Lots of the mums I talk to plan to go back to work or get serious with their business when their kids start school in September. If that’s you too, you may well be feeling a range of emotions and a whole load of chatter going on in your head about whether it’s the right thing to do, or whether now is it right time to do it. Perhaps you don’t want to go back to the career you had before and you’re stuck on what to do instead.
It can be incredibly powerful, life-changing even according to Ashley, to work with a coach when you go back to work after a career break or redundancy. When you work with a coach, you will achieve your goals more quickly and with more confidence. The role of a coach is to support you, encourage you, and challenge you to make that transition into the workplace less scary, less daunting, less intimidating and more fun.
How to self-coach through a change
However most women don’t invest in a coach when they go through the change from career break mum to working mum. I thought you would find it helpful to learn how to self-coach yourself. I’m going to share a series of statements for you to finish.
Before you start
Before you sit down with a blank piece of paper, do something to relax yourself first. Switch your phone to silent. Put on some happy music and dance around for a few minutes, or a quick 10 minute meditation – anything to clear your mind a little before you start.
Exercise instructions
The idea of this exercise is to make the change more manageable and identify what further information you might need. Write out each of the statements below and then finish each statement with whatever pops into your head. Just write it down. Don’t worry what the thoughts are. It’s whatever comes into your mind.
1. The change I want in my life is …
2. The main obstacle or barrier is …
3. The others involved in this change are …
4. The opportunity this change gives me is …
5. My desired result is …
6. What I do not yet know about this change and I would like to know is …
7. Those who will benefit from this change are …
8. If I don’t make this change …
9. What I least look forward to is …
10. What I most look forward to is …
This exercise may well uncover some ideas or thoughts that hadn’t previously occurred to you. I’d love to hear how you get on.
Maybe you’re at the stage where you don’t seem to be ‘getting anywhere’ with what you want to do about work or career. Maybe you know you want help, but you’re so confused or overwhelmed, that you don’t know what help you need. You’re tying yourself up in knots because you’re trying to fix everything at the same time. Clear Confidence is what you need – find out more about that here.
* p.s. this is adapted from an exercise in The Coaching Academy‘s Corporate & Executive Coaching Diploma programme.
Great questions and nice to see some of them relating to others, such as “Those that Will Benefit From this change are” another one I sometimes ask, “Who doesn’t stand to benefit from this change” and “who wouldn’t want you to change”
which is kind of along the Cartesian theme (and coincidentally I was doing on myself yesterday). Thanks Mike.