LeBron James has won three NBA championships and is a four-time league MVP. Serena Williams is the winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles. Arguably, James and Williams are among the greatest players ever to play their respective sports. Yet both of these elite athletes, and all others just like them, have coaches. Aren’t they already proven to be winners at the highest level? By most definitions, they personify success, but it's safe to say that their coaches are critical to their achievements.
So why do athletes and teams at every level of sports have coaches? Six reasons: discipline, focus, goal setting, unlocking potential, accountability and guidance. Individuals often can’t get to great on their own. Coaches can help motivate and push athletes beyond what they ever thought they could be.
Are you a corporate "athlete" who strives to be the absolute best leader you can be? Do you think hiring a coach could motivate and push you to get to the next level and beyond? You could be right, but first, you need to find out whether you're ready. To get the most out of your coaching experience, first ensure that you've made leadership development a priority. Coaching is a partnership. Yes, your coach has to deliver, but so do you. Timing is often important. Coaching is an investment today for your future success as a leader.
To test your readiness, ask yourself these five questions (hint: They may all require a yes).
1. Can I make the time to commit to a coaching process?
2. Is my boss supportive of my initiative for continuous improvement?
3. Do I have the discipline to do the work — prework and homework — that my coach provides?
4. Can I sincerely ask for feedback, truly listen and earnestly take action?
5. Will I persistently practice new behaviors in order to make a long-lasting change?
If you answered no to one or more of these questions, then you’re probably not ready. You may have work to do. Here’s why: A good executive coach can help leaders gain self-awareness, clarify goals, set and achieve development objectives, optimize performance and solve problems by serving as a sounding board — all while holding them accountable to a disciplined and focused approach. If you’re not focused and intentional, you may never get there.
So how can you prepare yourself for coaching? The clues are in the questions above. Make sure that you:
• Can fully commit to the process
• Have your boss’s support
• Have the discipline to do the work
• Are open to feedback from stakeholders and can truly listen and then take action
• Are ready to practice, practice, practice your new behaviors
Being coached takes energy and time. It also can take the courage to open yourself up to honest feedback and humility to really listen and take action. Changing your behavior often requires practice and a commitment to continuous improvement. As the saying goes, “You will get out of it what you put into it,” so make sure you’re ready. James and Williams are known as two of the hardest working, most focused champions out there. Are you?
