How to Get Ahead in Your Career With a Professional Coach
July 17, 2023myGwork member and career coach David Liversage explains why enlisting the help of a professional coach can help LGBTQ+ professionals get ahead in their careers, and shares how to find the right one for you.
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In today's fast-paced and competitive professional landscape, we are faced with numerous challenges and decisions that can greatly impact our careers. One invaluable resource that can help us navigate this terrain and unlock our full potential, is coaching.
As LGBTQ+ professionals we sometime face specific challenges in progressing our careers. The results of a recent myGwork study found that many LGBTQ+ women and non-binary professionals believe that their sexual orientation and/or gender identity hinders career progression and has a significant influence on whether they are offered training and development opportunities to get ahead. In fact, 79% of our study participants across all age groups say that it’s tougher for LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people to shatter the glass ceiling than heterosexual cisgender women. Working with an LGBTQ+ or affirming coach is vitally important to help us navigate these difficulties and find cultures and roles that celebrate who we are and all that we have to offer.
Working with a coach also offers numerous benefits and can accelerate career growth in ways that self-guided efforts cannot. In this article, I will delve into the virtues of coaching, exploring why it is essential for any profession.
Gaining Clarity and Direction
One of the primary virtues of coaching is the ability to gain clarity and direction in your career. Particularly for young professionals, it is natural to feel overwhelmed by the multitude of options and paths available. A coach provides a safe and supportive space to help you explore your goals, values, and aspirations. Through empathic listening, probing questions and reflective exercises, a coach assists and challenges you in uncovering your true passions and strengths, helping you align them with your professional aspirations.
Personalized Guidance and Accountability
Working with a coach offers personalized guidance tailored to your unique needs. A coach serves as a trusted advisor, offering insights and perspectives from their own experiences and expertise. They help you set meaningful stretch but achievable goals and develop an action plan to attain them. Additionally, a coach provides the necessary accountability to ensure you stay on track, make progress, and overcome any obstacles that may arise. Regular check-ins, progress evaluations, and action plans ensure that individuals remain motivated and on track. By holding individuals accountable for their actions, a coach helps foster discipline, consistency, and a growth mindset. The encouragement and support provided by a coach act as a catalyst for achieving desired outcomes.
Skills Development and Growth
Coaching is an excellent avenue for professionals to develop and enhance their skills. A coach can identify areas for improvement and design strategies to enhance your capabilities. Whether it's honing leadership skills, improving communication abilities, or developing emotional intelligence, a coach can provide targeted guidance and practical techniques to help you grow professionally. By working on your challenges and building on your strengths, you can unlock your full potential and achieve greater success. By developing self-awareness, individuals can better manage their emotions, navigate conflicts, and build stronger relationships in the workplace. Ultimately, this leads to improved decision-making and enhanced leadership capabilities.
Building confidence and overcoming limiting beliefs
Confidence plays a pivotal role in career advancement. However, self-doubt and limiting beliefs can often hinder people from reaching their full potential. Many of us who have had difficult early lives and experienced rejection or abuse can find self-confidence significantly affected. A coach helps you identify and challenge these sometimes self-imposed limitations, empowering you to overcome them. Through a combination of encouragement, understanding, constructive feedback, and mindset-shifting exercises, a coach helps you build confidence, embrace challenges, and seize opportunities that align with your aspirations. They can help you find your authentic voice to make an impact in your futire career and life.
Building a network
Coaches often possess extensive professional networks and connections and can help professionals build or expand their own networks. By leveraging these connections, professionals can expand their network, gain valuable insights, and explore new opportunities. The guidance and support from a coach can prove instrumental in building a robust professional network that can open doors for future collaborations and career growth.
TIPS FOR FINDING A CAREER COACH
Coaching has emerged as an indispensable tool for professionals seeking to excel in their careers. By providing clarity, personalized guidance, skill development, confidence-building, and networking opportunities, coaching offers a transformative experience that can propel your career to new heights. When searching for a coach, consider their expertise, experience, coaching style, and alignment with your values and goals. Working with a coach is an investment in your future, enabling you to unlock your full potential and navigate the complexities of the professional world with confidence, purpose, and success. Below are the top 10 things to consider when looking for a coach:
1. Expertise and Experience: Look for a coach who has expertise and experience in the specific areas you want to work on. Consider their qualifications, certifications, industry knowledge, and track record of success. A coach with relevant experience can provide valuable insights and guidance.
2. Coaching Style and Approach: Coaching styles can vary significantly, so it's essential to find a coach whose style aligns with your preferences and needs. Some coaches may be more direct and challenging, while others are more supportive and collaborative. Think about the type of coaching relationship that would best motivate and inspire you.
3. Compatibility and Chemistry: Building a strong rapport and trust with your coach is crucial for a successful coaching engagement. Pay attention to your initial interactions and assess if you feel comfortable and understood. Compatibility and chemistry will contribute to a positive coaching experience. It is also essential that they are LGBTQ+-affirming to understand the unique challenges that we may be facing.
4. Goal Alignment: Clearly define your goals and ensure they align with what the coach can offer. Discuss your objectives during the initial conversations to confirm that the coach has the expertise and resources to help you achieve them. A coach who understands and supports your goals is more likely to provide effective guidance.
5. Feedback and Testimonials: Look for feedback and testimonials from previous clients to gain insights into the coach's effectiveness and impact. Reach out to individuals who have worked with the coach to gather their perspectives on the experience and outcomes.
6. Availability and Accessibility: Consider the coach's availability and accessibility. Determine their preferred communication methods, frequency of sessions, and availability for ongoing support. Do you prefer to meet in person on virtually? Ensure their schedule and availability align with your needs and expectations.
7. Cost and Budget: Understand the coach's fees and determine if they fit within your budget. Coaching fees can vary widely depending on the coach's expertise and experience. Evaluate the value you expect to gain from the coaching engagement and consider it alongside the cost.
8. Confidentiality and Ethics: Ensure that the coach follows ethical guidelines and maintains strict confidentiality. Trust and confidentiality are vital for open and honest discussions during coaching sessions. Ensure that they open to feedback too to help you get the best from the experience.
9. Flexibility and Adaptability: Consider whether the coach can adapt to your unique circumstances and challenges. They should be able to tailor their approach to meet your specific needs and support you in navigating different situations.
10. Personal Growth Philosophy: Understand the coach's philosophy on personal and professional growth. Their approach should align with your values and aspirations. Ask about their strategies for fostering growth and development.
THE RIGHT COACH FOR YOU
Remember, finding the right coach is a personal decision. Take your time, conduct thorough research, and consider multiple options before making a choice. Make your decision with your head AND your heart.
As an LGBTQ+ coach my style is co-creative, combining empathy (immersing myself in your world, I’m like a second brain) with challenge (helping you get unstuck, find your strength). I’m passionate about career development and creating a work life balance that helps you to thrive rather than burnout. If you are interested in finding out more you can find me at davidliversage.com or email me at [email protected] and we can set up a chemistry session.
Good luck with your onward career journey and remember we never stop growing and learning and having the right person who really sees us to guide us, is vitally important.
