Why do I coach HigherEd pros?
Because I love college.
As a young coed, I fell in love. I fell head-over-heels in love with college – the magical time when adolescents try on the Coat of Adulthood and see how it fits and learn how to accessorize the Coat of Adulthood to suit their personal style. The love affair with the magic of college has lasted my entire adult lifetime, and I’ve been fortunate to find lots of ways to funnel my passion for college into a fulfilling career in more capacities than I imagined, from administrator to leadership faculty to executive – and a few stints as student along the way!
Throughout my career, I’ve tried to focus on my “why,” my mission, my purpose – what motivated me professionally, no matter my role on or off campus. Remember that phrase? “Start with WHY.” Simon Sinek made this reflection a common exercise among leadership development folks in his 2014 TedTalk, and I’ve used it with leadership students in workshops and classrooms in the years since. As a higher ed pro, my “why” is always “the magic of college.” That sense of wonder that comes from discovering new ideas is often found in our students, and I have sought it among staff, faculty and administrators as well. I seek and create ways to make opportunities for folks in higher ed settings to flourish – which can be for students to learn, for faculty to teach, for staff & administration to educate.
The magic of someone discovering & creating new knowledge never ever gets old for me!
Now, as a professional coach specializing in partnering with HigherEd pros, that magic happens twice. First my clients experience growth themselves through our work. Second – extra special magic – they pass it on to their own campus partners and students. Cultivating fertile ground for a great coaching partnership doesn’t happen by accident. We set the stage together, put in the effort & energy and then reap the rewards.
Wondering if coaching is right for you? (Hint: if you are wondering, it probably is!) Here's how to know if you are ready for coaching:
If you have some areas of your professional presence or talent that you are eager to refine, coaching provides a caring expert ready to partner with you. Coaching is a great investment in yourself when you are at the top of your game; you’ll be challenged and supported as cultivate better awareness of your strengths.
Maybe you have added some new responsibilities at work, and you are discovering you have things to learn or improve to meet the challenges. A coach is a safe partner in your goal setting and achievement, particularly when you experience a touch of hesitation in your own abilities.
Perhaps an element of your work life isn’t going as well as you hoped, and you’d like to explore what you can do to rediscover your professional joy. From supervisory foibles or clarity of priorities to that elusive work-life harmony, coaching can help you get a handle on how you can best use your professional self.
Coaching is successful when both client and coach are invested and passionate about the work you are doing, and the mission that drives you. For most of us in higher education, our intrinsic goal is to help students experience the magic of college. I have devoted myself to helping HigherEd Pros experience the magic of college as well!
If you’d like to learn more about how coaching can benefit you, let’s connect!
