Tim Hargraves’ Post

A good question is gold dust - here's why...  As a coach, a lot of my work comes down to listening to clients and encouraging them to reflect on their situations, empowering them to work through obstacles and limiting beliefs, but equally how they can achieve their goals and ambitions. Listening and asking questions. Sounds straightforward enough, yet gets overlooked by many in favour of ‘I think...’ statements, particularly in the workplace. Tone and delivery play a part in delivering a good question, for sure. You don’t want to come off sounding snarky or accusatory.    And the benefits? - It builds confidence for individuals and teams alike.  - It increases trust and an environment of psychological safety.  - And heck, it’s a great learning opportunity too!    DM me if you’re curious or just want to ask what makes a good question, I’ll share 3 examples you can use in your day-to day.    In the meantime, here’s some great client testimonials and feedback on the power of questions:   "Honestly, it's been a big game-changer for me to see how a lot of coaching comes down to asking really good questions, rather than doling out really good answers.”   ------------------ “I've been asked questions that I wouldn't have otherwise asked myself. I've been asked questions that I didn't have answers to, and ones that I didn't have good answers to.” -------------------- “It's something that I always try to incorporate into my days immediately after a coaching session: how can I respond with a question rather than react with whatever I think is the answer.” --------------------- “It's such a powerful tool that is good for personal relationships, work relationships and all sorts of situations.” ---------------------- “It gets people to think harder and it forces you to think harder. And being able to ask good questions has such a huge impact on the people around you." __________________________ I'm a CMO turned Coach: I help mid-career creatives, strategists an marketers improve their work/life balance with leadership programs rooted in #kindness. Curious to learn more? Let's start with an Intro Call, the link is in the comments 👇

Life coaches often have a range of duties and responsibilities that revolve around helping their clients set and achieve personal or professional goals. Here are some common duties of a life coach: Goal Setting: Working with clients to identify and clarify their short-term and long-term goals across various areas of life, such as career, relationships, health, and personal development. Action Planning: Helping clients develop actionable plans and strategies to achieve their goals, breaking down big goals into smaller, manageable steps. Motivation and Accountability: Providing motivation, support, and encouragement to keep clients focused and accountable for taking the necessary actions toward their goals. Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses: Helping clients recognize their strengths and weaknesses, as well as their limiting beliefs or barriers that may be hindering their progress. Skill Building: Assisting clients in developing new skills, improving existing ones, and adopting positive habits that align with their goals. Communication and Listening: Practicing active listening to understand clients' perspectives, challenges, and aspirations, while also effectively communicating ideas, feedback, and insights. Mindset and Confidence Building: Working on cultivating a positive mindset, boosting self-confidence, and addressing self-doubt or negative thought patterns that may impede progress. Overcoming Obstacles: Assisting clients in overcoming obstacles, setbacks, or challenges that arise during their journey toward achieving their goals. Emotional Support: Providing a supportive and non-judgmental space for clients to express their emotions, fears, and concerns, and helping them manage stress, anxiety, or other emotional barriers. Evaluation and Feedback: Regularly evaluating progress, celebrating successes, and providing constructive feedback to help clients stay on track and make necessary adjustments to their plans. #lifecoach #life #mentor #interviewtips #universitygraduatates

Firstly, let me give you some context to this post. I have multiple calls per week with people who enquire about working with me. One question I ask people is:

“Have you ever worked with a coach before and if so why are you no longer with them?” This is to understand:

1️⃣ What people have tried before

2️⃣ What’s worked/what hasn’t

3️⃣ What type of coaching approach they might like or dislike

4️⃣ But also to see if they harbour the blame of not getting results on the coach instead of their lack of work ethic.

Don’t get me wrong, I hear some shock horror stories from things other coaches have told people to do…

BUT Equally, i’ve heard every excuse under the sun, people blaming coaches who I know for a fact are very good at their craft for their lack of results. This is a red flag to me and I simply won’t work with people who can’t take responsibility for their outcomes. Coaching is not a magic bullet that gurantees sucess if you don’t hold up your side of the bargain. You simply cannot teach adherence. Yes, a coach should work with you to create an approach that fits into your life so you can be adherent to it… But ultimately, something has to give. You have to be willing to adjust your lifestyle to a certain degree to accomodate the program if you want to get the results you say you do. So even if you work with the best coach in the world, nothing will beat your level of adherence, accountability, consistency and accuracey to the plan. A coach can’t:

❌ Prepare your meals for you ❌ Eat the food for you ❌ Do your training for you ❌ Check-in for you Thats on you. But a coach will support you, raise your level of accountability and give you an approach that works for you. But you have to do the work. So don’t complain about the results you didn’t get because no matter what solution you are given, you’re unwilling to commit to the plan and implement the work.

