You, your coach, and your practice

You, your coach, and your dreams
By Alan Rousso, DC, PCC

Everyone wants to be successful. But not everyone is willing to do what it takes to achieve success.

That’s where a coach can come into play.

A coach is not a consultant. The difference is this: A consultant answers questions; a coach asks them.

Most people know what they should do, but don’t do it. Most chiropractors know what they need to do to take their practices to the next level, but don’t act on their knowledge. They have many reasons for not doing it, but reasons don’t count; results are what count.

That’s where a coach comes into play. A coach shows you what you don’t want to see and tells you what you don’t want to hear.

People do not always listen to those who give advice or encouragement to take steps beyond a comfort zone, but will act on things they say to themselves.

Think about it: You gather information, concepts, or ideas, and then balance the positive against the negative. Emotions get in the way of taking the next step.

A coach helps you take the next step to get beyond those emotions by helping you find out more about yourself — your values and goals, as well as what really holds you back from obtaining results and being fulfilled.

A person who is open to coaching realizes he is about to embark on a self-discovery process regarding who he is, not just what he does.

QUESTIONS AND MORE QUESTIONS

A coach’s forté is his or her ability to ask the right questions. What kinds of questions does a coach ask? The specific questions depend upon the situation, but the questions cause the client to think, feel, and act.

If, for example, you hired a coach to help you get more patients, the coach’s questions might include:

• “How do you think you can get more patients?” (Because most chiropractors already know how, you would rattle off a number of different ways.)

• The coach would then ask, “You know what to do. Are you going to do it? And if you are, how are you going to do it?”

• If you were reluctant to act, the coach would ask, “What exactly are you afraid of? Do you think being afraid will bring you closer or further away from what you really want to accomplish? What one step can we take together that will move you in a positive direction?”

When a coach asks questions like these, some clients see the real issues and are able to confront their fears, take action, and get the results they want immediately. Other clients need time to process, take stock of who they are, and break the information into bite-size steps that make sense for them to act on.

WANT VS. NEED

Think about this: Professionals have coaches; amateurs don’t. It’s not that you need or don’t need a coach.

However, you may want one — or several — who are skilled in many areas to add perspective and to challenge your current beliefs.

Once you have decided you want a coach (instead of needing a coach), you’ll bring expectancy, excitement, and enthusiasm to your calls, assignments, and projects. That energy alone creates a shift in your attraction and things begin to happen for you, instead of to you.

When you discover the answers within you from a coach(s) that supports and challenges you to new heights of achievement, personal and professional experiences begin to change — for the better.

Alan Rousso, DC, PCC, is the director of consulting services for The Masters Circle. He can be reached by phone at 800-451-4514 or through the Web site www.themasterscircle.com.