The very first step to confidence is clarity.
Without clarity, it’s impossible to get confidence
Clarity on who you are, what is important to you, what you want, and how you are going to get it. Without clarity, it’s almost impossible to get confidence.
When I work with clients, I often use the GROW model. GROW represents Goal – Reality – Options – Way Forward. In the first session, whether that’s confident business coaching or The Confident Mother Experience or my Back to Work Confidence programme, the focus is always on getting clear on the client’s overall goal.
For example, when I worked with Ashley, her overarching goal for the 3 month programme was to have a list of career options to explore. As it happens, she was offered an incredible role before we’d even finished working with each other.
Do you subscribe to woo-woo?
Coaching opens your eyes to other possibilities. If you are thinking about working with a coach, I encourage you to trust in the process. As a logical and analytical person, I don’t subscribe to woo-woo ‘stuff’ however I am starting to be converted. Every time I work with a client, once she has clarity on what she wants, it’s amazing how the universe opens up to show her the way.
Just 8 weeks to get back to work after redundancy
Kelly joined the Back to Work Confidence programme in May 2016 – her main focus was to get back to paid work within a reasonable commute after redundancy. Just 8 weeks later, with renewed inner confidence, a revamped CV and a polished LinkedIn profile, she started her new job working in an architect’s office which allowed her to combine her organisational skills with her creative talents.
When you know what you want
The results for these two women happened quickly. What helped is that they were absolutely clear on what they wanted to achieve. When you know exactly what you want, it’s much easier to figure out where to focus your attention and your energy. Having clarity gives you the confidence to take potentially life-changing decisions with ease. With their goal in mind, we were then able to focus on their skills, their strengths, their uniqueness, their values and also any limiting beliefs that might be holding them back, or barriers getting in the way.
Don’t know what you want and so don’t know what help to ask for?
Often the women that come to me for help have delayed contacting me because they don’t know what they want. They feel that if they don’t know what they want, how do they know what help to ask for. They’re confused or overwhelmed or they’re tying themselves up in knots because they’re trying to fix everything at the same time. The irony is that I specialise in exactly that – helping you to get clear on what you really want, then finding the confidence to go and do it, even if you’re uncertain at the start what you want the end result to be.
When you get clear confidence, it stops that chatter in your head that’s preventing you from working out what you REALLY want. It’s what you need if you don’t seem to be ‘getting anywhere’ with what you want to do with your work, your family, your life!
Clarity gives you confidence
Once you get clarity, you’ll feel so much better. You know where to focus your time and your energy. You can identify which path of action to take. You no longer hear the noise and chatter in your head and so you can focus and create an action plan. You feel less overwhelm and less stress. Decisions feel less daunting. You are able to see beyond your fears. It’s only when you get clear in your mind, that you find the confidence to make a plan and take action.
Which is why the very first step to confidence is …. clarity.
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I’m a huge GROW model fan, it works so well and can help anyone get not only clarity about what they wish to achieve, but also clarity on how they can achieve it – great post Sherry
Thank you Mike.
Lovely article on how the GROW model supports clarity, which in turn leads to confidence, thank you, Sherry. Very helpful.
Thanks Bibi, glad you found this helpful.