I get this all the time from coaches. It’s a question that I believe every coach asks themselves at one time or another. I have faced this with my own doubt and frustration many a time in my nearly 11 years of being a coach.
“How can I coach a client on their money issues when I’m caught up in debt?”
“How can I coach my client on cleaning up their office when I’m sitting in a messy office?”
“How can I coach my client on their marriage when I’m having fights with my wife?”
and even more recently, “How can I possibly coach coaches on BEing MasterFull when I just had a crappy coaching session like that one?”
Well, you could look at it that way. If that’s the case, then you have to have everything perfect in your life handled before you can coach. You have to be making lots and lots of money and be a financial whiz. You must have an immaculate office and living space, adorable children and an amazing spouse. You never fight, feel frustrated, angry, overwhelmed, disappointed, stuck or unsure of yourself. You must always be working your plan–your clear and powerful plan that ties with your values and utilizes your strengths. You must be continually succeeding in your goals, no matter how big and outrageous they may seem to others. You must work out an hour every day, meditate every day, write out your plan every day, take out free time for yourself every day, play with your kids every day, take your loved one on a date every day, live in a big house, drive an amazing car, and basically have all your S*** together. Oh yes, and everyone loves you… all the time. And you love everyone… all the time.
Now when I last checked there were likely about 20,000 coaches worldwide (probably more), which means that there are 20,000 people living perfect lives so they can help other people live perfect lives.
All of them have it all figured out… except YOU!
Or, we could look at it this way.
Coaching is not about living perfect lives. It’s not about having everything figured out. It’s not about having an amazing workspace, immaculate health, incredible relationships and families in big houses with all the time in the world to complete all your dream projects to change the world…
It’s about being in the conversation. It’s about continuing to exmine your life from as many angles possible. It’s about catching yourself when you’re in your unconscious “bad” habits that keep you stuck, and intentionally focusing your energy towards “good” and empowering habits that create.
So I say, CONGRATULATIONS. You’ve got crap you’re dealing with. Most likely it’s the same or similar crap that your clients are dealing with. EVEN BETTER! (Extra bonus of coaching is sometimes you can learn from your clients, too.)
What’s important is that you are continuing your own work, committing to your own growth and development, and focusing on creating change and success in the areas that are satisfying and fulfilling to YOU!
So if you’re not living a perfect life (and I’m still searching for that one person who is) then you are in the perfect position to BE supportive, engaging, challenging, empowering, nuturing, and out of the box with your clients.
So embrace your crap. Love your crap. It’s your crap that makes you completely qualified to BE a wonderful coach.
Now it’s time for your thoughts and comments. please share cause I know I haven’t covered every angle of this topic. What’s your take?