Asking for Help

“Daddy, can you help me?”

These are some of my favorite words to hear. My son says them when he wants to do something that he knows he can’t do on his own. I love that he is so eager and so willing to ask for help when he needs it. I know it won’t always be that way.

When’s the last time you asked for someone to help you? Here’s a thought:

If you want to play an instrument, you find someone who can teach you.
If you want to get in shape, you join a gym—and sometimes you hire a trainer.
If you want to get better in a subject in school, you work with a tutor.

Because I want to get better, I recently did something I said I would never do: I hired a coach.

To be honest, I’ve always been skeptical of the prospect of an executive coach or a business coach. Why would I hire someone who doesn’t have my job, to help me do my job? I am a firm believer in personal and professional development. I’ll read books, listen to podcasts, or even take a course. But hiring a business coach? That seemed absurd. 

Then I heard something that caused me to pause and reflect: You would never play a little league game without a coach, so what makes us think that we can get through life without one? The big idea is that all of us could benefit from someone who is focused on helping us get better. 

And if you want to get better at leading an organization, it’s helpful to have a coach. Having a coach has not only helped me grow as a leader in my business, but it’s also helped me grow in other important areas of my life. Who knew a business coach would have as much positive impact on my home life as my work life?!

Without focused development, we will never get better. If you aren’t intentional about growing in your personal and professional life, you won’t.

Each of us need people in our lives who are committed to our development. It doesn’t matter if we call this person a coach, a mentor, or a friend, but we all need someone who is committed to encouraging and challenging us to get better in the different areas of our lives.

Here is a short list of the invaluable things coaches can do for us:

– They reinforce our strengths.
– They challenge us when we need it.
– They hold us accountable.
– They help us see the bigger picture.
– They help us clarify our goals.
– They increase our engagement in the work we’re doing.
– They help sharpen our leadership skills.
– They ask us to think more deeply and intentionally.

Maybe you’re a new parent and need to find someone you respect to mentor you in this important role.

Maybe you’re wanting to get in shape, but nothing has worked. It’s time to find a trainer or at least a workout buddy.

Maybe you’re a new teacher and need to ask the seasoned teacher down the hall if they will watch you teach and provide you feedback.

Or maybe you’re leading a business, and it’s time to invest in a business coach.

You don’t have to pay a coach to grow, but you do need someone in your life who is intentionally helping you develop both personally and professionally.

Find someone and ask them to help.