Friday, June 22, 2007
From Coaching to Learning
I was working with one of my favorite clients on Wednesday. My client took a call. I said something about "another one of his fans," and he did a subtle double-take and asked "are you one of my fans?" I replied, "Yes, one of your very biggest fans."
It's funny. You start out coaching a client, helping them grow in some area or another. You start out in service of a bigger goal, whether it's business or personal. And, without fail, I find that each and every client becomes a teacher in their own right.
When I was on faculty at my coaching school, we would always emphasize what a privilege it is to be invited into our clients' worlds. We can never emphasize that enough.
While I have things I bring to my clients, they bring me as much. When they're struggling, they remind me that my own struggles are never so far off. When they break through a place of being stuck and move toward a personal vision for their own future, they underscore how, with hope and commitment, new possibilities keep opening.
I'll admit it. At times, I find myself mesmerized by the creativity, capacity, and courage in my clients -- all of them. And, when they want to "bet the ranch" on what they believe in, when they want to leave a legacy, which is not about personal glory, but about leaving the world in a little better shape than when they started, well, it's easy to be mesmerized -- and, incredibly grateful to be part of their journeys.
It's Friday. It's been a big couple of weeks. And, I'm feeling humbled by the amazing people with whom I work -- clients and colleagues alike.
It's funny. You start out coaching a client, helping them grow in some area or another. You start out in service of a bigger goal, whether it's business or personal. And, without fail, I find that each and every client becomes a teacher in their own right.
When I was on faculty at my coaching school, we would always emphasize what a privilege it is to be invited into our clients' worlds. We can never emphasize that enough.
While I have things I bring to my clients, they bring me as much. When they're struggling, they remind me that my own struggles are never so far off. When they break through a place of being stuck and move toward a personal vision for their own future, they underscore how, with hope and commitment, new possibilities keep opening.
I'll admit it. At times, I find myself mesmerized by the creativity, capacity, and courage in my clients -- all of them. And, when they want to "bet the ranch" on what they believe in, when they want to leave a legacy, which is not about personal glory, but about leaving the world in a little better shape than when they started, well, it's easy to be mesmerized -- and, incredibly grateful to be part of their journeys.
It's Friday. It's been a big couple of weeks. And, I'm feeling humbled by the amazing people with whom I work -- clients and colleagues alike.
# posted by Cindy Marteney @ 10:31 PM 
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