You'd Make a Great Coach! How to Go From Dreaming to Doing

When your friends are battling an internal tornado, do they turn to you when they need to decompress and let it all out?

If you've repeatedly found yourself in the situation of counselor, advisor, or trusted confident, know that you're special. Your peers and colleagues seek you out because they feel safe with you. They trust you and wholeheartedly believe that you're not out to judge them for their decisions, thoughts, or feelings. You help them find the clarity they're desperately seeking.

Maybe, once or twice, after a heart-to-heart "session" with you, they pass along the praise... "You'd make a great coach!"

The first few times you hear it, you smile, deflect, and wave it off. You didn't do anything special, right? The tenth time the compliment is offered - this time by a near stranger - you start to wonder, "maybe there's something here after all."

Are you ready to take your natural ability to the next level?

As humans, we have this really annoying ability to completely ignore opportunities that are hanging in front of us. We're blind to our own strengths and gifts, even after they've been pointed out to use by another. We take our expertise for granted and fail to realize that just because something comes easily to us, it doesn't mean that it's natural or intuitive for someone else.

Our reality is shaped by these self-perceptions. We feel like imposters and  convince ourselves that we aren't really good at what we do...that it's so easy, anyone can do it. Even after dozens of advocates tell us otherwise, we still find it difficult to believe that we could be successful with a skill that comes so naturally to us. We start making excuses about why we can't pursue "that-thing-that-could-change-my-life' because we don't fully understand its potential or how it can become our calling with just a little bit of training, intention, and support. So we put it off, and put it off, and daydream about it when we're feeling especially stressed and overwhelmed.

It's time to stop that cycle and realize that you have the power to change your reality. With a shift in perspective, that think that seemed out of reach is truly within your grasp.

Here are the three biggest limitations I hear from people who have been dreaming of developing their coaching skills but are hesitant to step into our coaching training program:

1. The money isn't there.

It's true, coach certification is an investment, but once you understand why it matters, it's not a matter of affording it. If you're a "natural" coach, certification will give you a higher level of credibility while also expanding your abilities. You'll learn new skills and tools that will enhance your practice and deepen your connection with your employees - empowering them to move beyond their limitations and forging lasting, profound transformations.

Can you live below your means or prioritize your spending in a different way for a few months? Eat out a little less? Forgo the premium movie channels (or maybe even Cable TV in general)? My favorite story was an employee who ran a bakery out of her living room for a year to pay for her tuition! Get creative with your savings, take advantage of special offers such as low-interest financing, and ask yourself, "What's the best that could happen if I invest in this?"

2. The time isn't there

We all have packed schedules, busy lives, and a smartphone in our back pocket. People are feeling busier than ever, but, again, perspective is a tricky friend. Are you truly too busy to fit in 6-8 hours per week for professional development? If you see yourself, one year from now. coaching employees regularly, where will that time come from?

3. The commitment isn't there.

Nobody says this one aloud, but it's buried under the surface all the same. We all want quick, lasting solutions to our problems. There are no "quick wins" when it comes to pushing yourself to the next level. It takes dedication and commitment. Trust the process: It's an 8-month-long journey, with man a-ha! moments and transformations along the way.

At some point, you've come to the epiphany that a dozen people telling you the same thing - "You should be a coach!" is not false praise. There's something there. It's time to move past your reservations to full explore it, so you can inspire and motivate more people, and, ultimately, lead a more fulfilling life.