I’m not a life coach. I’m a performance coach. Well, to put it more accurately, I am a life coach…but that’s just a small part of what I do. Because when you work with a performance coach, you work to improve every part of your life that matters to you. So while there’s some life coaching in there, there’s also work coaching and being-your-best-self coaching. That’s because when you’re fulfilled in one area of your life, your performance levels rise across the board, giving you the clarity you need to live a healthier, wealthier life (and I’m not just talking financial wealth here).
Here’s how I describe myself: I’m a performance coach who works with people balancing their goals, needs and demands at work while balancing their goals, needs and demands at home.
There’s more to it, and to help you understand the differences between these types of coaches and the nuances at play, I’ll explain how each type of coach works with clients and what they help them achieve.
Business-minded Coaching for Business-minded People
Although I describe myself as a performance coach, that actually isn’t the only service I offer. I also offer business coaching and business consulting.
Here’s the difference:
Business coaching: The focus is on your business. We identify business goals, business barriers, and business strategies, then follow through on them to make your business perform at its best or, if you’re just launching, get it up and running.
Business consulting: We establish deliverables like redefined processes, 360-degree feedback reports, pricing strategies and recommendations, and model scenarios for me to reach. I work outside sessions to execute these deliverables.
When you work with a performance coach, you’re the focus. Whether you’re a business owner or not, we find strategies to help you achieve more and find more happiness at work and in other areas of your life. I incorporate skills and strategies I developed during my decades in corporate leadership, which is why I describe my approach to performance coaching as “business-minded.” Systems, strategies, and data drive successful businesses…and they can drive a successful you, too.
What’s the Difference Between Coaching and Therapy?
When you’re in therapy, you spend a significant amount of time looking back at your past. When you work with a coach, the focus is on your future. A coach also can’t diagnose you with anything—so if you work with a coach and they try to do this, that’s a red flag and you should run!
A coach’s job is to work with you to break down your limiting beliefs and change your mindset. Sometimes, these beliefs are completely false and other times, they’ve got a grain of truth, but need some drastic rewiring.
Expect to do introspection and personal work. The goal is to become the best possible version of yourself, so you might spend time working on your relationships, your mindset, your beliefs, and how you engage with the world. Expect to get pushed to the edge of your comfort zone…and past it!
Performance Coaches: How Can you Be a Better Leader at Work and At Home?
The last type of coach, performance coaches, are kind of like a blend of life and business coaches. A performance coach pushes you to answer questions like:
- What areas of your life need improvement?
- What are your best skills?
- How can you use your skills to build the ideal lifestyle and career for yourself?
- What would make you happy?
- Which steps do you need to achieve to be happy with your life?
Keep in mind that a performance coach can’t solve your problems for you. The only person who can solve the challenges you face is you. A coach’s job is to help you identify those challenges, break them down into obstacles to overcome, and determine the most effective tools you’ve got for overcoming those obstacles. They’re a sounding board and an accountability partner, not a genie who can grant wishes.
Coaching is about strategizing action plans that work best for you, not always “best practices.” It’s about creating “aligned action” —action that you should take, in a time frame that feels right, with focus on the next tangible step you can achieve.
If you’re not happy in life, it often spills over into work. If you’re stressed and crazed at work, it spills over to life at home. So we focus on defining your life goals, but pay close attention to your professional goals and how they intersect. One thing I’ve noticed is that a lot of people achieve professional success, then realize their next clear career step isn’t exactly exciting for them. Or, when this isn’t the case, maybe it scares them.
Those are two very different scenarios, and they’re both scenarios I’ve personally coached people through. No matter where you are in life or what you’re facing, my goal is to help you be the best version of yourself possible…at work and at home. Because you need to be both to truly live your best life.
