Yesterday I wrote of my experience last week at a Leadership Development Bootcamp I was part of. This Bootcamp had such a profound affect on my life and journey that I wanted to blog everyday this week about some of the things that impacted me as a leader.
In yesterdays blog I wrote how ‘God Uses All Types Of People‘. Even though this is a given, last week I saw the reality of this truth at the highest level, and it was AWESOME! I can’t wait to hear the stories of what God is going to do is the lives of those people I met.
Well today I want to tell you about the second lesson that will impact me for what I believe will be the rest of my life…
2. Get A Coach & Some Mentors
I’ve always known that you must have mentors inyour life. Mentors are great because they can help lead you in the right direction. They can be people to lean on in times of need and they have often walked the path you are heading and know what to watch out for and what opportunities to take. However, the idea of a coach is pretty new to me. If you are in sports you know the importance of a coach. What successful team functions without a coach? What tennis player has reached the heights of world domination without a coach. Even Tiger Woods has a coach! If Tiger needs a coach, then maybe I should entertain the thought of getting a coach!
A coach is someone who is little different from a mentor. A coach has not necessarily been down the path you are walking (some of the greatest sports coaches were never very good athletes). The valuable thing about a coach is that they have been trained to give instruction and know the tactics that will get the best our of their players. A coach is someone who asks you the questions, while a mentor is someone you ask questions to. A coach is a formal arrangement that may last for a set period of time while a mentor is more of an informal relationship and sometimes lasts for a lifetime. Also you probably will have to pay for a coach, while a mentor is normally free!
The term coach has began to be a buzz word in the business world. You just have to see all the Twitter accounts that are out there owned by people calling themselves Life Coaches. However, I do not believe this is just a fad, but a strategic tool that everyone should think of entertaining. If you are a business person, a pastor, a community leader, a student, a doctor or even a housewife/husband I believe everyone would benefit from having a coach.
One last thing to remember, just because someone is a coach does not mean they are the best coach for you. You have to be on the same page as your coach; you have to see the same vision and agree on the direction you are going!
So now I am in the process of seeking out a coach of my own. However, not just a coach but also a few people who I would like to mentor me to help keep me on a straight path while walking this incredible journey we call life!
October 28th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
I really liked this blog, because I have a certain person that I feel is my coach/mentor. This lovely lady has been supportive, not necessarily have went through the same thing as me, but can stand back and look…. and say “heather this is what you need…” or “I believe in you”… that is most important…. someone believing in me…