Everything's fine, why would I consider a coach?
- Sarah Garven
- Jun 1, 2025
- 3 min read
Coaching is ubiquitous in high level sport. Very few elite athletes will consider going it alone without the guidance of a coach. It's not that athletes are failing and so 'need' a coach to pull them up, they are already excelling but they employ a coach to get them further than they could ever manage on their own. Sports coaches see things their athletes couldn't see, keep them going through a tough race or season and celebrate their successes. The athletes aren't clueless, terrible at what they do, or failing - they are already performing well and making progress. A coach helps them know they are capable of more and develops a personalised plan to take them there.
Personal coaches can do the same for you.
I have had several interesting conversations this week about coaching and how transformative it is; however, it can be difficult to truly know the power of coaching until you have experienced it for yourself. The sport analogy can be helpful if you are unsure about how coaching can help. You don't need to be struggling or have a huge challenge in front of you for coaching to be profoundly transformative (although coaching is undoubtedly beneficial in these situations too). Having a coach helps you to figure out where your own personal finish line is and the best way for you to get there.
Maybe everything is going really well for you at the moment, but there's a dream or a project that keeps whispering in your ear. You haven't begun to explore how this dream might fit with your current situation. Maybe you want to write a book, or start a podcast, landscape your own garden, start volunteering or take up a new hobby. Maybe on the surface everything in your life and work seems good, you have no real complaints, but you just feel there must be more. More you can do, more you can give, more to experience, but defining what 'more' is, just escapes you.
A coach can help you see your strengths, bring awareness to opportunities you hadn't considered, and be there for accountability and support as you make changes.
Having someone in your corner while you tackle life and work is a game-changer.
I employ a strengths-based approach to coaching, I love seeing people realise the full range of skills and qualities they have to offer. Things that come easily to us, we often take for granted when they are in fact valuable skills which other people find challenging. A third party can encourage us to see our value so we can begin to really appreciate, and utilise, our unique abilities.
Everyone has a unique set of skills and abilities and interests. Knowing and working with yours can be transformational.
Coaching can be the key to getting more from yourself. Whether life is currently challenging or plain sailing, coaching with the right coach gives you the edge you didn't know you needed.
An example from my own coaching practice, my client F, was in this position. Her work was going fairly well, no major complaints but through working with me over a period of months, she achieved things that she hadn't even identified as targets, because she thought they were out of reach. Here are her own words......
Without Sarah, I would not have been able to stand up and deliver a lecture at one of the veterinary industry’s leading conferences, and this wasn’t even one of my goals! Her coaching skills helped me immensely and I shall continue to use everything I learnt every day.
You can read her full review here
Beginning to see how coaching could help you? Get in touch to explore further. I'm happy to answer questions, or address concerns via email. If you prefer face to face, your first zoom chat with me is free.
You might not win a gold medal, but without a doubt, other 'wins' are well within your reach.
Comments