My first experience of coaching

The first time I can really say I was coached was a number of years ago early in my career. I was working on a bespoke software development project as the main contact for the delivery of a new system working with a Software as a Service company. It was my colleague from that company who had much more experience than me that gave me guidance while I was delivering the project.

I remember we'd delivered a phase of the project and I was disappointed. I expressed this to my colleague who was curious why. I explained I felt the project had only delivered 80% of what I'd wanted, were actually extra features I had wanted. He challenged my thinking and asked was the company happy with the work, I said yes for them it was a 100%, what I'd wanted was bells and whistles. So my colleague remined me that if the company was happy with the work then I should be pleased too and not be upset as that hadn't been what the brief was.

From this conversation I learnt how to measure success better and not internalise what I expected personally to what was actually expected.

Without having had that conversation I would have continued to measure myself against a goal I would always to struggle to achieve. I learnt not to be so hard on myself and check what I actually needed to measure. I realised coaching in it's every day form, can help make such a big difference.

This experience led me to look for coaches throughout my career to help get a different perspective and find solutions to my personal blockers

We all experience some form of coaching what has been yours? Has it been good or bad, comment below.