It is increasingly common for executives to spend vast amounts of money on mapping out future development. There is no doubt about the importance of thinking aloud, discussing all possible paths, and taking some distance from the situation in order to make a decision according to one’s values and life mission. Companies have taken this on-board in recent years and have started including coaching services as a way to provide employees with this safe space for professional development.
So, there's no doubt about the positive impact that coaching has on the matter. For those of you who might be unaware of this area of psychology, coaching is a methodology that helps you to question your present circumstances with the aim of discovering what your next goal is and to draw a plan according to your needs. Everything happens with the unconditional support of a coach, a figure that is next to you to challenge your thoughts, emotions and behavior to enable you to become the best, most effective version of yourself.
In my case, I have spent the last few years working as an executive coach, helping executives all around the globe, no matter the industry, to refocus their development in a direction that will lead them to satisfaction and well-being. More-and-more each day, I value the importance of talent management, as a key factor for companies to achieve the best outcomes and performance from staff. If an employee feels motivated and encouraged to boost his/her talent, then performance will be significantly improved.
This point leads me to one of my most recent conclusions in terms of my own professional development as a coach: why do we wait until someone has reached a certain rung on the career ladder before we offer them the opportunity to connect to their inner drive? Why are we doing executive coaching only with “executives”? Especially when executive coaching refers to any process related to a professional or organizational environment. After this powerful insight, I decided to dive more into executive coaching in early stages of development. What for? Quite simple: if we help the incoming talent to choose a path according to their strengths and we empower them to do what they like the most, they will join the workforce with a self-driven interest to contribute to our society and companies.
When students face their first decision related to professional development, which, as the title of this article mentions, is choosing which college attend, they can be scared, confused and unsure of what do to. The year prior to starting college is one of the most complicated ones, with a lot of external expectations and a fast pace that not everyone can keep up with. I think it is the time, or at least for me, as an executive coach, to provide these students with a transparent environment that will allow them to connect with their passions, to think independently and to design the first steps of their professional career from a foundation of security, decisiveness and self-trust.
So, if you feel you need a break from the noise around you about "the most important decision of your life", if you feel doubtful or hesitant, at SINEWS we will provide you with the support and a judgement-free space where you can carefully think about YOU & YOUR FUTURE.
Sinews MTI
Psychology, Psychiatry and Speech Therapy