Coaching. It was the concept many of us at the first bootcamp questioned. It was the uncertain aspect of the programme, the unknown.
Whenever I explained what the Marketing Academy is all about to friends and family, I found it difficult to explain the concept of coaching to others. I tried googling – didn’t help, tried asking my mentor – didn’t help. The only thing I knew was that I would be required to talk about ME. Which, let’s face it, I’m rubbish at. I would rather hear about you, and how your day is going than ranting about mine. Because that’s how I saw it, just me ranting about my challenges in both my work and personal life.
I was sceptical and openly admitted during the interview process that I thought that coaching would be the most difficult part for me to take advantage of and enjoy.
Boy was I wrong.
My coaching experience has changed me. It has changed how I approach challenges – and it is even changing a part of me. Yes, this is down to the Marketing Academy as a whole; but coaching has been a crucial part of my journey for the last six months. For me, coaching is the piece of the puzzle that puts it all together.
The journey as a marketing academy scholar is remarkable and not easy to describe to “outsiders”. It’s a very overwhelming process that makes you question everything and everyone. You learn every day, meet incredible people and you make new friends in your cohort. The process is very consuming and sometimes you can actually feel quite alone in your thoughts – therefore having that partner in crime, the extra two ears and just someone there who gets it has helped me cope.
I know I’m incredibly lucky. Getting to experience all what the Marketing Academy has to offer is a very humbling journey. And sometimes I feel like I’m missing out, that I’m not taking advantage of it enough. I stress that it its ending in April 2016. I’m not reading every book I’m being given (and there are many!) or writing in my blue book every day. So, am I taking advantage of the course? Some of you may say no, but actually after a lot of soul searching and conversations with my coach about “doing everything” I have come to the conclusion that I am. Because I am already changing; adapting, listening and focusing on being me. Being authentic.
My coach isn’t supposed to actually give me too much advice as I apparently have all the answers within (I rolled my eyes the first time he said that to me. Sceptical much?!?). During one session my coach said to me;
“Anne-Lise, if you only learn one thing that helps you delveop during the Marketing Academy isn’t that much better considering what your journey would be like without the academy? So why are you stressing? Your brain is always learning and taking it all in, but right now you are choosing to focus on this particular area rather than all of them. Trust me, they will appear when you are ready to take them on. That might be next week or next year. But the fact is that the Marketing Academy is the trigger and as long as you realise that you’ll be fine. ”
Wow – it sounds simple when you read it like that. But trust me, it took me quite a few months to get there. To get to peace with how I am approaching my journey. And coaching is what helped me.
I often come to my sessions exhausted, demotivated and stressed by work matters. However, after two hours of talking, often being on the brink of crying and being forced to “look within me” to solve my problems I always leave feeling like a superstar. The power of someone asking you the right questions and listening to you is incredible, and that people is good coaching. That’s also what a true leader does. And in my eyes, my coach is a true leader.
So, if you are privileged enough to be accepted to the Marketing Academy at some point in the future then embrace coaching. It could make THE difference to your journey.
