Coaching the mind is a gradual and continuous process, in which we are doing mental exercises to develop our soft skills, similar to the physical exercises we do to develop our muscles and our body.
In the modern fast paced world, we need results, and we need them right here and how. While this makes sense, especially in the business world, we should be aware of the fact that coaching the mind and the development of soft skills is a continuous, gradual, and never-ending process.
Coaching workshops aim at exactly that, the gradual and continuous development of our soft skills, in order to facilitate our personal, professional, and community growth. This is in direct contrast with fast paced technical expertise, where you focus on specific topics, such as learning advanced sales techniques or the newest industry trends.
Sadly, many (if not most) companies and organisations focus on the technical development, rather on the mental development of their workforce and executives. This may create highly skilled and knowledgeable individuals, which however may lack in significant soft skills such as critical thinking, innovative creativity, cultural empathy, or visionary leadership. We focus on “what” we are doing, rather on “why” we are doing it, and this may prove detrimental for business development in the long run.
On the other hand, coaching workshops must certainly show specific results, both qualitative and quantitative, otherwise it is just an endless academic discussion and philosophical debate. But to see these results takes time, patience, dedication and perseverance.
That is why we should approach coaching the mind in the same way as coaching the body: we are doing mental exercises to develop our soft skills, similar to the physical exercises we do to develop our muscles. In the first few weeks you start going to the gym, you will probably crave for fast results, and may feel disheartened and disillusioned with what you are getting. However, it is only several months afterwards that the benefits of what you are doing are really starting to show. Your fitness level is better. Your body feels stronger. Your attitude is more positive. You are more confident of yourself and your actions. You may even start to aspire to higher goals, such as climb Mount Olympus or run a Marathon. But all these will be achieved only if you never waived through the process, you were sticking to your exercise routine, and of course also pursued a balanced and healthy diet.
Now transfer the same analogy to coaching workshops. It is pointless to demand immediate results from the first couple of hours in a classroom. We need to gradually expand our mind. Make stretch thought exercises first. Allow the new ideas to settle in, and the new synapses to develop. We need to learn to express ourselves more creatively, to allow our minds to roam free, to become leaders of our own destiny, to communicate deeper with others. And all that will only be achieved if we continue our education outside the workshop, and apply the practical insights we gained to every aspect of our personal, business, and social daily life.
The path to wisdom and personal growth may seem long and arduous, but the rewards are certainly worth the wait.
