Coach Yourself: Three Questions to Help You Grow

At Community Solutions, I am lucky to coach a variety of nonprofit leaders in the Accelerator Initiative and the Elevation program. In both programs, I work one-on-one with passionate leaders building service organizations in Indiana. Together, we explore possibility and work to create real change and improvement.

As a coach myself, I’d recommend coaching to everyone. A trained thought partner can help you grow in ways you didn’t know were possible. Even if a formal coaching relationship isn’t in the cards, you can utilize powerful coaching questions on your own to develop a learning agenda. Here is a set of questions you can use to coach yourself:

Start with a Powerful Reflection Question

“When you were at your best, what were you doing? What was happening?”

Answering this question will help you identify the circumstances, activities, and experiences that happened when you were thriving. Take real time to understand these moments. The more detail you can identify, the more you can use to learn and grow.

Take Those Reflections and Plug Them into This Question

“What specific steps can I take to do or have more of what I identified?”

At this moment, you are anchoring future thinking and planning in real activities and experiences that are from when you were at your best. This anchoring is extra powerful because it is not anchoring your activities to an idealized or fantasy version of yourself; it is anchoring to the real you. Don’t be afraid to be specific. This will be your learning agenda!

Identify Your Trusted Supporters

“Who do I know who I trust that will support me in trying these steps?”

Identifying trusted allies and supporters is always a good idea. Think about people who are invested in your success or who are excited about your potential. A good supporter might be someone who is your trusted “truth-teller” or someone who has supported you in the past.

Put It All Together

Now you need to put it all together. Take your specific actions and start doing them! Choose one and implement it. Start small and activate your trusted ally when you need support. Keep reflecting on your experiences and adjust your actions as needed. Before long, you’ll be having more experiences when you are being your best self!

Reach out today to discover how Community Solutions helps organizations and the people who lead them grow, adapt, and succeed!

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