To address these challenges, Max sought help from ICF-Credentialed coach\u00a0Jill Perrin, ACC<\/a>. Jill is an executive and leadership coach in Dallas, Texas, USA. Jill works with executives who are at a professional inflection point (recently promoted, earmarked for the fast-track, etc.) and helps them chart a growth path towards professional and personal fulfillment.<\/p>\n Thanks to Jill\u2019s coaching, Max learned about the importance of perception in leadership development. He became aware of the behaviors his colleagues found off-putting (e.g., dominating the discussion in meetings). He also learned to listen more. Coaching empowered Max with the necessary tools to become a team-oriented leader while staying true to his authentic self.<\/p>\n It was a little hard because I felt like I did really well on the assessment. My hard skills\u2014business and math\u2014were spot on, but no one ever told me that my soft skills were weak.<\/p>\n I was also confused and a little bit scared about what this could mean for my career. Would I have to change my personality? Am I not a good fit with this company, or as a business professional? It was daunting.<\/p>\n My mom and a long-time family friend were both familiar with coaching. My mom works with an executive coach, and the friend\u00a0is\u00a0<\/em>a coach. Both helped me realize that I needed a professional who could guide me through my leadership approach and provide another perspective.<\/p>\n I wanted a coach who was comfortable with online and remote sessions so I could continue to grow without having to find a new coach every time I moved. My friend recommended a few coaches and that\u2019s how I met Jill. I found Jill to be very trustworthy during our initial phone conversation about what I wanted to accomplish. We started our coaching engagement shortly thereafter.<\/p>\n I thought a coach was someone who told you what to do\u2014how to conduct yourself in a meeting or fit into the executive mold\u2014and I was happily surprised to find out I was wrong.<\/p>\n \u201cI went from having no idea what I wanted to get out of coaching to discovering that I wanted to be a more refined, authentic version of myself.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The first thing Jill established was that she wouldn\u2019t give me advice. Instead, she would provide perspective and help me find my own answers. This was mind-blowing. I went from having no idea what I wanted to get out of coaching to discovering that I wanted to be a more refined, authentic version of myself. That all emerged during our first session.<\/p>\n Within the first three sessions, we found solutions that met me on my own terms rather than those set by others. I was amazed at the process, and how much more comfortable I was with the solutions and takeaways that I had created for myself.<\/p>\n Jill and I met virtually over Zoom for six months; initially every two weeks and then once a month. We began our sessions with meditation, which allowed me to de-stress from work. I\u2019ve never had time to focus or talk about myself. Coaching allowed me to reflect on my work performance and if I thought my colleagues liked my new approach. Once the answer became \u201cyeah, they did,\u201d it was a really rewarding experience.<\/p>\n Some of the feedback I received was that I have a lot of strong opinions, which can be polarizing. Through coaching I figured out how to express my opinions more effectively.<\/p>\n For example, I was out to dinner with some co-workers who ordered guacamole for the table. I don\u2019t like onions, so when they asked how everyone liked the dish, I said I hated it.<\/p>\n My coach helped me think about how I could have better handled that situation. There\u2019s a time to say, \u201cI hate this guacamole,\u201d but that should be reserved for critical matters. It\u2019s possible to have different tiers of opinions.<\/p>\n A softer approach would be to say that the guacamole wasn\u2019t my favorite, but it was still pretty good. I could have also asked others their opinions before sharing my own.<\/p>\n So now I have a great playbook for the right time and the appropriate way to express myself. A lot of this involves being aware of who I am, how I work and what I say.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve noticed that people are no longer intimidated by me, and I\u2019m making great first impressions with new co-workers. I\u2019m able to get people to believe and trust in me while still being my true, authentic self.<\/p>\n I\u2019m also more aware of when I dominate a conversation with friends and colleagues. Being at a dinner table is no different than a business meeting. I make sure that everyone is able to give their opinion and feel valued.<\/p>\n I am continually working to ensure that my strong personality does not eclipse my good intentions.<\/p>\n I\u2019m a big coaching advocate within my company. I now have coaching updates with the six people I manage. I try to replicate what my coach was able to do and help guide my team toward finding their own solutions. Instead of a coworker asking how I would fix a problem, I explain what\u2019s most important is their solution and how we can make that happen.<\/p>\n Much of my journey centered on how coaching helped me internalize and work through my performance feedback. And that\u2019s what a coach is for, to help you figure out how to overcome that perception while feeling comfortable still being yourself. Coaching gives you a new perspective so you can identify the adjustments you need to integrate into your working style. It\u2019s a worthwhile investment in your future.<\/p>\n Want to learn more about coaching?<\/em>\u00a0Sign up now<\/a><\/em>\u00a0for more information.<\/em><\/p>\nHow did you feel when you learned your soft skills needed to improve?<\/h2>\n
How did you decide to partner with a coach?<\/h2>\n
Did\u00a0you have any expectations about the coaching experience?<\/h2>\n
Can you describe your coaching sessions?<\/h2>\n
A powerful part of the coaching relationship is the \u201caha\u201d moment. Can you talk about one of your defining breakthroughs?<\/h2>\n
What changes have you noticed in your work and personal life since you\u2019ve worked with a coach?<\/h2>\n
Would you recommend coaching to friends and colleagues? What would you say to someone who is considering working with a coach?<\/h2>\n
\u201cCoaching gives you a new perspective so you can identify the adjustments you need to integrate into your working style.\u201d<\/em><\/h6>\n