Coaching...for a Change: Uncharted Territory

“An uncharted island? Let me list all the ways you're gonna die. Rain, heat, mud, disease carrying flies and mosquitoes. Sure you could load up on the Atabrine for the malaria...but what about the other bacteria? And we haven't even started on the things that want to eat you alive.” - Kong: Skull Island, 2017

In the movie Kong: Skull Island, a team of scientists hired a highly trained ex British Special Forces soldier to help them navigate an uncharted island somewhere in the Pacific ocean. Even after he gave them that quick rundown and quite frankly, warning, they still felt confident enough in his abilities to move forward. And if you've never seen the movie, SPOILER ALERT!!! he turned out to be worth every... single...penny! His expertise enabled at least some of the scientists to survive and no doubt, leave the island with a new skill themselves.

Venturing into the unknown is naturally scary, and change is no different. In fact, our brain is hardwired to avoid change and scary things altogether. However, if you want to achieve something new and/or difficult, you must be willing to brave a landscape you've never traveled. Daunting, I know. The thought alone can be a barrier. But like most barriers, this too can be conquered, especially with the help of a coach.

When working with a coach, you'll spend time exploring, through conversations, where you want to go and how you plan to get there. In most cases, you two will also spend time fleshing out these plans to make sure they are grounded in your reality. The conversations may not sound exactly like the quote in the beginning. But a coach will help you identify possible risks and barriers, challenge some of your assumptions about them, and devise a plan on how to address some of the things that may take you off your path. The goal here is to help you prepare for the unknown and make it a little less scary.

Your journey through uncharted territory toward change, transformation, and goal achievement will not be easy. And hopefully, it won't be anything like the scientist's experience in Kong: Skull Island; especially if you try coaching...for a change.