Arriving at new performative heights in your career or business requires more than just excelling at your current tasks; it demands a proactive and strategic approach to personal development and career advancement.
Adopting a ‘Coach Approach’ can provide you with a unique edge in securing your next promotion. Here's a strategic guide on how to use coaching principles to stand out and position yourself for success:
1. Self-Assessment and Goal Setting
Start by taking a coach-like approach to your own career journey. Reflect on your strengths, skills, and areas for growth. Set clear and specific career goals that align with your values - what’s important to you in the here and now. Just as a coach supports clients to define their objectives, you need to define: 1- what you are looking to move towards and, 2 - how you will know when you get there (and how will you feel/what will that look like)...
2. Seek Constructive Feedback
Actively seek feedback from your supervisors, colleagues, and mentors. Approach these conversations with a growth mindset, viewing feedback as opportunities for improvement rather than criticism. Ask for specific insights on areas you can enhance; and enquire about the skills and qualities valued in the role you're aiming for. Use this feedback to revisit and tailor your development plan/goals.
3. Develop a Learning Plan
Create a learning and development plan that responds to your needs - and your skill gaps. Identify relevant courses, workshops, and certifications that can enhance your skills. However, also focus on soft skills such as leadership, communication, and emotional intelligence. The coach approach involves continuous learning, and this commitment to growth will be noticed not only by decision-makers, but most notably, by YOU.
4. Reflect On Your Impact
Regularly reflect on your achievements and contributions. Rather than simply listing tasks on your resume or during conversations, focus on the impact you've made against the key success factors that your future position requires - such as managing change, team work or executive presence. Use quantifiable data to highlight improvements you've brought to the team or projects you've successfully led. Like any coaching conversation, you check-in on your progress, celebrating every advancement.
5. Embrace Change and Adaptation
A Coach Approach - the coaching mindset - thrives on adaptability and flexibility. Be open to taking on new challenges, stepping out of your comfort zone, and embracing change. This willingness to grow and adapt demonstrates your readiness for increased responsibility and leadership.
6. Communicate Your Aspirations
When the time is right, express your interest in a promotion to your superior. Share your career goals, the steps you've taken to develop yourself, and your commitment to contributing more to the organisation. Frame this conversation around your readiness to take on new responsibilities and your desire to continue growing within the company. This is what we would call the crash-test - what’s the worse that could happen? And again, with a coaching mindset, ready to reflect and seeking feedback from your superior as a gift, whatever takes shape from that conversation is yet another opportunity for growth.
So, adopting a Coach Approach to your career development can set you apart as a proactive, growth-oriented professional. By focusing on self-assessment, feedback, learning, collaboration, impact, adaptation, and effective communication, you begin to position yourself for success.
The Coach Approach isn't just about achieving your next promotion; it's a mindset that supports ongoing growth and advancement throughout your entire career journey.
At Nova Terra we frequently run a four day workshop entitled 'The Coach Approach to Leadership' for groups of individuals or businesses. Through experiential learning, you discover a robust and sustainable management model to enhance your leadership skills. It is the first coaching-based leadership program ever introduced by a coaching academy in Belgium. For more information, please contact us at: info@novaterracoaching.com
