Although I’ve been immersed in the world of physician coaching for the past two years, I realize that the majority of my friends and colleagues are still quite new to the concept. Some are eager to learn more, some are skeptical; most are somewhere in between. Here’s how I think about it.
First – a bit about what coaching is NOT. Coaching is not therapy, or mentorship, or friendship (although some of my clients are also my friends 😊). Therapists diagnose and treat patients, mentors use their knowledge and expertise to advise, friends have each other’s backs unconditionally.
The International Coaching Federation defines coaching as “partnership in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires talent to maximize their personal and professional potential.”
Simply put, coaches help clients make their good lives awesome.
Coaches provide an objective, fresh perspective for our clients. We help people see patterns or habits that may be too “close” or familiar for them to recognize. Coaches don’t give answers; we ask questions to help clients find their own. As a coach, I love helping my clients recognize what’s going on in their minds and see how their thoughts produce results.
Many coaches have a specialty, although the underlying concepts that we use are universally applicable. Coaches help people set and reach goals, transition to new jobs or careers, improve relationships, reduce symptoms of burnout, loose weight, negotiate, date, parent, and more.
Next time, I’ll share some of the literature surrounding the benefits of physician coaching.
Spoiler alert; randomized controlled trials show that physician coaching works.
If you’re interested in learning more about physician coaching, click the link below to sign up for a free consult. I offer 1:1 coaching to help over-extended physicians reclaim their time, their joy, and their power so that they can live intentionally and achieve their goals.
xo, Ilse