I often hear the same remarks from my clients:

• I’m not sure about my career choice
• I don’t have time
• I need to see more clearly my priorities
• I’ve been going around in circles for ages and I just can’t seem to find a solution
• I’m ready for a change, but don’t know what it is
• There’s no team spirit, synergy or vision at my job
• I feel like I’m not really honouring my profession
• I’m overwhelmed, exhausted and at my wit’s end
• My to do list is getting longer

Sound familiar?

These remarks aren’t at all surprising when you consider the fast-paced world we live in and the lighting speed at which things need to get done these days. In fact, studies show that health professionals from all sectors are increasingly dissatisfied with their profession because their work involves a host of duties for which they are ill-prepared, a situation that causes stress, behavioural changes, mistakes, loss of clients, high staff turnover rates and poorly managed clinics.

So how do you stand out and keep your head above water while having to wear all those “hats” that may not fit you as well as you’d like?

Business people have been turning to coaches to deal with these dilemmas for years now, and the reason is simple: being coached gets results! Here are some of the benefits of having a coach:

• Higher productivity and profitability
• Lower costs
• Improved relations (superiors, managers, partners)
• Better team spirit and cooperation
• Greater job satisfaction
• Optimized human capital, innovation and creativity investments

A few facts

• Training in such areas as business management increases productivity by an average of 22% and by 88% when combined with coaching. (Olivero, Bane and Kopelman)
• Based on their survey of 500 businesses, Fortune magazine recently reported that coaching delivered an average return on investment (ROI) of 529%.
• The ROI for health professionals who are coached is 1031% (The Physician Executive, December 2006)
• In fact, the average ROI is equivalent to 6 times the cost of the coaching services.

Most business leaders now recognize that an employer who has committed, motivated employees with strong personal values can expect to achieve business results that are well above average.

Part of a coach’s role is to make you see things from another perspective or angle by encouraging you to call on all of your inner resources: your values, your talents, your curiosity and your intuition.

For example, working with the approachs “Gamestorming”, “Lego Serious Play” or “Mind Mapping” can lead you to deeply reflect on your leadership, values, talents, challenges, saboteurs and vision…

Coaching is also about taking the time to take the time – to stop and really be in the present moment so you can be fully conscious of the choices you’re making. It allows you to ask yourself…

• What really matters to me?
• What is the purpose of my life?
• What do I want to change?
• How can I embody the values I hold dear?
• What am I passionate about?
• How do I really want to live my life?

Discovery Wheel:

Now let’s build on this exercise: on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 means totally dissatisfied and 10 means totally satisfied, rate each segment in the Discovery Wheel. Mark your rating with a dot and then connect them. Be honest. Each point merits your attention. For example, for “My values”, take the time to identify what your values are. How do you embody or use them? Are you fully satisfied with your progress and development? Do the same for each segment.

After completing the exercise, choose a segment that you’d like to improve and use the SMART method to plan and reach your goal (e.g: To embody my values more often than 4/10).

Specific: Specifically determine the goal you wish to accomplish. Formally commit to this goal in writing or by telling someone you trust about it.

Measurable: Determine when you will start working on your project and the end results you wish to achieve.

Achievable: Take concrete action using a step-by-step plan. For example, “Today, I will show respect for my team and see the impacts that this generates.”

Realistic: Your project or goal must be realistic. Be sure to identify the resources you will need to achieve this goal (Instead of 4/10, I would like to get 8/10).

Time-bound: You can’t accomplish your goal unless you set a deadline!

Your challenge: tell two people you trust about your goal and use these contacts to maintain your motivation and discuss possible impacts it may have.

I invite you to give your comments.

Christine Lecavalier, certified coach