3 Reasons You May Want To Engage a Career Coach
Photo by Jeffrey F Lin on Unsplash
One of the first things that I do when I sit down with someone (virtually or in-person) to discuss their career is seek to understand why we’re meeting. I’m fortunate in that people reach out to me at various stages of their career.
Some are just graduating from school and are seeking advice on how to land their first job.
Others have been in their careers for some time and are looking to transition jobs or companies.
Some have been passed over for jobs and are looking to better understand why and what can be done.
Etc - the reasons vary
Usually, the purpose falls into one of four buckets:
Happy, but ready for something a new challenge
Unhappy, but not sure where to turn
Unsure why we’re here today – looking for direction/guidance
Know why we’re here today – looking for direction/guidance
These are oversimplified and not all-inclusive but serve us well for today’s discussion. One of my primary insights from our conversations is that everyone can benefit from a coach at some point. I’m not sure when it happened, but somewhere along the way, we were conditioned to think, “I can do this on my own” – whatever it may be. In elementary school and in sports up and through college, whenever we had a question about what direction to go, we could ask a guidance counselor, teacher, or coach and they would help us. However, after college, when we’re “grown up,” we don’t have these individuals in our lives to guide us anymore. At least, we think we don’t.
When it comes to your career, I see this quite a bit. It’s something I’ve experienced personally. There have been several moments in my career where I tried to do it all by myself to not “bother” others. Some of those decisions worked out, and some did not. However, later in life, I created a group of individuals – mentors and coaches that I consult with for major and even minor career decisions. I solicit their input and advice and use it to help guide my choices – realizing the decision is my own, but the perspective is that of many. I learned a few things about why you may want to engage a career coach from those conversations. I’m going to share three with you today:
They can share their experiences, so you don’t have to go through it
This is a huge benefit when it comes to owning your career and, frankly, in life. The right mentor and coach can give you a perspective on your situation that you would not ordinarily have. They may have been in a similar situation or know someone that has and can share what happened. That is information that can save you time, energy, and potential disappointment. Have you ever heard someone say, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you?” Typically, it’s because they’ve seen the outcome before, and they want to save you the headache. It doesn’t mean you can’t still take action, but at least you can make an informed decision.
They can give you unbiased feedback
Now, we all have our biases – it’s true. Generally, the people you select as coaches and advisors have your best interest in mind, so they’re biased from that perspective. However, I find that bias to be different than the views of others in career development discussions. Your supervisor has a perspective – they may want you to stay, or they may be happy for you to leave. If offered a new job, the new company, supervisor, or business wants you to work for them. You have a bias – be it financial, mental, emotional, or otherwise. In other words, the people closest to the trees – sometimes have the most difficulty seeing the forest. Having someone who is able to provide you with the “forest” perspective can be beneficial in making the best decision for your career.
They can give you the push you need to move forward
Raise your hand if you love change? There may be some that raised their hands, but many people don’t like change. Maybe if it’s a new car or house, we can get excited. But when it comes to your career, change can be difficult. There is comfort in being an expert in your job, or in knowing the company well, or knowing your supervisor’s perspective and what they think of you. This comfort can make choosing a new career path or developing a new capability and skill daunting. The discomfort in doing something new and different can even prevent us from deciding to try a new job or career - or at the very least, delay the choice.
Having a coach, advisor, or mentor in your corner upon whose shoulders you can stand is sometimes the boost you need to try. When we first learned to ride a bike, it was our friends or family being close by that allowed us to take the first few pedals without their help. Eventually, we could do it on our own, but knowing they were there to pick us up and encourage us, made all the difference.
Summary
When it comes to your career, we often think we know best. And indeed, we need to own our career decisions. However, it’s likely that someone else has a viewpoint, perspective, advice, or support that will be valuable in your career development. This information can enhance your career journey if you seek it. If you don’t have a coach, advisor, or mentor, I encourage you to take a few moments and write down the names of people you trust to give you sound career advice. It can be a professional, friend, co-worker, former boss, parent, and even a neighbor. Having a coach, in my experience, has been worth it!
Coach Ha-Keem
You’re Worth It!
For more tips, check out my book, “You’re Worth It! Navigating Your Career in Corporate America,” or go to my website, CoachHa-Keem.com.
