Why Coaching?

A little note about the author behind The Dance, musings for those aspiring to live a rich and creative life where time, connections, presence, health and purpose are the new wealth.

Hi!

I am Manon, an ex-legal attaché at the UN turned software developer. I am a natural born empathetic and positive person, and have a obsession with learning new things and growing. Over the past 10 years, I’ve relocated in 7 different countries - Brazil, US, Peru, Canada, UK, The Netherlands and Italy. For a long time I felt like a fraud, thinking that something must be wrong with me because I never “fit in“. Today, I embrace my versatility and learned how to make it a strength.

Now, I am a tech entrepreneur (aspiring “indiehacker“) and developer, while starting a coaching practice to honour my deep interest in guiding people find their next most aligned version of themselves. My focus is on helping men and women elevate their self-awareness so they can achieve personal and professional growth, making a positive impact on themselves, their communities and the planet.

I have a “will to wild“, “growth“ mindset, something that I acquired along the way while going on adventures. Nature and exposing oneself to a certain extend to adventurous settings somehow reset our nervous system and create new ways of seeing things.

How I’ve got interested into coaching?

Over the past months, I have spent considerable time reading and learning about effective coaching and leadership. I have also spent hours assisting colleagues, students, and friends in navigating complex situations, gaining clarity, and addressing their challenges and ambitions.

My interest in coaching ignited first during my studies in peace-building and conflict resolutions, but I kind of forgot about it to focus on my studies and then professional career. It is during my last role as a product manager that I really got interested into coaching.

Why? Because in that position, I frequently brainstormed ideas and explored ways to enhance our team's dynamics and extend our successes to other teams. I wanted to know more! This led me to a conversation with a well-established executive coach in New York.

That moment was transformative.

I immediately knew that I wanted to learn how to coach effectively, so I could positively impact people's lives and organisation’s impact.

I am excited to have been selected for a performance and leadership coaching program at Brown University to accelerate my learning. My goal is to establish my own coaching practice and partner with leaders and future leaders to help them grow and excel, in a sustainable manner.

Beyond coaching, these learnings so far have been an exhilarating journey of growth and discovery. I am hooked!

What is coaching, anyways?

Like many people, I had preconceptions about coaching. Let’s clarify what coaching means. To me, coaching is a supported process where the coach and the coachee partner together so they can reach sustainable growth. In that respect, a coach is dedicated to help people grow by being more conscious and self-aware of their own potential and blind spots.

Coaches act as guides, and are ideally equipped to hold a safe space for their clients so they can uncover and unlock themselves, and raise powerful questions their clients can reflect upon.

Coaching employs a range of techniques and tools to help coachees clarify their "why's" and goals, identify challenges, create personalised action plans, and integrate new beliefs and habits to achieve their objectives.

Depending on each people goal, different coaching tools become relevant.

Is coaching the right thing for you?

We all navigate life with a certain degree of self-awareness, and we all benefits from different perspectives when making decisions or when going through change. Whether we ask a friend, a partner, a sister or a brother, we seek guidance: nutrition, relationships, career, leadership, performance… But what about the feeling of being stuck? What about specific challenges requiring dedicated time and specific processes to move toward that next step?

A coach serves as a thought (provoking) partner, cheerleader, and accountability partner. Coaches help you transform challenges into opportunities and transition from where you are to a place of clarity, self-awareness and empowerment. An effective coach will uncover ways to align your “external” goals with your inner values, collaborating with you to co-create a roadmap toward your aspirations. You have an active part in the process, it’s a real partnership.

So, coaching can be the right thing for you if you :

• Want to turn challenges and uncertainties into opportunities for growth

• Are navigating change, and feel overwhelmed about the discomfort and uncertainties

• Are handling tough conversations at work or at home (feedback, firing, conflicts…)

• Want an accountability partner

• Lack confidence and energy to move forward

• Want to transition career or move to a different industry but don’t know where to start

• Feel misaligned and stuck

How do I find the “right“ coach?

Someone once told me that finding the right coach is like dating. You have to look for it, and when you know she/he is the right person, you will know! I guess we can apply this concept for anything really. I would look online for coaches in your area of interest, ask for recommendations, ask friends…

You can also book a free “meet and greet“ call to find out if you are ready to walk this path with me!