Here’s a brief video on 3 key concepts to consider when thinking about how to be successful in life (or really any endeavor)!
For those who want the notes, here’s a summary of the 3 keys:
Define being successful. Understand that success – or to succeed – simply means to progress or move forward. Think about successors, those who would succeed someone else in a role. (It’s the opposite of a predecessor.) Successors simply follow the predecessor. Therefore, to succeed simply means to come after or to follow. If you’re succeeding, you’re moving on to the next thing.
Furthermore, to be successful simply means that one’s life is full of success! Being successful means that success isn’t a one-time achievement; it’s a life of consistent progress.
Understand how success works. More specifically, understand that success means moving forward or moving onward. Regardless of failures, mistakes, and obstacles, as long as we continue to move forward, we are succeeding.
Decide how you measure success in your own life. Every society and culture has its own concepts of success. In much of the world (particularly in the age of technology and social media), success is measured in dollars and social following. However, these metrics are largely temporary and empty. My suggestion is to discover what’s truly meaningful in your own life, and learn how to increase abundance of those things!
If you know what is or isn’t important to you but are just feeling stuck or stagnant and need help making progress, shoot me a message letting me know what you want some help with!
Here’s a video to address this question. In it, I discuss some core principles of effective coaching, things to look out for (i.e. pitfalls of poor coaching), and what any online coach should consider to be effective in helping a client achieve results.
For those who can’t watch the video right now or would like the notes (and some additional thoughts), here are the general points…
CORE PRINCIPLES
Effective coaching requires the following in order develop or progress the client toward a goal:
Observation by the coach. A coach needs to be able to observe what the client is doing!
Feedback from the coach. A coach needs to be able to provide instructive and constructive feedback to the client.
A system that facilitates effective communication between both the coach and the client.
INEFFECTIVE COACHING
Here’s the sad truth about coaching. Not all coaches actually coach! A lot of people (most, with good intentions) put together programs or products, call it “coaching”, and send it to consumers either to help the masses or just to make an easy buck.
For now, let’s assume and ignore those who intentionally mislead people by using buzzwords or terminology to bait, mislead, or deceive desperate consumers. There are still those who either make the following mistakes or provide services or products that are mislabeled or misunderstood to be “coaching”. Here are some highlights.
Coaches using systems, platforms, apps, tools, etc. that don’t capture relevant data and information to allow for valuable observation and insight on the client’s progress.
Coaches using a system that clients can’t or won’t use. There are some fancy tools and apps out there, but if it’s too complex for the client to adopt, the client won’t use it. This means clients miss out on results and coaches spin their wheels pushing clients to adopt the system. At worst, both parties end up frustrated and leave on bad terms.
Coaches using blanket systems, methods, and tactics on every client. These coaches use 1 system for everyone and expect similar results. On the flip side, clients go in seeing results from select individuals and expect similar results for themselves. When expectations aren’t met, clients are usually the ones most frustrated and disappointed.
“Coaches” who send out templated programs or videos to clients with no communication and call it coaching.
Coaches to send out motivational message or videos without addressing areas for improvement (as needed).
Coaches who confuse accountability with a coaching session. Clients are partially responsible as well, but it’s up to the coach to make the clarification. While holding clients accountable is part of coaching, there’s much more to it. Clients often (though, not always) think that all they need is someone to hold them accountable. Not only is this incomplete, it usually fails to address the root causes and fixes around client habits and behaviors.
Fitness “coaches” who just shout instructions and encouragement at clients during workouts. This mostly pertains to personal trainers and workout video hosts, but the point is that a real coach does a lot more than share enthusiasm. Coaches should be watching clients move and ensure proper form, pacing, etc. If you want a personal trainer or someone to host a workout session, great! Just don’t confuse that with coaching.
EFFECTIVE COACHING
Clearly, there are a host of things that fall short of proper coaching, so what should you look for in a good online coaching service?
Coaches that use communication systems that capture relevant information that can provide insight into if, how, and why clients are or are not progressing toward their goal(s).
Coaches that use systems for effective communication between themselves and the clients.
Coaches who can communicate in such a way that the client clearly understands coach guidance. Clients should feel encouraged and challenged. After all, the main reason clients get coaching is to push or pull them further than they would likely go alone.
Obviously, this isn’t an exhaustive list, but it should help you better identify good or poor coaching when you see it.
That said, not all good coaching looks the same. More importantly, every coach is different as is every client! The best coach in the world may not be right for you, and just because you might be an ideal (i.e. coachable) client, it doesn’t mean you are the best client for a coach. (Yes, it goes both ways. If a coach doesn’t vet you first, watch out!)
If you’d like more information or would like to see if you’d be a good fit with me at thenHOW Coaching, please contact me!
