress you’ve already made and help you understand how much closer you are to your goal today than you were yesterday.
  3. Give objective feedback:  if you’ve ever shared a problem with a friend or family member, only to hear them tell you what they think you want to hear, you know how valuable unbiased feedback can be.  Your coach is there to ensure that you make progress towards your goals—when your coach evaluates the actions you need to take, he or she will do so objectively, providing an honest and forthright assessment of what you’re doing right—and what you’re doing wrong.
  4. Focus on you:  as much as those close to you want to help, they have problems and concerns of their own.  Your coach has a single-minded purpose—to help you.  You will always have his or her complete attention, unimpeded by his or her own concerns and issues.

Conclusion

Anything worth doing requires both hard work and a commitment strong enough to carry you through the rough patches and obstacles in your way.  By working with a personal coach, you will have a determined and constant advocate who will help you move outside of your comfort zone to face whatever challenges are in your way.   Personal coaching will enhance your personal development, help you achieve your career goals, and ensure you take the actions necessary to get you where you need to be, and where you want to go.

Want to find out more about Nadia’s take control coaching program? Find out more here!

Stop Dreading Mondays | Nadia La Russa

Stop Dreading Monday – How the First Day of the Week Broadens Your Goals

Fridays fill us with weekend anticipation. Sundays make our stomachs sink with mundane Monday anxiety. Whether your Mondays are spent refining last week’s work, or you’re going to pitch new ideas, it can be very overwhelming.

Truth: You don’t have to dread Mondays.

In fact, you can use Mondays to your advantage. Whether you are an employee of a multi-national company working towards a promotion, or an entrepreneur on the path to a bright career, you need to be ahead of the curve. Sometimes, we can’t get ahead of our own negativity. That sense of dread really impacts your work ethic, lifestyle, and values. It’s time for a change, and that change can start on your next Sunday evening to broaden your goals.

 

Write Down Everything You Love About Monday

Seriously, simple things are what make us whole. Write down everything you love to do on Mondays. Anything from your daily commute to the office, to talking to someone you enjoy being around. Is Monday the perfect day for one of your favourite tasks? Take note of that!

 

A Sunday for Reflection

We get so wrapped up in training others and thinking about our gains ahead of time, that we forget about the beautiful beginnings in front of us. The new year can be seen as a new beginning, the first few weeks of spring remind us of what is to come. Why not stop to reflect on how much you have already. Breathe and feel gratitude.

 

Dare to Innovate

Do you have a new idea you’ve been dying to try, but you can’t get past your own rationale or make time? Maybe you want to open a store for handmade crafts or perfect your gluten-free baking skills! Be daring and start a new hobby that you can do when you want to unwind. #motivationmonday

 

Write Out a List of Inventions

We have bolts of genius, and we don’t even realize it. Create a list of any inventions or ideas that pop into your head. This is a great mind exercise for those who can’t stop thinking about the next step. Start your list on a Monday and see how many ideas you have by the end of the week. Who knows? One of those ideas might be your next career move!

 

Giving Back

Compliment someone’s dress or make time to tell someone how much you appreciate their hard work! If you work with a group, the extra positivity will enhance co-operation and create a lighter work day.

Putting a smile on someone else’s face also boosts your confidence levels. Try something as simple as paying it forward – next time you head to your local coffee shop, buy the next person’s coffee for them. It’s a win-win as you’ll both feel great!

 

Exercise the Dread Away

Even if it’s 20 crunches or 15 squats, exercising increases confidence levels and relaxes your brain. Your Monday might be super busy, so it’s important to do light exercises. Perhaps try exercising on a Monday evening to work off that “it’s Monday” feeling.

 

 

Treat Yourself

Giving yourself a little something extra goes a long way. It doesn’t matter if it’s a burger or a piece of clothing, treat yourself to something nice. The truth is, you work so hard towards your goals that you are probably taking advantage of yourself. So take some time to reward all that hard work.

 

Refocus Your Monday Mindset

Weekends symbolize what everyone wants the most: leisure, the freedom to be bored, spending time with our loved ones, and a break from the grind. Tomorrow is Monday, but now you have the chance to realign your ambition and aim your arrow towards practical, successful results.

Say it loud and proud: “I love Monday!”

 

Turn Off Your Notifications

Social media is a great way to read tons of informative content. It’s also a magnet for drama, fighting, and political echo chambers. Take a break from social media for a few hours. When you unplug from the social calamities, you might feel a little calmer and more focused on what you’re doing.

 

Energy Foods

What you eat plays into how you think. It’s good to indulge, but eating healthy is the greatest indulgence. Eat light on Sunday with fresh veggies and wholesome grains. On Monday morning, have a light breakfast ready to go! The key is “preparation” and Sunday is a great day to prep your meals for the week ahead.

Practice makes perfect. It may take a few days or weeks to get into the habit, it’s absolutely worth it. Before you know it, you’ll be wishing it was Monday every day!