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The Blind Leading the Blind: Why You Really Need a Coach

Written by: Jerry Pinney

Article Overview: So why would successful people seek out the services of a coach? Why do so many executives—who are already in top positions—demand an executive coach as part of their benefits package? Because they know from experience that even their highly refined ability to see what is needed is limited by their own assumptions and beliefs.

The Blind Leading the Blind: Why You Really Need a Coach

The Blind Leading the Blind: Why You Really Need a Coach Most successful people are self-directing and self-managing. They take initiative and they have discipline. They know their strengths and weaknesses. They have action plans to follow in order to avoid procrastination and keep on track with goals. So why would successful people seek out the services of a coach? Why do so many executives—who are already in top positions—demand an executive coach as part of their benefits package? Because they know from experience that even their highly refined ability to see what is needed is limited by their own assumptions and beliefs. It is like the blind leading the blind when you only have yourself to turn to. The problem is that we all use our inner assumptions and beliefs to make decisions. We are driven by motivations and values that are outside our own awareness. Let’s define further here what we need to discuss: Beliefs Beliefs are the assumptions we make about ourselves, about others in the world and about how we expect things to be. Beliefs are about how we think things really are, what is true and what to expect as likely consequences that will follow from our behavior. Values Values are about how we have learnt to think things ought to be or people ought to behave, especially in terms of qualities such as honesty, integrity and openness. Basic Assumptions Basic assumptions are our long-learnt, automatic responses and established opinions. We are usually unaware of the nature of our own basic assumptions, but they are enacted through our behavior—what we say and do. Basic assumptions are usually rooted in our infancy, early family life and social context. More widely, assumptions shaping our behavior relate to cultural context. Attitudes Attitudes are the established ways of responding to people and situations that we have learned, based on the beliefs, values and assumptions we hold. Attitudes become manifest through our behavior. There are two kinds of beliefs that operate behind the scenes: 1. Empowering beliefs: these are related to excellence and how it can be achieved. 2. Limiting beliefs: these are the beliefs you have that limit your behaviors; even though your behavior is not what you want, you don’t believe you can change it, for one reason or another. Have you ever tried to draw or paint a self-portrait? Even if you are artistic and talented, this is a very difficult task. To take a look at your assumptions and beliefs by yourself, and to explore them—examine them for their usefulness and value, is even harder to do— if not impossible. Both our social and work habits have been built on assumptions. Even our relationships and marriages operate on beliefs formed from our early histories. And while circumstances may have changed since the start of these practices, their continued use tends to reconfirm the old beliefs—they often still feel right to us. We keep on doing what we have always done, and expect different results! A coach can help you see what you can’t see yourself. A good coach will ask the right kinds of questions – the kinds you can’t answer right away, the ones that make you think. If you only have yourself as a coach, you may be missing an opportunity to explore beyond your assumptions and beliefs, both the limiting and empowering.

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Article Tags: Action Plans, Coach, Coaching, Strenghts



Related Forum Posts
Inventors Love Their Own Products - I think Blind Love is a really important one. Too many people love their product so much and think it's a great idea but there's really no market for it and they'll never sell it.
Re: Business Coaching Resources - You're fortunate when you can find a Business Coach who has experience beyond where you've been and even where you are going. When your budget is slim and even after, it's good to have a mentor. Several of various backgrounds are very useful. They can be teachers, professors, pastors, business people, family members, bosses and former bosses. You have to be clear on what you want and what you desire to achieve, be able to convey it as simply as possible. Stop and listen and don't over tax their time. You should always expect results whether from a Business Coach or Mentors. If you're not gtting results, you're either not focused or you need to upgrade the quality of your mentors/coaches. Always surround yourself by people smarter than you.
Re: How to Promote a MLM Business? - I have to agree with several of the previous posts here. Having your own site so that you can get it ranked is a big one. Also, as stated above, using a "passive" recruiting style works really well. Leading by example, people will naturally want to follow you over time if you prove yourself a leader. Bottom line, if you are promoting your opportunity or products, you are losing sales. About 85% of the population hates to be sold. Promote YOU, build relationships and let the business fall in place after that. Bill
Post subject: Too successful for a mate? - That was an interesting article, Shri! Most of the women I know who continue to be single have some type of self limiting behavior which interferes with them either meeting or attracting the perfect mate for them. They are incredible and talented women, they just haven't set themselves up for relationship success. I know there are men who may be intimidated, but there are also men who aren't. Some men are attracted to smart women! My advice to these women would be to focus on creating the right environment for a relationship to happen. This would be a great time to hire a Life Coach or Relationship Coach. Taking action to get ready for a relationship doesn't mean having to be aggressive in finding a man. It's more subtle. If you don't make room for a man in your life, you might just squeeze out the opportunity before he gets to you. As well, you may be sending off all the wrong signals without realizing it. Seriously, I don't think successful women are off the proverbial "good wife material list". However, if you think yourself off of it then don't be surprised if you fulfill your own prophecy.
Re: Want to be a published author? - Thanks for sharing some options out there for us, Ladies! I'm one of those people who have a number of books in the works, but haven't quite finished them yet... I think I need to bring this up with my own Coach, but that's another story! *LOL* Anyhow, it's nice to know what I can do about it all when I'm ready. Shri, I'll keep you in mind when the time comes! Thanks again, Tami


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