How a career coach can help

Here is a real client’s perspective on what she gained from our work together. Perhaps some of her comments will resonate and help you understand more fully the impact a coaching relationship can have on one’s life.

When the time is right for client to end a series of coaching sessions, part of the process is to help the client reflect on what they’ve learned and how far they have come. It is also a moment to acknowledge their personal progress. Clients are asked to answer a series of “Completion Questions” and I am sharing this particular Completion Form from a recent client (with approval of course). My hope in sharing it is to give you a sense of what to expect and what can be accomplished though coaching.

Your journey

• What were your biggest successes over the time we have worked together?

I think the two biggest successes were:

— Gaining the confidence to even look at making life changes, learning to believe that I am competent enough to make changes, and then actually making them.

— With your help, drilling down to what it is that I really want to do and feel every day. What my actual passion is, and helping that find its form. HUGE.

• What were your biggest challenges over the time we have worked together?

Letting the process take the time it needed. Some things can’t be forced into a timeline, no matter how much work you put into it. Learning to trust that we would get there was a big deal.

• What are you most proud of?

Considering that we first met in your “Silencing Your Inner Critic” workshop, doing that continued work is something I’m pretty proud of. I know that self-doubt piece will always be there, but, with your help, I am now able to manage it much, much better.

• What shifts are you seeing in yourself?

See above! Also, embracing my strengths and weaknesses, and encouraging people around me to do the same. Those weaknesses have stopped me from doing a lot of things in my life. They are not as intimidating anymore, and I don’t think they would stop me from trying new things now. FREEDOM!!!

• Who are you becoming?

I’m becoming the conduit for creativity and community that I have wanted to be. It’s not about my own personal art or work, but the things I can help make happen with other people. That’s where my joy really lives. Who knew?!?!

• What is next on your journey?

Now that I have been able to do a lot of work with the XXX group, and now my first class with kids, I am anxious to see this take form. Figuring out what that is the challenge, but I now feel like I am gaining the tools and drive to keep going.

The Coaching Partnership

• What part(s) of the coaching partnership did you appreciate most?

There are so many things, but, based on my enormous trust and confidence issues, the fact that you created a safe space to do this work is so very appreciated. There would be absolutely no way for this partnership to even exist if you weren’t the person you are. There were so many concrete tools you helped me develop so that I could access them at any time. But, also, some of the simple things you said really stuck with me. Example: when I did my first talk with the Rotary Club, I remember saying to you, “I don’t do this kind of thing.” And you said, “Well, now you do.” Talk about a lightbulb moment!

• What do you wish we had done differently in our coaching partnership?

Hmm, I’m sitting here thinking about this, and I don’t really have anything to add here. The fact that I have landed in a place right now where I really want to be tells me that our partnership happened exactly as it should have. 😉

• Anything else you would like to share to feel complete?

I know I still have a long way to go, and a lot to figure out, but never in my life have I been in such a solid place to do so. Previously, those unanswered questions felt overwhelming and daunting, now I find them energizing. There has been significant movement, thanks to working with you, and I’m very excited to see where it goes. Not sure our partnership will ever be complete, as I will likely need to work with you again (and again) but, for now, I feel ready for you to send me out into the world and see if I can fly.

It may sound cliché, but working with Amy has in fact been life-changing. My life is literally different now. I am different, too. When we first started, I had a million thoughts and ideas of what I wanted to do with my life, but nothing was clear, or seemed attainable. I also didn’t have the confidence to believe I could make real changes. I’ve had a reasonably successful career, and an overall happy life, but I was still searching for the thing that gave me real purpose. It would have been so easy to stay in the safe lane, but Amy helped me step out of my comfort zone, while feeling totally supported. With her help, I was able to bring my own passions and goals into focus. Amy also helped me develop invaluable tools I can tap into when navigating challenges. Because of her talents as a coach, I have been able to better access my own talents. Access them, believe in them, and use them. Thank you, Amy!

L.W. Massachusetts

(50 yrs. old, looking for direction and greater fulfillment with her work and creative talents.)