Being Coached...

By Jon Hobbs, #RideTheWave Coach

One of the unexpected benefits of a coach training programme for someone relatively new to the field, such as myself, is the enjoyment of actually receiving meaningful coaching for the first time in my life.

As I completed the second of four modules with my wonderful cohort of 15 other coaches, I’ve had the pleasure of receiving free coaching from some incredible individuals.

For anyone reading this who is also new to the concept, being coached involves coming to a session with a topic or theme focused on a specific or broad challenge faced in your personal or professional life. Over the course of a session (usually between 30-90 minutes) you are gently encouraged to explore the challenge, view it from different perspectives and through insightful questioning sometimes based around a specific “tool” or activity, develop some clarity around the theme.

How often in this day and age are you afforded the luxury of just having someone listen to you with no agenda of their own who gently coaxes out some different perspectives or potential solutions from you?

​On the #RideTheWave coach training programme, one of the central values is diversity which is embodied through the variety of coaches on the course but also a diversity of thought, perspective and approach. It is a genuine privilege to be afforded the opportunity to be coached by so many talented people and embark on some meaningful personal discovery.

I’ve had the opportunity to explore some major life questions and from a standing start, not necessarily expecting to come up with anything groundbreaking, I’ve been blown away by the process, the clarity of thought that resulted and the impact on my everyday mindset.

Specifically, I’ve been encouraged through coaching to put some thought into the simple habits that help me achieve a healthy balance in life - it’s the things I know deep down but once I start to let them slip, the challenges that I might otherwise be able to overcome can seem overwhelming.

In another session, I experienced a simple but powerful visualisation tool to help me work through a challenge that had been causing me low-level, consistent stress for a good 18 months!

I’ve also had the privilege of being a catalyst for this kind of self-discovery in the sessions I've coached too. The feeling of giving someone the space, time and opportunity to work through a particular challenge and come out the other side with some progress is an inspiring skill to learn.

Through the coaching I’ve now received my mind has been moulded to be more reflective on my day to day personal and professional challenges. I now think more deeply about my instincts, reactions and patterns of behaviour. I’m looking forward to my third module on the programme to bring some of these reflections to coaching and supervision sessions.

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