Executive Coaching for the New Hire

What is a dream job? A job that is fulfilling motivates one from within, complements the skill sets one possesses and pays well?
No wonder it is called a “dream” job. Why else would people be in the continuous pursuit of a “better” job? Better in terms of role and responsibilities, better in terms of compensation, functionality or work life balance.

In the constant pursuit of that one dream job, an entire career passes by without the feeling of true fulfillment towards the work set out in the first place or the usage of the skills that one possesses.

Having spent some time in the field of recruitments, I realize that for people to move into a new job, there are three important factors – money, role and growth.

Growth - While role and money are tangible and easily explainable to anyone in question, growth is something that is different for different people. It is this opportunity to “grow” as a professional and an individual that allows any person to take that all important decision of taking up an opportunity that he has been offered.

“Growth” is a very individual phenomenon. People at different levels and ages perceive growth differently. But it is the “constant” that drives and motivates every person on this planet.

Once a person takes up the opportunity that he perceives as high growth, he is suddenly surrounded by the challenges and hiccups of the new role. The responsibility is much higher and the expectations sky rocket.

Managing Expectations – In a situation like this, a person will never say “I am not ready for this” as this is exactly what is NOT expected out of him. He finds himself facing challenges in day to day operations and given his expertise, he is not allowed the “honeymoon period” that he would have got when he was a lot younger in his career. He finds himself constantly pushed for results and he in turn is stressed. By the time he finds his feet on this fresh ground, he realizes a lot of time has passed by and just wished that he was better equipped to manage the challenges. He then looks for solace in his friends; past mentors and colleagues who he thinks has the answers to his need of trying to grapple with the new scenario. However, he does not find it too appealing and hence continues to work in a stressful manner completely defeating the very purpose of taking up the new responsibility of furthering growth and be closer to his “dream” job.

Need for an Executive Coach – This has been my experience with many of my candidates who I have interacted at senior management levels. They are way too senior to even accept verbally that they may need help / assistance and to be hand held while they assume the new chair. I have been seriously thinking about who can actually help new recruits in this manner and I realize the need for an Executive Coach.

Coaching - Coaching as a concept is not new. Whereas it has found its roots in the field of sports, Coaching has made an in road in management and is known as Executive Coaching.

Who is an Executive Coach - An Executive Coach is someone who works closely with a person, helping him unlock his potential in order to bring out his best as far as performance at work is concerned. This also then has an effect on how well the person later maximizes his potential in his personal life too. Coaching has a far reaching affect because of its continuity and tangibility. It has now taken a formal structure and is considered a career option for many who are related to management, Human Resources and Training.

As someone, who has been introduced to the world of Executive Coaching very recently, I definitely believe that an Executive Coach works best as a catalyst and hand holds the person to see through his initial days of settling in the new job. It promises to believe that there is an entire part within oneself that is just waiting to be realized and recognized by the person himself that opens his own door towards greater and better performance and hence towards the dream job that he can now see it as a reality.

“I” – the motivated me!

The purpose of professional life revolves around getting the best education, choosing the right career and eventually working with the best. At every phase of our life, I remember the one thing that I wanted the most and how motivated I was to get it.

As time passed by, my motivation to achieve became stronger to get into the best college, and get myself an entry into the best brands to work with. In this race to be the best and become the best, I was suddenly thrown into a world of complexities and high expectations. Meeting those expectations at work and at home then becomes my only priority and I slowly convert into a run of the mill human machine that works because one has to.

Shift Gears - Well then what would a person like me be motivated to do? Can I slow down and actually think of what motivates me to perform better, be happy with myself and eventually become more evolved at work and in my personal life. I have always felt that motivation is from within. External motivators are a constant topic of research and studies in organizations, to increase performance, combat attrition and increase loyalty towards the organization. However, the greatest motivation comes from within.

To being with I think we all must have goals. In everything we do be it in our personal or professional lives.

Goal – What is it that I want to do?...is a question that has been asked umpteen times but how many of us actually introspect and really think of what we want to achieve. This of course is surrounded by circumstances that may help or hinder the achievement of the goal. Notwithstanding that, we zero in on some goals that we consider achievable and would make a difference to us.

Motivators to achieve the goal – Having recognized what we want, we need to work towards it. The need is from within us and hence the motivation to achieve it is also something that we have within ourselves. If we are not motivated enough to carry out any action or work towards any of our goals, no one external will be able to help / assist us.

Action Plan – Being immensely motivated and we know where we are, we chalk out our plan to achieve the goal. This plan is always that we can act on.

Achievement and Reward – With motivation and dedication to achieve the preset goal, one finds oneself achieving the goal. I am happy and I realize that this state of happiness is bringing me closer to being at peace with myself. My confidence in myself has increased ten fold and I realize that I am much better than what I thought I was. That’s a reward for myself.

Setting of newer goals – I will not stop here. I continue to set newer goals, newer horizons and an evolved me.

A letter to TIFR Child Care Centre

In March 2006, I brought my little girl, all of 1 year and 6 months to you. She was a girl who had been with her mother from the time she was born, had never experienced how it would be not to have her mother around, even if it was for a mere half an hour.

I came to you with some hope that maybe I could make my little baby independent and enjoy her life with the rest of the world too. She was scared, frightened and terrified initially to be surrounded by other children both younger and older than herself. She saw strange faces that she could not handle. She wept and cried all day long just to get back to her “safe zone”, her mother. I was guilty, I always felt do I really need to leave my little one and go to pursue some dreams that I have harbored…and then I realized more than the fact that I was going ahead with my dreams, I was doing my baby good…by letting her explore a world that is way beyond her imagination and comprehension to make her a more confident and loving child.

You, at the Child Care Centre team are my daughter’s angels…who have guided her to be herself, played with her to enjoy herself, scolded her to discipline her, spoke to her lovingly to help her speak her mind, taught her things that we as adults have conveniently forgotten in the mundane routines of our lives and have done so much that I can hardly have words or expressions that can accommodate my gratitude and thanks to you.

My daughter, PRAKRITI has completed 3 years and 7 months in your Centre. When I look back , I find that a completely different Prakriti has emerged ever since you took upon yourselves to help her discover herself. She is independent, fun loving, caring, friendly, approachable, naughty and a conscientious child. I am extremely thankful to all of you and your team who have so painstakingly looked after her and at the same time trained her so selflessly and so lovingly. I can never imagine anyone else who could be better than your team.

At this point in time, both me and my husband want to express our heart felt gratitude and appreciation for the wonderful work you all put in every day, every minute for our children. In just two words….THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN

The end is the beginning

Three months ago I signed up for the Intensive Coach Training Program to help me better my skills as a Coach. Knowingly or unknowingly, I have been coaching at the workplace and my community for a very long time. The realisation that I can really make a difference made me seriously look at honing the ability to touch people's lives.

What I least expected was the person whose life would become different would be mine......

With due acknowledgement to the faculty, the people who contributed the most in this journey were my fellow coaches. Each of them in their unique manner let me be the way I am....in my entire life of learning, I never felt so close to myself and my opinions and at the same time be able to stretch my thinking, be able to recognise my gut, shift perspectives, look at life beyond the box and celebrate myself for who I am.

My friends who are great people and great minds in their respective fields..I thank you for the amazing journey I have had with you....and yes as we conclude the ICT formal sessions today....Its not the end but the beginning!