Good Advice - How to Reach for the Stars-- And Get There

Tracy Driscoll knows coaching is more than advice – it is the systematic unlocking of a person’s potential, which empowers them to take the lead in their own lives. With 15 years of professional experience in marketing, PR and recruitment, Driscoll is qualified to provide advice on a number of career-related topics, and her 14 years of experience living in China have given her insight into the particularities of expat life. Agenda caught up with Tracy to learn more about what it takes to turn dreams into reality.

Who is career coaching for?
Career coaching is for people who are serious about making a big change in their life, moving forward and making their dreams a reality. Anyone can talk about what they wish was happening in their life, but not everyone is ready to make the commitment it takes to accomplish it, which is why people hire coaches. Coaches can help them clarify what they want or encourage and support them to achieve their goals. It doesn’t matter if those goals are related to career, family, self development or health. What does matter is that the person, or the company, is truly passionate and ready to take actions.

Can anyone live their dreams?
Of course! The only thing stopping people from living their dreams is usually the belief that they can’t. Understanding your beliefs, where they come from and then working to turn them to your advantage is a big part of the coaching process.

How much of a commitment does coaching require?
Achieving your goals and dreams requires commitment, and investing time and money in coaching is part of your commitment to yourself, your goals and your dreams. To make a major change in your life it usually takes three months, or one coaching session a week for 12 weeks. Coaching sessions are usually one hour to 90 minutes. But everyone’s needs are different, so I usually meet people for a free trial first to see if coaching is really what they need, and to make sure I am the right coach for them. After this session I recommend a number of sessions based on what they want to achieve.

Why is it that so many people don’t know what they want?
Some people are very clear about what they want, they just don’t know where to start or how to go about it. Others are yearning for something they can’t put their finger on. There are many reasons. They might be caught up in a busy professional life that doesn’t allow them the time to get in touch with their true goals or even to get to know themselves well enough to understand their true desires. Engaging a coach is a sure sign you are ready to take hold of the steering wheel and take control of your direction.

And how do you help with this?
As a coach it is my job to listen first, then to help clients explore their issues and discover their own answers. I do this by asking questions and using coaching tools which will help them to dig deep and find these answers within themselves. I help them to create the roadmaps they need to achieve their dreams, support and encourage them through the process of acting on these plans and finally help them to reflect on what they have learned and achieved. The best thing about coaching is seeing when your clients realize they know all the answers. In those “A-ha!” moments, the clouds clear and they see their way forward. There’s nothing more exciting than that feeling, both for the coach or the coachee.

Visit www.aspirecoachingbj.com and set up your free trial today, or check out her upcoming events all around Beijing. Email tracy@aspirecoachingbj.com for more information.

Article from Agenda, issue 70, Dec 30-Jan 12. To read more from the most recent issue of Agenda, download the PDF here. To find a copy, contact our distribution department at distribution@agendabeijing.com with an idea of where you work, live or play and we'll tell you where you can find one near you.