What do you think of when you hear the term ‘wellness coach’? Probably something along the lines of a trained professional who helps others determine what exercises they should be doing and what food to eat in order to meet their fitness goals. If that’s the case, you’re not alone. Many people don’t truly understand what a wellness coach does. First and foremost, a true coach does not tell their client what to do. Instead, they ask powerful questions to get their client to come up with the best approach to progressing towards the goals they have identified, that align with their values. Much like an executive coach, a wellness coach works with you to improve your leadership performance and to develop more as a professional. However, a wellness coach takes into account all the other areas of life that may impact your overall well-being and success. Where an executive coach would just focus on your work. Here are 4 ways a wellness coach helps executives become more successful.
Focusing on what’s important
Have you ever sat down and thought about what’s really important to you? Maybe family, authenticity, freedom, community, or equality come to mind. No matter what your values are, they are rooted in everything you do, until they’re not. Often times, as we get bogged down with the day-to-day, we lose sight of what’s important to us – our values. Once we’ve lost sight, we often feel disconnected and unfulfilled. A coach helps you identify and further explore your values so that you feel fulfilled and true to yourself in your everyday life. When working with a coach, you’ll no longer have the attitude of “That’s the way I’ve always done it.”. Imagine living every day focusing on what matters and saying no to things that don’t serve you.
Becoming a more mindful executive
Mindfulness. It’s a buzzword that we all hear quite frequently. Simply put, being mindful is judgement free awareness of the present moment. Learning to be mindful will transform your work experiences. You will find that communication improves drastically and that you make more deliberate choices. You no longer just go through the day on autopilot not remembering anything you did or who you spoke to. Those you interact with will feel heard and that they matter because you are present with them.
When you are mindful, you also cultivate a self-awareness that enables you to be more emotionally intelligent and authentic with yourself. Being aware of your emotions allows you to manage them better so you can have those difficult conversations with your team and even your superiors. It also allows you to be heard in an assertive yet respectful way. As a result, you will have more harmony and collaboration in your workplace.
Gaining clarity
When we’re in the midst of things, it can be hard to step back and take a look from an outside perspective. A wellness coach can help you gain clarity on a variety of things. If you find yourself working tirelessly and not feeling like you’re getting much done, a wellness coach can help you become more efficient in your work and help you manage your time better. If you are struggling with a particular person or work/life balance, a wellness coach can help you identify and set boundaries that will help you be more at peace. Additionally, a wellness coach can help you with setting long- and short-term goals, both professionally and personally. They will also help you stay accountable in reaching those goals.
Stress management for executives
Stress can often weigh heavily on us, especially when we’re leading a company. When we’re stressed, our judgment and decision making is typically clouded for a variety of reasons. Stress not only affects our performance, but it also affects how we nourish our bodies and how we sleep. No matter how stress affects you, it can be debilitating and dramatically affect? your performance and productivity. A wellness coach can help you determine what exactly is stressing you, all the ways it’s affecting you, and the best ways for you to cope with stress so that you can perform optimally in all areas of your life.
According to the most recent Executive Coaching Survey, two-thirds of CEOs do not receive outside leadership advice but nearly all want it. Imagine the changes that would occur in the workplace and the successes that organizations would experience as a whole if the tables turned and two-thirds of executives used coaching. It would be incredible! If you’re an executive who is thinking of hiring a wellness coach to be more successful, the time is now. You’ll be one of the few who do which will make you stand out even more!
