The number one question I get from my coaching clients and the audience at my speaking engagements is how to advance their careers in business when they are either not getting the attention of their bosses, or feel stuck on a plateau and can’t move up beyond that. In this article I am going to answer that question with what I call The Keys to Advancing Your Career with the Help of a Coach.

What is coaching?

Coaching is one of many career-advancement tools, including mentorship, development workshops and learning new skills. Coaching is about working one-on-one with an experienced professional who serves as both guide and sounding board for your career. Most commonly, you meet with your coach once or twice per month (or more often depending on your needs) to learn strategies that help you reach business goals, improve interpersonal relationships and manage stress. You can also choose to take part in group coaching, which has similar benefits but allows you to learn from other professionals facing similar challenges.

Why Hire a Coach?

There’s no question that advancement in your career requires luck, but it also requires planning, strategy, vision and hard work. It also takes someone who knows you well and believes in your potential. That’s where an executive coach comes in. A coach can offer advice on how to land your next promotion; instead of falling back on tried-and-true methods from previous jobs, there’s a strong likelihood that what worked for you last time won’t be successful next time around.

An effective coach will help you map out all aspects of your career – taking into consideration strategic relationships, collaborative opportunities and long-term growth plans—helping set yourself up for long-term success and promotion. An executive coach can help give you a plan, as well as guide you along that path through gentle guidance as needed.

Who Should Hire a Coach?

If you are an executive, manager, or leader in your field (whatever industry you’re in), then I think it is safe to say that you have some pretty great strengths. But what about those areas where you feel stuck? What about those things that need improvement, but that you don’t know how to get better at them? A coach can help. Coaches work with leaders who are ready for advancement and want to take their career to another level. They support executives who want their teams performing at their best and managers who want more effective ways to lead their team members. The bottom line: coaches work with people who understand they aren’t perfect, and they are willing to do something different than they have done before in order to advance their careers.

How Does Being Coached Benefit You?

A coach can help you clarify your current position and career life-purpose, which will lead to you feeling happier and more successful. A coach can even help you with promotion and other career decisions along the way. Coaching is worth it when your happiness is on the line.

One challenge many leaders face when transitioning their careers is feelings of being stuck or lost in their progress. If you’re going through a major life transition like new parenthood or having an infant death in your family, work itself might not be providing enough clarity as to why and where you should go next.

A good place to start can be by clarifying what success means for you in terms of money, relationships and purpose (how else do you want to spend your time?). What might that look like for you?

How Will I Know If I Need To Work With A Coach?

Sometimes our career advancement stalls because we lose sight of what’s most important. It can be hard to manage time between work, home, and other commitments when you’re managing your own career advancement. A professional coach can help you set goals that are right for where you are in your career and map out a plan so you can make it happen. Experts will also offer an outside perspective that allows them to see things more clearly than we do on our own.

Is Being Coached Right For Me?

Do you need help taking your career to another level, but feel like you have tried everything already? If so, consider enlisting the help of a coach. Coaches are partners that can provide counsel and advice when it’s needed most. As part of your partnership, trust is incredibly important; if you don’t trust your coach, there won’t be any room for growth in your career. Here are five ways to cultivate trust in your relationship and advance forward together.

Do I Have to be Willing To Change Before I See Results From My Work with a Coach?

The short answer is yes. Change requires that you recognize your current situation and be open to exploring ways that you might improve it, which means being willing to step out of your comfort zone. The good news is, as long as you have an open mind and are willing to take action, your coach will be there every step of the way. You should also know going into coaching that real results can only happen when you’re ready for change. If you aren’t sure about whether or not coaching is right for you, consider scheduling a consultation session with your coach. During these sessions, they will ask questions about your goals and how they can help you achieve them. They may even ask if there is anything else on your mind that might be holding back from making progress in certain areas of your life.

What Kind of Results Can I Expect From Working With A Life/Career/Business Coach?

The good news is you’re already on your way. A coach helps you set SMART goals and will hold you accountable along your journey. At each stage, your coach will help bring out your best self, giving you practical advice that translates into real results. If career advancement is what you’re after, then consider hiring a coach to get there faster! Why Should I Hire A Life/Career/Business Coach? What Will They Do For Me?:

When you hire a coach, you gain an unbiased advisor who has no stake in where your career takes you. You’ll receive guidance from someone who isn’t afraid to tell it like it is—someone who can challenge old habits or thought processes in order to help you achieve your desired results. They can even serve as an objective sounding board when making decisions at work or elsewhere.