Noble Ones, in the spirit of gratitude, thank you for the overwhelmingly positive and supportive feedback in response to our first “Noble Insights” blog post. I was truly humbled by your willingness to embrace the practice of gratitude in your own lives – and was overwhelmed by the messages of appreciation shared with me. Thank you for those gifts. That is the power of gratitude. 

This month, I’d like to let you in on a little secret from Noble Hill HQ. Even an executive coach (yes – me) needs a coach! 

As most of you know, I’ve been at this a long time. I love what I do – developing leaders, building high performing teams and strengthening organizational cultures. In his book, “Outliers: The Story of Success,” Malcom Gladwell introduced the concept of the “10,000-hour rule,” suggesting that it takes roughly 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to achieve mastery in a skill or field.

After nearly 20 years, I’ve meaningfully logged 10,000+ hours. I earned a coaching certification after extensive training with the Center for Executive Coaching. Most importantly, I had the privilege of being trained and mentored by one of the best coaches in business (thanks, Doc). 

Even so, just like you, I am a work in progress. However, I would not be who I am (or where I am) without investing in my own coaching and development. So, I’d like to share three key reasons why, after two decades of experience and countless hours of deliberate practice, I continue to believe in the power of coaching for personal and professional growth. 

The Power of Accountability in Coaching

First, coaches provide accountability. One of the primary reasons I value coaching is the inherent accountability it provides. While I guide and support others in their journeys, having a coach keeps me committed to my own growth and development. I’m aware that it’s easy to become complacent about development when my day-to-day work is focused on helping others. 

Recently, a peer coach I meet with regularly has begun holding me accountable for working “on the business,” not just working “in the business” (an idea credited to Gino Wickman). This shift in focus has been a game-changer, prompting me to explore new possibilities and sharpen my strategic focus. As a result, this elevated level of accountability has helped to identify new business opportunities and scale growth objectives.

Second, coaches push us (safely) beyond our comfort zones. Growth happens right at the edge of our comfort zone, and the best coaches have a way of guiding us there, helping us see what we can’t see for ourselves. That’s an exciting place to be, both when I’m coaching others and when I’m on the receiving end. 

But here’s the thing – trust is critical. Establishing trust is a process that requires time and effort. In all my coaching relationships, whether it’s with a financial coach, a fitness coach, or a business coach, they have invested the necessary time to understand my strengths and limitations. They have skillfully guided me in practicing how to embrace and normalize discomfort.

From experience, I have learned that if I am not occasionally feeling that discomfort, I am limiting my ability to reach my full potential. So, whenever I sense unease in response to guidance from a trusted coach, I know it’s probably the right time to dive in and pursue it. 

Embracing Discomfort in Coaching: The Journey of Trust and Growth

Finally, coaches elevate our self-awareness. Self-assessment is the first step to establishing behavior change. Typically, coaching engagements begin with self-assessment. Using reliable personality assessments, these insights inform the coach’s reflective questions, facilitate the development of action plans, and as mentioned earlier, ensures accountability – all with the goals of helping individuals gain confidence as they create new habits aligned with their goals.

It goes without saying that I am a strong proponent of self-assessment. Throughout the years, I’ve had the opportunity to utilize various assessment tools and I make it a regular habit to revisit my own assessment results. Currently, I’m working on becoming more deliberate in my decision-making process. To support my learning, I’ve recently reread the insights of Napoleon Hill, particularly his teachings on the power of decision making. This area of development serves as my practice field for continuous self-improvement.

Sharing my coaching journey feels like an act of vulnerability, but it’s true – even a coach needs a coach and I am no exception. If you’re ready to start your transformative coaching journey, connect with us at Noble Hill Consulting. Email me at mark@noblehillconsulting.com or call at 330-554-1461. We’re here to guide you toward your goals and would be happy to introduce you to existing clients who have benefited from our executive coaching services.