Life coach: Want to be great at something? Get a coach

What do Olympians have in common? Show me someone exhibiting best-in-class performance, and I’ll show you someone with a coach.

What type of coach, may I ask? If you were to have a conversation with a G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Times), such as Allyson Felix, Simone Biles, Lebron James, Mia Hamm, Serena Williams, Abby Wambach and Tom Brady, they would agree that a sports coach is part of the reason they are at the top of their game.

But what about successful entrepreneurs and entertainers, such as Oprah, Bill Gates at Microsoft, Eric Schmidt, former C.E.O. of Google, Justin Bieber, and the Kardashians? Each would list multiple coaches: Coaches for fitness, diet, finance, relationship building, voice, acting, public speaking, and a myriad of other coaches, especially a life coach. Each of the mega-successful names mentioned work with a life coach. Why do they need coaches when they are so talented? A coach facilitates the process of greatness because there is always an opportunity to improve. If the greatest and most accomplished people have coaches, why don’t we adopt their model?

A life coach changed my life forever!

Years ago, I was that person who had difficulties succeeding in school, work, and social settings. I lost most of my adult years searching to find myself until a pro bono life coaching opportunity was presented to me. At the time, I did not know what a life coach was. One month later, I had a plan to change my life. A life coach helped me identify my life goals and methods to achieve them. The life coach did not give me answers but instead asked me the right questions to identify the solutions inside me.

You see, I have always wanted to be great. I learned if you want to be great- serve. I realize that I have always been great as I have served my community my entire life. Along the way, I was fortunate to have a coach to help me perfect my natural inclinations. Today, I continue to lead by example, teaching my adult children and grandchildren to do the same.

Our daughter queried me about my life’s work, leading me to acknowledge my passion. After reviewing my resume objectively, I noticed a pattern of working with adolescents, families, and those in crisis. In retrospect, I saw a pattern of volunteering and serving at places like an advocacy agency, leading community programs, boards and commissions, teaching at a local university leadership program, facilitator for school workshops, and a director of youth programs.

Someone else pointed out a perennial pattern and passion in my life. It was the function of a coach. Get a Life Coach!

Where do we start with teens?

Parents and youth can both learn and use life coaching and self-coaching to cultivate greatness on the inside. Parents start by identifying and nurturing their gifts and interests. For example, my husband and daughter are scientists. Our son and I are creatives! As parents, we noticed their skills in elementary school and nurtured them early by carefully selecting schools, classes, and camps that developed their budding talents.

Being available and engaged with our youth allows us to notice who they are and the best way to support them. A professional life coach is aware of your perspective, knowledgeable of the necessary changes that are to be made to achieve your objective as a parent and that of your teen. The skillful coach will hasten the results you need to elevate your life. Oftentimes, a coach can make a difference no matter how great you are.

Please visit our Project Arrow website and read our previous posts on life coaching and self-coaching skills on the Go Ask Mom blog.

QUESTIONS?

• What resources and skills can I provide my youth to help them learn leadership skills?
• What are some traits I see in my youth that I can enhance through classes, books, or videos?

Gale McKoy Wilkins is a wife, mom, grandparent, and family life coach. Gale is the founder of Project Arrow, an evidence-based peer-to-peer and leadership program teaching life coaching techniques to middle and high school students.

Gale is passionate about using life coaching and creative solutions to empower families and teens to help themselves and others. Gale is a Life Coach to parents and teens, and she teaches them coaching skills and techniques and trains teens on how to make good decisions, manage emotions, overcome obstacles, and motivate themselves and others to be their best. Gale is a North Carolina native that has worked with youth and families and served the triangle in various leadership positions; she has a graduate certificate in Family Life Coaching and a Master of Arts degree in Women's Leadership from North Carolina State University.