Learning from within

“Most learning interventions front-load knowledge and hope for the best. Coaching flips that model. It’s dynamic, ongoing and deeply personalised.” (AoEC)

These sentences in a newsletter from the Academy of Executive Coaching last autumn really resonated with me. Since deciding to train as a Coach a few years ago, I’ve regularly been challenged to justify the ‘wizardry’ of coaching: why do I suddenly know all the answers (I don’t), how can I help people with things that, in fact, I struggle with myself (I do!) and why can’t I offer a shortcut, a plan to follow or a one-size-fits-all solution (I won’t).

There is such pressure on us all to make ever faster, ever more effective progress that the offer of a tried-and-tested solution or ten-step guide can feel like a godsend. The promise is that, if you are a good and obedient student, all your problems will miraculously evaporate. And, implicitly, if it doesn’t work, then that’s on you: you didn’t read it carefully enough, you didn’t try hard enough.

And yet, we have all (time and again!) watched the TED Talk that transformed our best friend’s life, but left us cold; or read the book that secured promotion for a colleague, but just left us confused and disoriented.

Why?

Because how can a one size fits all approach work for everyone, with all our glorious differences? What about when it’s not about needing more information, but needing a different way to approach, absorb or use that information. What about those moments when we know what to do, but just can’t see how? Or even when we know the ‘what’ and are on board with the ‘how’ but … somehow … We. Still. Just. Haven’t.

That’s when the support, realism and pragmatism of a coach who knows you, sees you and believes in you, but is unafraid to confront and challenge you, can unlock insight and progress. Because ultimately, the challenge is so often not about obtaining the information you need (we live in a time of information overload, after all), but knowing how to adopt that information in a way that is uniquely right for you. And it’s the transformational change that comes from those kinds of conversations that really excites me…

For more information about my coaching and how I work, please visit www.susieys.com or contact me at susie@yorkskinner.co.uk to arrange a chat.