Seeking Career Direction ....Mentor? Life Coach?

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Permalink Reply by Julie Roads on October 10, 2008 at 5:19am

If you have the means to hire a life coach - I think it's awesome to have that individual attention, work on a plan and have someone hold you accountable. Get recommendations from people for absolute sure and test the waters before committing. Also, don't stay with a coach b/c you're afraid to break up with them - if it ain't right, you aren't doing anyone a service by staying!

If you don't have the money...I'd say we all have a pretty amazing network here to guide us, motivate us and provide valuable information. We can also trade with each other, if it works, for valuable services. It's not quite the same, but they each have their perks...

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Permalink Reply by JediMom on October 12, 2008 at 7:59pm

Thanks for the tips Julie! You're absolutely right. This is an amazing network of women.

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Permalink Reply by Naoma Doriguzzi on October 16, 2008 at 4:01pm

I am a member of a mastermind group of a great group of women that meet weekly to keep us motivated on our different goals.

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Permalink Reply by Maryann on October 24, 2008 at 1:05pm

The concept of a life coach is really great... I think of it as friend or collague who doesn't judge or put their own filter on it. A dear friend of mine has had one for years and swears by it. I am considering this route too. The key is finding a great one.

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Permalink Reply by Nina on February 5, 2009 at 1:13pm

Hi Lisa! This is a good topic. Not many people have asked this, but its true that we do need a coach or mentor as we progress in our career, and still maintain a balance with our family and personal lives.

Hiring a professional or getting a friend or relative as life coach sounds like a good plan, but it may cost you some money or most likely they will not be very keen on exactly what's going on in your workplace. I believe its more suitable to find a career mentor or life coach from within your workplace. Someone mature, probably at a more senior level, who have been in the company long enough to understand how things work in your company and give you insights on how to play it the right way. At the same time, have overcome the same challenges of keeping it together with work and family life.

Just to give you a scenario, the company I used to work for nurture this culture and with that I found my career mentor and life coach. He helped me play the cards well in the corporate ladder and kept me grounded with my family. We would talk once every two weeks or sometimes once a month and I would update him with any concerns or issues with work and family; how I'm keeping up; how I can work out my career goals best without compromising my family life. He can really relate and it felt like talking to my Dad. We discussed the right priorities and good strategies specific to my work. He worked with almost the same people and understood their personalities and roles, at the same time gave me insights on top management expectations. This allowed me to work smart and have more quality time with my husband and kids.

Oh you asked how I found or approached him? We worked together on several inter-department projects and became good friends. Then I asked him straight out if he would be interested to be my mentor. He was delighted. It was an honor for him, and anyone in the company for that matter, to be offered that position. We scheduled our first meeting and it just carried on. We would talk over the phone or meet over lunch and it was a red ink on our calendars.

Perhaps you can check out if this is going on in your workplace. If its something new then maybe an initiative from you would be appreciated and supported. Who knows. :)

So this is how I thought that getting someone from the inside can be more workable. I hope this helps. May you find your guru soon, or have you? :-)

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Permalink Reply by Louisa on March 9, 2009 at 9:48am

Hi Lisa,

I use a life coach and a business coach and I can share with you that they are the wind beneath my wings. Often time the issue I see is on the surface while my coach helps me discover more fundamental underlying issues that I may have overlooked which prevents me from living my best potentials.

When you work with a coach, you set the agenda for each session. You choose a goal you want to achieve (which often times changes along the way), you progress at your pace and you have the power of choice. A coach is your friend and partner supporting you along the way. She provides accountability as well as a support structure.

I am a certified life coach and I offer free weekly online coffee talks. You are invited to come join - no cost, just dial in and you get to experience what it can be like. Love to have you there
http://sn.im/coffeetalk, or feel free to drop by my site at http://sn.im/abundantlives

Love to invite all to join me for an agenda free time of sharing and support.

Warmly,
Louisa

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