The Journey to Change
Author Joseph Campbell coined the phrase ‘the hero’s journey’ to provide a metaphor for the quest of one’s life, along with the twists and turns throughout, that bring about transformation. The road along the way is nonlinear and obstacles that are both internal and external can be expected. The path traveled is one that leads to something greater. In order to capture this something, there must be an understanding of the self, and a willingness to shift a fixed self-identity.
Growth Mindset
A shift in identity of the self starts with one’s mindset – which is made up of belief systems. According to psychologist Carol S. Dweck in her work, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, the fixed mindset constructs a ‘self’ that uses internal interpretation to come to conclusions about experiences, what defines these experiences, and what actions should be taken based upon these experiences. Dweck asserts that change requires abandonment of this constructed self along with the mindset that conceived it. This deconstruction, Dweck says, requires a dedication to a practice that includes learning strategies, developing habits, making plans, and yes – expecting setbacks. The vision of the desired change perseveres with the understanding that persistence and maintenance is required.
Everyone in the Game Needs a Coach
Having a sound coach can assist you through the process of change. Almost all exceptionally successful people invest in a coach. In this relationship you can identify your blind spots and devise an action plan to move towards achieving success in the areas where you want to improve performance. A coach can also be an accountability partner, and can provide the encouragement needed to address intimidating issues.
Identifying the Right Coach
There are three steps towards identifying the right coach for your journey:
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Research for Skillset and Knowledge – ask your potential coach about their background. Do they specialize in your desired area of improvement? What is their experience? Have they been where you are trying to go?
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Do a Chemistry Check – request a consultation to confirm productive flow in the conversation. Also take this time to make sure that your goals are clearly understood.
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Bring along a ‘Growth Mindset’ – approach the coaching or consultative relationship with a beginner’s mind to remove any blocks to receiving critical feedback or acquisition of new skills.
If you are in the field of business development for a mental health or substance use disorder service program, and are interested in Marketing Executive Coaching, Interview Coaching as a job seeker or career changer, or are seeking Business Development Consultation for your mental health agency to move towards your client growth goals in an intentional way, please request a free consultation with Worthy Consulting LLC today.
