THE ALLURE OF COLLABORATION:
Expanding the Niche Contraction
by Rosemary Davies-Janes |
I exposed
an interesting truth during the first 4 months I spent
hosting The Many Faces of Coaching™
Show. My intent was to showcase the
diversity of coaching, so that listeners could
be educated on the many variations within our
field. What became readily apparent, (to me, not
the audience), is that coaches provide
essentially the same key benefits despite our
diverse target markets, carefully crafted niches
and well defined USPs.
Now this may sound like heresy, especially
coming from someone who has helped many coaches
define and leverage their unique distinctions,
but the heart of coaching - all coaching - beats
to the drum of human connections. Coaches are
"people" oriented people - and as such we
provide support , encouragement, inspiration and
love. We offer objectivity and an ability to cut
through superficial distractions to cauterize
underlying issues or fears. Whether we're
working within organizations, consulting to
corporations or supporting individual clients'
weight loss, relationship building or life
balance goals, our focus is always on empowering
our clients to achieve their objectives.
So
what's the allure of collaboration? Actually,
it's a notion that has arisen from combining my
recent interviews with some of the best
coaches in the world, with the "isolation"
challenges faced by many coaches who, like
me, spend much of their time working through
virtual communication modalities.
Having recently indulged in far more "in-person"
work than ever before, I noticed that simply
being face-to-face with people, at both local
and international events, delivers unexpected
benefits. Firstly, it is energizing! Rather
than the "flat" dimension of voice or written
communication - working "live" provides full 3-D
body language, along with audio and sensory
input. Secondly, it is inspiring. By stepping
outside of the rigor of a time-enforced focused
agenda opens the floor for spontaneous,
non-subject specific conversations. By
"thinking out loud", seeking casual opinions and
reflections, our thinking detours from its
direct route logical freeways to its more
creative, meandering country lanes.
Beyond the benefits of presenting to a live
audience, or meeting with clients in person, it
is hugely rewarding and validating to be able to
work with, to partner with another coach. You
now have a peer with whom you can compare notes,
discuss options and roll-out strategies. A
colleague who will be your sounding board, who
can correct your mistakes and support your
successes.
Collaboration enables you to venture into new
and exciting territory - areas that have always
been of interest but that you have not been able
to nurture. By connecting with an expert in
such areas, you can get experiential education
while providing a "fresh" approach that can
help even an "old-pro" develop their specialty
to a new level of mastery.
It's also a change that refreshes. An adventure
that makes you appreciate your quiet time,
enabling you to return to your private practice
with enthusiasm, energy and appreciation. After
all, you are doing what you love, getting paid
to support people, clients, and now colleagues.
You have expanded your base for revenue
generation. You get to travel and while you do
you can easily stay in touch with your clients
by phone or e-mail, from - anywhere! You also
get the familiar routine of working in
the peaceful serenity of your own office. Does
it get any better than this?
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