Ignore Coaching Advice?

"Advice columns are tradition in our newspapers, but a popular recent innovation in our media is the professional "life coach." Usually female, these people advise their readers, listeners and private patrons on how to act and react in everyday situations; in other words, how to run their lives.

We all realize a need for such people, not for ourselves, of course, but for all our foolish friends and relatives. Like those who sit in the front pews of the church, we're sure the preacher is talking to those seated behind us."

...writes Chuck Avery, a retired teacher living in Indiana.

While Chuck may be expressing the views of many people who aren't familiar with coaching, I'd like to take a "shot" at the guy.

1. First of all, I doubt that he has ever tried coaching, so it's similar to me saying "I hate olives!" - because I've never tasted them. Someone just told me years ago, that they don't taste good, and I remembered. So it's really all hearsay, and until I taste them myself, I can't be a fair judge of that.

2. Without knowing what actually goes on during coaching sessions, Chuck assumes that coaches give advice. While this may be true in some cases, I find that talking about my challenges out loud, and having my coach ask questions, helps me come up with my own solutions...Isn't that true with many of your clients?

3. Chuck also refers to a quote from Ben Franklin's: "Experience keeps a dear school, but a fool will learn in no other" - why be a fool, when you can be smart? Why learn from painful mistakes, when you can get feedback from someone who's been there, done that, wrote the book?

4. You're a teacher! Kids used to come to YOU for advice, and if not to you, then to a school counselor. Most adults don't have such a person they can confide in, ask for feedback, someone who is not a relative and has no other attachments to them so the feedback is completely objective. Coaches can provide that!

5. I truly think that a profession wouldn't continue to grow had there not be sooooo many success stories! How can you doubt something that stares you in the face? Or maybe it doesn't?

Hypnotists were ridiculed.

Psychologists were taken for crazy.

Life coaches....the time will come.

Chuck my man, I hope you're reading. And if nothing else, I challenge you to hire a coach...Even if only to prove yourself right!