Research shows that people who are most satisfied by their work are in careers that reflect who they really are and what they really want from life. For the majority of us though, it’s tough to find out what we really want by thinking things through on our own. And it can be tougher still to actually make big changes.
Working with a career coach gives you a structured, totally objective way to find out what sort of work is the right fit for you and to put together an action plan to make sure you go out and get it. A good career coach will also help you to deal with that nagging voice most of us have which comes up with a million and one reasons why you won’t be able to change.
So, what do career coaches actually do?
Working one to one with you, they use exercises, tools and questioning to help you identify that vital information about who you really are and what you really want.
Coaches take a “whole life” approach to you finding your ideal job. This means that as well as helping you to identify, among other things, your favourite skills, achievements and what motivates you about work, they’ll also help you to uncover information about your personal values, strengths, interests and purpose. So, career coaching also has the benefit of helping you feel more fulfilled in other areas of your life.
When you’re clear about your “must haves”, your coach will then help you to generate possible work options, based on themes that really appeal to you. Because you can judge the options against the facts of your “must haves” you put an end to random possibilities flying around in your head.
Finally, you’ll put together a realistic action plan to take you from where you are now to where you want to be – no matter what your current circumstances.
How do coaches work with you?
Like a life coach, a career coach helps you to uncover answers and find direction for yourself. They won’t tell you what to do. A good coach believes you’re completely capable of sorting things out but just need a hand with getting the answers. They won’t treat you like a simpleton who needs to be fixed by them!
Working in partnership with you, they’ll listen to you very carefully – often as much for what you might not be saying as for what you are saying. They’ll help you to really explore what’s important to you and unlike a friend, they won’t be afraid to challenge you if they think you’re selling yourself short. Probably most important of all, they’ll help to keep you focused and give you support.
Who benefits from career coaching?
Anyone can benefit from coaching at any stage of their working life - people in their twenties who are wondering if they’ve made the right initial choice of career, thirty and forty somethings who may be successful and established but feel bored and/or lacking in purpose and people in their fifties who want to try something different before they retire.
If you feel your existing job is somehow not right for you and want to get clear about what’s next, you’ll benefit from working with a career coach.
You’ll need to invest time and energy into it but the pay off of career coaching is huge. If what you want is work you’ll genuinely enjoy, career coaching will help you get it. So, this January really could be the last time you get those back to work blues!
Michelle Bayley is a Certified Professional Life and Career Coach. To find out more about coaching with Michelle click here to find out more.