Manager, Know Thyself
Posted on January 22, 2013 by Gil Davidson, One of Thousands of Executive Coaches on Noomii.
Increase ambiguity, flatter organisational structures and shifting values of next-gen all mean that self-knowledge is now more important than ever.
Coaching for business managers – to help them get the maximum benefit and profit from their time – is no passing whim. Both past and present professionals testify to its validity.
In the early 1600’s Pascal, a mathematician, philosopher and theologian, wrote “One must really know oneself; even if that does not help us in finding the truth, at least it helps us to run our own life. Nothing is more important than that.” Pascal also suggested that “Generally speaking we are more firmly convinced by reasons we have discovered ourselves, than by those which are given to us by others.”
Successful behaviour
In 1996 Steven Covey based 7-Habits of Highly Effective People on behavioural principles drawn from patterns observed in literature over the last 200 years. As a best seller, it confirms the continued relevance of these principles.
In fact, it would seem that the higher quality of life expected by today’s professionals – where their professional lives not only complement their personal goals but are integrated with them – was the catalyst that lead to these age-old behavioural principles being pulled together into the relatively new profession of executive coaching. While this coaching as a profession is relatively young, the principles on which it is based are timeless.
Covey, in his book, states, “In more than 25 years of working with people in business….I have come in contact with many individuals who have achieved an incredible degree of outward success, but have found themselves struggling with an inner hunger, a deep need for personal congruency and effectiveness and for healthy, growing relationships with other people.”
Coaching is in demand by executives, by entrepreneurs, in corporations and by anyone who wants to excel because the powerful, lasting impact it has on how people live their lives.
Self discovery
It takes you down a path of knowing first who you are and how you interact with your environment and then teaches you how to live your life from that place.
This self-discovery transforms the way you live by giving the quality of your life legitimate priority. It’s not just what we achieve, but how we achieve it that provides us with fulfilment and a sense of reward. I recently worked with a client who, for 20 years dreaded going to work every day and hated his profession so much he came to coaching to plan a way out. The unexpected result of his self discovery was that he punched through years of negative circular thinking and for the first time he “appreciates the benefits of the profession and can see myself in it for another 10 years”.
Unforeseen results
He has clearly identified what work he is and isn’t willing to take on and has redesigned his practice to reflect that. Contrary to fears of losing money by turning certain types of work away, “profitability has increased immeasurably, and I’m enjoying everyday again.”
Enhanced performance and quality of life are precious gifts that coaches give their clients. One of my clients expressed it like this, “Thanks to your coaching I now have energy and purpose on a level I have never known. It has made a powerful difference to how I live my life”.
Dr Jac Fitz-enz, founder of the Saratoga Institute, asserts that, “In order to make quantum leaps, you have got to engage the imagination of human beings.” Business leaders use coaches to inspire them to go beyond the ordinary, to bring out their best and more.
More common
According to Whitworth, Kimsey-House & Sandahl, authors of Co-Active Coaching “Recent surveys have shown that more and more executives and mangers are seeking coaching for increased self-awareness, a more balanced life, better goal setting and less stress.”
Over the last 10-15 years coaching has moved through the status being a ‘fad’ and is morphing into a recognised profession on the leading edge of personal and professional development. It continues to evolve and establish itself as a powerful business tool bringing passion and energy back to the workplace.
Sherpa’s Coaching 2013 Survey noted that “Since we first started collecting data, both the perceived value and credibility of executive coaching have risen constantly. In last year’s report, we were able to say: Executive coaching has arrived. This year, our survey results confirmed that conclusion, as negative perceptions about the value of coaching have virtually disappeared. Coaching has scaled the summit.”
