What do an engineer from Michigan, a coffee shop in Bangkok, Thailand, and a language school in northern India have in common? Read On!
An article in “The Balance” suggests that in a list of ten second career choices, consultant and coach are two of the ten common second careers.1
In a recent IBEC Coach Connect held online, Tony V defined a coach as someone who engages in a focused conversation with another person who is interested in change and development. The coach assumes a solution mindset based on best practices and fosters self-discovered insights by the coachee, who often comes up with innovative solutions.
Bluepoint2 suggests that coaching and consulting is essentially a relationship whereby the coach appreciates and cares about another and is committed to his/her success. The coach/consultant actually mostly listens and is committed to serving the best interests of the coachee.3 The coach can “speak the truth in love” and help hold the one being coached accountable.
Recently, Bob Bush reported the results of an IBEC Survey of our coaches and consultants, who said that the most often stated help suggested by the clients was that the coach provided encouragement.
All of this is to suggest that most everyone can learn to coach and probably during their career, have taken steps in that direction already. So then, what about those nearing or reaching “retirement” age from their primary career? How about taking what you have learned and coaching someone? I am sure YOU CAN DO IT.
I just was introduced to an IBEC coach named Martin B., who has retired from a career in electrical engineering and the IT industry. He told me how much fun he was having coaching a coffee company in Thailand and a language training school in India. It is not so much about the coffee, or the language school, but it is about listening, building a relationship, and helping to develop insights and solutions. It is about caring, serving, and encouraging.
Some years ago, an attorney who owned the largest law firm in his state, listened to me sharing about IBEC, BAM, and God’s heart for the world. He then said that he thought he had nothing to offer. He really meant it because he had been conditioned by his church and community that the world is divided into silos, and professional lawyers were not allowed into the space of ministers and missionaries. In addition, he did not understand the role of an interdisciplinary coach or consultant. The net result is that I wrote a paper which would help him remember and consider some of what he has learned in his lifetime.4
Here are some next steps:
- Contact Jonathan at j.brake@ibecventures.com and share your story and your passion.
- Review the orientation and training materials provided by Jonathan.
- Practice some of the skills of active listening, serving others, showing appreciation for people.
- Talk to Jonathan about a first assignment.
1 https://www.thebalancemoney.com/10-great-second-careers-5088540
2 https://bluepointleadership.com/resources/videos/
3 https://bluepointleadership.com/resource/powerful-coaching-relationships/
4 Business as Mission: What do I have to offer? (Write to larry.sharp@ibecventures.com) for your copy.)
Larry W. Sharp, BAM Support Specialist, IBEC Ventures
Larry.Sharp@ibecventures.com