How to Know if You're Coachable

If I asked you, "Are you coachable?" you would probably answer, "Yes, I am coachable!" 

That's how I would respond. However, I noticed when I asked someone for coaching recently that I wasn't comfortable listening to critical feedback. I had to go through a litany of barriers 

to the coaching process, starting with their approach, tone of voice, level of interest, and all this happened in the first 30 seconds of our conversation. I had to stop myself from coaching them on how to be a coach and just listen!

Asking for coaching is like warming up before you exercise. It prepares you to play the game and improves your performance. Coaching helps you show up for the game ready to play.

Even if you find that you're a little resistant at the beginning of a coaching conversation, if your commitment to what you want to achieve is more important than your resistance, you'll seek out coaching from someone who can help you get the results you want.

My valuable coaches tell me the truth, sometimes with love and sometimes like an arrow through the heart, and they don't always wait for me to ask for coaching! Thank goodness. 

Most of us think we're coachable and openminded, but after careful observation, it may be that we're only open to what we already know; and coachable until we run into obstacles in our thinking or on the field of action.

Today would be a good day to listen to everyone you interact with like a valuable coach for you, whether the topic is relationships, business, health, wealth, or happiness. 

Listening means active consideration. 

It is a practice that will focus your mind on determining merit versus confirmation of your already existing ideas and practices. In other words, you stop looking for agreement and start experiencing breakthroughs in what you think, say, and do.

Coaching gets your mind in shape to curb excuses for your behavior and stops the mental chatter that can distract your attention from what you want to achieve physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Ask yourself the question, "Am I coachable?" throughout the week, especially in difficult conversations. Coachability depends on your ability to listen to the people around you. Concentrate on listening in challenging conversations. That means you suspend judgment and quiet your reactive mind to consider the message.

There is a saying from Aristotle, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit." The habit of being coachable develops your listening muscles. Listen like everyone is a coach for you and see how that transforms your communication and your relationships.

May your day be peaceful and productive.