Paula King of Executive Coaching Solutions talks to Debbie O'Halloran about the increasing demand for good quality career coaching in today's economic climate.

In a volatile global economy, thousands of people are facing uncertain futures. In times of reorganisation, redundancy and change, many individuals use the opportunity to review their career and choose career coaching to help them assess their options and create an action plan for moving forward.

Of 2,300 people in the UK polled recently, 57 per cent said that, given their time again, they would choose a different career. Other surveys - from around the developed world - show that up to 80% of people would like to change job or career.

The demand for good quality career coaching is potentially vast. Many people who are dissatisfied with their jobs or facing redundancy are looking to coaches to help them ignite their potential and discover a new and fulfilling career. They immediately see the value in investing in coaching in this part of their life.

In a very real sense, career coaching is unlike coaching most other issues. Professional Coaches are already reporting this - they say that clients expect them to guide them through a process which leads to a clear result - deciding on a new career and having a plan for making it happen.

In recognition of the growth and value in Career Coaching, Executive Coaching Solutions Limited (ECSL) are now offering an optional module to their Advanced Diploma in Personal and Executive Coaching which introduces participants to an innovative method of working with their clients.

Using the ECSL framework, clients find the work they were born to do. For the coach, it's professionally fulfilling, confidence-building and financially rewarding. This professional training programme not only provides graduates of the programme with a resource kit which is unmatched by any other coach training programme but also the advanced diploma is the only coach training programme in Ireland which has been awarded the prestigious quality assurance award from the European Mentoring and Coaching Council –one of the most sought after awards in the world of coaching.

Jobseeking is a challenging task in any climate however today’s economic cataclysm has changed the world of work forever. Our coaches report that they are witnessing clients managing their careers as they always have, utilizing old fashioned techniques to look for a new or better job and, as a result increasing their likelihood of suffering ‘career cardiac arrest’ or what most of us call unemployment.

Historically, such an out of shape career didn’t matter much. You could be laid off and, with little or no changes in your CV hit the job search trail and in relatively short order, find another, similar (or even better) position. Basically, we had a come-as-you-are job market.

Unfortunately those days are gone and we must now ensure that we are, in effect, ‘a marketable product’. Coaches assist clients to not only upgrade their CV but also to become psychologically resilient and develop a razor focus in order to achieve not just a job but a career where they can grow and develop into the unique human beings they are.

Jobseekers can be compared to Olympians. In order to succeed in achieving a career which will bring happiness and fulfillment we must fine hone our skills until we genuinely are the best the job market has to offer.

Career Olympians are:

• Resilient.

They remain focused and energized even when up against rejection and silence. The ‘Sound of Silence’ does not deter them and their belief that they will find the perfect position sustains them through adversity and setbacks. They work with their coach utilizing a professional and calm approach.

• Passionate.

Through self awareness and emotional intelligence they find the area in which they can make the ultimate contribution. Their interest in their career choice actually strengthens and conditions their self-expression, exhilarates and rewards their personal growth, and leaves them with a pervasive sense of well-being.

• Committed to achieving their personal best.

A successful career athlete continuously strives to excel and then to extend the limits of their performance. There is no end to their effort because they believe there is no limit to what they can achieve.

• Confident.

Loving our jobs is a right. All of us have a mind, so all of us have the inherent ability to engage in and enjoy the work we do with it. Sure, some of us will perform better than others, but all of us can be career athletes, and all of us can reach for and attain the peaks of our own personal excellence.

How do you translate the concept of Career Fitness into a fit career? As with physical fitness, you have to condition your career on a regular and repetitive schedule. You have to develop occupational strength, endurance and reach by working on your seven centers of career vitality. This is called the Career Fitness “exercises.” They are:

I. Pump Up Your Cardiovascular System

The heart of your career is your occupational expertise, view yourself as a work-in-progress and continually add depth and tone to your workplace knowledge and skill set. Become a life long learner genuinely ensuring that you are achieving your full potential in all areas of your life.

II. Strengthen Your Circulatory System

The wider and deeper your network of contacts, the more visible you and your capabilities will be.. Adding to your network, however, means exactly what the word says—it’s netWORK, not net-get-around-to-it-whenever-it’s-convenient. Nurture professional relationships.

III. Develop All of Your Muscle Groups

The greater your versatility the greater your contribution to the workplace and future employers will recognize the wealth of knowledge you will bring with you to add value to their organization.

IV. Increase Your Flexibility & Range of Motion

In the 21st Century world of work, career progress is not always a straight line, nor does it always look as it has in the past or stay the same for very long. Moving from industry-to-industry may be necessary to gain employment which will give you genuine fulfillment. Your willingness to adapt will help to keep your career moving forward.

V. Work With Winners

Successful, positive colleagues and friends aid and abet your ability to accomplish your career goals, while less effective and negative people may diminish it. Find a coach who will stretch, support, encourage and provide the professional expertise necessary for success.

VI. Stretch Your Soul Serve others.

A personal commitment to doing some of your best work as good works for your community, your country and/or your planet is the most invigorating form of work/life balance. It regenerates your pride in what you do and your enthusiasm for doing it.

VII. Pace Yourself

A fulfilling and rewarding career will present itself once you put the energy, commitment and professionalism into the process however do get the rest and replenishment you need in order to approach each days search with the enthusiasm and joy necessary for success.

Paula King, MD, Executive Coaching Solutions

www.ecsl.eu

Executive Coaching Solutions are offering €750 off this course if you register in August