Firstly, let me give you some context to this post. I have multiple calls per week with people who enquire about working with me. One question I ask people is:

“Have you ever worked with a coach before and if so why are you no longer with them?” This is to understand:

1️⃣ What people have tried before

2️⃣ What’s worked/what hasn’t

3️⃣ What type of coaching approach they might like or dislike

4️⃣ But also to see if they harbour the blame of not getting results on the coach instead of their lack of work ethic.

Don’t get me wrong, I hear some shock horror stories from things other coaches have told people to do…

BUT Equally, i’ve heard every excuse under the sun, people blaming coaches who I know for a fact are very good at their craft for their lack of results. This is a red flag to me and I simply won’t work with people who can’t take responsibility for their outcomes. Coaching is not a magic bullet that gurantees sucess if you don’t hold up your side of the bargain. You simply cannot teach adherence. Yes, a coach should work with you to create an approach that fits into your life so you can be adherent to it… But ultimately, something has to give. You have to be willing to adjust your lifestyle to a certain degree to accomodate the program if you want to get the results you say you do. So even if you work with the best coach in the world, nothing will beat your level of adherence, accountability, consistency and accuracey to the plan. A coach can’t:

❌ Prepare your meals for you ❌ Eat the food for you ❌ Do your training for you ❌ Check-in for you Thats on you. But a coach will support you, raise your level of accountability and give you an approach that works for you. But you have to do the work. So don’t complain about the results you didn’t get because no matter what solution you are given, you’re unwilling to commit to the plan and implement the work.

What questions and problems do people bring to a coach? I sat down to write about this and initially considered labeling myself an expert in uncovering hidden issues, but I thought that might sound too unconventional, so I'll revert to more conventional terminology. What issues does a life coach deal with? The range of these issues is extremely wide, encompassing everything from finding one's purpose in a profession to resolving relationship problems, seeking personal growth, and much more. Let me provide you with a few examples I've encountered over the past few months: Client 1: Experiencing dissatisfaction with work due to low pay, emotional exhaustion, and facing life-altering decisions. The desired goal is to bring about changes in their career, earn higher income, and have the opportunity to travel. Result: We scheduled a three-month coaching program. During the first month, the desired goals were achieved, causing significant fear and confusion about the newfound success. Over the next few months, we worked on preparing the client to embrace and adapt to this success, helping them overcome their fear. Client 2: Initially stated their goal as financial independence and a fulfilling job. However, it became clear in the process that the root cause of their failures, both professionally and in relationships with abusive individuals, lay in self-disrespect, lack of self-acceptance, and low self-confidence. Result: This realization led to a profound self-exploration journey

Coaching might just be your secret weapon! 💡 1. Goal Achievement: Imagine having someone in your corner who helps you set clear goals and break them down into actionable steps. 🎯 Whether it’s climbing the corporate ladder, finding work-life balance, or leveling up your skills, a coach can guide you there. 2. Self-Confidence Boost: Feeling like a rock star is pretty awesome, right? 🌟 Well, 80% of people who receive coaching report increased self-confidence. 🙌 Say goodbye to imposter syndrome and hello to believing in yourself! 3. Improved Performance: 📈 Coaching isn’t just about pep talks; it’s about results. Over 70% of coaching recipients see improvements in work performance, better relationships, and killer communication skills. 🎤 4. Accountability: Procrastination? Not on a coach’s watch! They’ll hold you accountable, nudging you to follow through on your commitments. 📆 No more “I’ll do it later”—it’s all about progress. 5. Fresh Perspectives: Ever feel stuck in a rut? A coach brings fresh insights and different angles to the table. 🌅 Suddenly, those challenges don’t seem so daunting. 6. Resilience & Stress Management: Life throws curveballs, but a coach helps you build resilience. 🛡️ Learn stress-busting strategies and keep that well-being in check. Remember, coaching isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a power move. 🌱 Share your coaching experiences in the comments! 👇

Do you aspire to excel in something that doesn't align with your passions or values? 🫰 Want to succeed in endeavors that don't ignite your passion, challenge you, or elevate you? For those who consistently outperform, achieving set goals is almost inevitable. Dedicated individuals remain unwaveringly loyal to their objectives. When you set a target, your determination is unwavering, and obstacles become inconsequential. However, a lingering sense of incompleteness often persists 🥂 By year-end, when milestones are reached, feelings of dissatisfaction or monotony may arise. You may ponder - - "Why is formulating new objectives a challenge?" - "Why isn't there enthusiasm?" - "Despite accomplishments, why the lack of motivation?" - "Why does this feel routine?" Yet, these concerns are often overlooked, and the goal-setting cycle resumes. This year, pause and introspect: What genuinely resonates with me? 💫 YOU POSSESS THE POTENTIAL TO MASTER ANY ENDEAVOR. Absolutely anything! But choose endeavors that genuinely captivate you, challenge your boundaries, and align with your aspirations. Pursue the uncharted, the dreams you've yet to realize. Coaching advice - Refrain from hastily setting resolutions. Aim for February instead. A goal signifies dedication. It's crucial to deliberate and truly understand your commitments. Reflect through journaling, seek guidance, meditate, collaborate with a coach, engage with peers, or engage in candid self-reflection. Escape the repetitive cycle and identify your true desires. I urge you to approach this year with profound purpose 💯

