The Best Advice I Ever Got - 8/2/2009
Recently I read a Fortune magazine interview of Eric Schmitt, Chairman and CEO of Google. The theme of the various interviews was found under the banner heading, “The Best Advice I Ever Got” and Eric’s advice tip was “Hire A Coach.
As you would probably expect, that title caught my attention. Eric says that the advice he got came from John Doerr, one of the this country’s mega-successful venture capitalists. He said to Eric, “My advice to you is to hire a coach,” a statement which Eric resented, because after all he was CEO of Google and was already at the top of his game. “
“Why would I need a coach?” said Eric. “Am I doing something wrong?” His argument was how could a coach advise me if I am already the best at what I do? Sounds egotistical, but it was really a good question.
I hear the same question everyday about coaching. “What can a coach do for me?” Or, worse yet, ”I am more successful than my coach, so what could I learn from him or her?” Statements of this nature show a total lack of understanding of what coaching is really all about.
A coach doesn’t have doesn’t have to play the sport as well as you do. Their job is to watch you, listen to you, guide you, give you another perspective and encourage you to be your best – to have an independent, non-emotional objective evaluator.
A coach is somebody who looks at something with another set of eyes, describes it to you in (his/her) words, and discusses how to approach the things from a different direction.
Schmidt said that, “Once I realized I could trust him and that he could help me with perspective, I decided that coaching was a great idea.” Good coaching advice is to grow one step higher than where you are now - where your viewpoint and perspective changes.
Currently, I am coaching with only 16 clients, all of whom, although they share the same profession, are as different as the snowflakes that fall from the sky. Some are really decisive, confrontational and action-oriented, while others are stronger or weaker in the various categories that comprise success. But, all are “in the game” and it is fun to work with them.
Why? Because they are ALL growing in some way – by an expanded concept, bigger vision and greater belief; by a growing confidence; by increased income or practice expansion, by more clarity certainty and conviction; by becoming more flexible, having more faith and being more determined. You get the idea.
Recently, I asked a client why he stays with me, even after all these years. The reply was that he comes away from every single coaching session feeling that he is on the right track and even the subtle suggestions I make end up having a major and positive impact in his practice or life.
It is my firm belief that coaching is the key to personal growth. For that reason, I just hired my own “coach,” and as expected the results are astonishing, even to me.; I am no longer alone – I have a co-creator on my team that opens me up and stimulates me to reach higher, think bigger and create more.
Hire a coach – that is the best advice you will ever get!
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