Career Coaching Can Boost Performance

Job Success Usually More Than Just Luck

Maureen Bauer, Human Resources Professional

Most of us have known someone who seems to make all the right moves in his or her career. It can be tempting to just consider those people lucky and write their successes off as something that would have happened to us if we had the same luck.

However, if we look more closely, we will often find that these people aligned themselves with someone who acted as their coach at key stages of their career path. It may be true that they were lucky enough to know a great coach, but rarely do such coaches volunteer themselves without being solicited.

Jennifer Laabs wrote about the benefits of a career coach in her article in Workforce (August 2000). She says: "If you don't have a sense of where your career needs to be, you probably won't get there by accident. Coaching could very well help you figure out your next move and how to reach your destination."

She supports the benefits of coaching by quoting the results of a study published by the International Personnel Management Association. This study showed that training alone increased productivity by 22.4 percent, while training plus coaching increased productivity by 88 percent.

This article also clears up a common misconception that we may have when we hear the word "coaching." Winston Connor, a certified executive coach, is quoted as saying, "Coaching isn't always about a need. The majority of the folks that I work with are high performers, very successful folks, and don't need coaching."

When we stop to think of coaching in these terms, it becomes less demeaning and more of a positive action. Think of it like this: You are already doing a good job, the best job that you know how. Now it's time to get tips from someone more experienced, to find out how to get your performance to the next level.

In order to get the most benefit out of a coaching relationship, you must be a "coachable" person. This article lists some questions that you should think about before approaching a possible career coach and asking for their partnership. If you are unable to answer yes to most of these, it might not be the best time to commit to a coaching relationship.

• I can be relied upon to be on time for all calls and appointments.
• This is the right time for me to accept coaching.
• I am fully willing to do the work and let the coach do the coaching. I keep my word without struggling or sabotaging.
• I'll give the coach the benefit of the doubt and "try on" new concepts or different ways of doing things.
• I am willing to stop or change the self-defeating behaviors that limit my success.
• I see coaching as a worthwhile investment in my life.
• I am someone who can share the credit for my success with my coach.

Finally, remember that a career coach shouldn't be viewed as a therapist. You should not expect psychological help, but rather a chance to have someone work with you to reframe the way you think about issues in life and work.

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