Want to know what's wrong with 99.9% of coaching programs? The coach asks you an impossible question at the start, I'll explain... Let's say you are drifting in life and work So you reach out to a coach for some help The first thing they will want to know is, "What are your goals?" And the honest answer is, "How the hell do I know? I'm drifting in work and life!" But you are sat in front of a coach, so you make something up that sounds reasonable: - I want a new career - I want a promotion - I want to be more productive And sure those things are good to work on, but they are not going to help the fundamentals Sorry mate, it's just a fact So, here's what you need to do before you get to the goals You need to get to KNOW YOURSELF After all, you've been drifting, right? When was the last time you took stock of who you are, what you believe in, what keeps you well, what values are important to you? I'll tell you It was when you were 16-18 before you got on whatever track you are on now So, here's what you are going to do, you're going to spend some time figuring out: - what makes you, you? - what keeps you well? - what are your true values? - what does balance look like to you? Only then will you be in a position to work out what you want from the next phase of your work and life But, trust me, you'll then set some amazing, life-changing goals 🚀 ... ❓ What do you think about my approach? 👇🏻 Let me know in the comments!

Tips that helped me grow professionally (continuing) 💡𝐓𝐢𝐩 #𝟑: 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡. You might have heard the saying "𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦". I firmly believe in it. All the treasures of your life's journey so far, all the knowledge, wisdom, experiences, and details lie within you. If you're conscious about them and you actively use them to guide you from your bigger goals to your daily choices, congratulations!! You're among the very few in this world and I'd definitely like to know you and have a chat 😃 What mostly happens though, is that we're getting blindfolded or foggy about what we truly want or what are the means to achieve what we want in our personal or professional life. In a world of endless knowledge sharing and information inflow, we're just getting dizzy or we even freeze and stay at the same point. 🌁 Having been there quite a few times, I took the action to admit that I want someone to help me navigate through my challenges and through the ocean of never-ending choices that our contemporary world offers. 🌐 I had the chance to get coached by some great people out there and here are my takeaways: 🔎 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝. Not only by the coach but by myself too! (Really, have you ever considered if you're sitting down with yourself and having a talk about your wants and needs?) 🔎 𝐈 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲. About my goals, challenges, and priorities. I realized how much I was putting on my plate and focused on what really mattered at a given time 🔎 𝐈 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝. The way my mind works, the way my thoughts are produced, what triggers my emotions. 🔎 𝐈 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 so that I could enhance what I was good at and work on what I wanted to improve. 🔎 𝐈 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞. It's easy to lose track of accountability if you're not super self-disciplined and if you're on your own. Having someone to keep you accountable, you're still the one to do the work, but chances to take action and make it happen increase drastically. Coaching might not be for an endless continuum. You might take some (big) breaks from time to time, digest what you've learned, reassess, act on your realizations, move on, and get back at it whenever you feel like you want to 𝘶𝘱𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 📈 Give me your thoughts if you've ever tried coaching or if you're planning to do so 😊 #personaldevelopment #professionaldevelopment #leadership #coaching

The greatest gift a coach can give you in any industry is NOT their knowledge or credentials. Although those are helpful, it doesn’t make a person able to help you. It’s two things: - they’ve got a story and they’ve overcome similar obstacles you have - they are connected deeply with themselves Why? Because if they aren’t connected with themselves and haven’t overcome what you want to overcome, they can’t truly be present with you. They’re just regurgitating knowledge. This is why I focus so much on FEELINGS in the work I do with you. When you do with someone who is crying, you should feel like crying too. You’re mirroring their neurons, allowing you to connect with their experiences. This is how trust is built. If you can’t do this yet, that’s ok, but it’s definitely a skill that should be learned as a corporate professional. We were made for relationships and ANYTHING can be done in a company when we are attuned to ourselves AND others. If you are ready to feel your feelings and standout in your career, use the link below to book a call. No pressure. No hard sell. Just a quick call to help determine if working together makes sense. Book here: https://lnkd.in/gHP53_gJ