To my loyal readers: let me express my sincere apologies for disappearing for a while. My last post was in December of 2021, which makes this, I believe, the longest gap between posts since I started this blog in early 2010. Since December 2021, I have experienced several positive shifts in my personal and professional life; however, I will use this opportunity to share one of my proudest achievements.
I have become a certified Professional Coach!
In 2002, when I started working with Major League Soccer, I planned to get an introductory-level coaching badge so I could effectively coach youth soccer players during the weekend. Then I got busy with work, completing my MBA, social life, girlfriends, exploring New York City, etc., and never took any action aligned with this plan. In 2009, when I moved to India, again, I thought I would get an AIFF D-license and start coaching Indian youth in my free time. Never happened.
Deep down inside, I always wanted to coach, which made me wonder why I was not pursuing a coaching license with the same enthusiasm I usually exude when I want something. Then, in 2018, I got into education and learned about life coaching. I worked with a professional life coach for a while and eventually came to understand that my passion to coach had nothing to do with being on the sidelines of a football pitch, it was about working with people on their dreams, aspirations, challenges and blind spots. The seed was planted, and finally, in 2021, I had the opportunity to pursue a year-long life-coaching course through an organisation called Leadership That Works.
I completed the program in August 2022 and have started coaching students at GISB as well as individual clients. I can comfortably say that professional coaching is one of the most fulfilling experiences I have ever had and it gives my life purpose each day. As I love lists, I will share the top five things I learned from my foray into professional coaching.
- Being a great coach starts with developing an ability to love your client – when you love the person sitting across from you, it is easy to put your ego aside and completely focus on what your client needs
- The most important tool in coaching is deep listening – creating a safe space for your client to share and be heard is half the work
- I have found that guiding your client to get into their bodies through movement, focusing and breathwork creates a fantastic opportunity to shift energy and tap into somatic intelligence
- The initial ‘discovery session’ with the client is critical; it sets a healthy foundation of trust and understanding for all future coaching sessions to build upon
- Coaching and mentorship are not the same things! (see below)
I am thrilled to have developed these new skills over the past year and secured a qualification that gives me confidence as I look to impact people’s lives through one-on-one interactions. So, while I may not be coaching a team to a championship anytime soon, hopefully, I can help individuals get into the right mindset to build championship winning clubs and athletes work through their limiting beliefs to achieve their full potential on and off the pitch.
