Why I dislike "self improvement" and what coaching actually offers

I’ve never liked the phrase “self improvement”.

It carries an assumption that something's wrong with you. That you’re lacking in some way or need fixing.

This week I heard about someone who wasn’t interested in coaching because he wasn’t into “self improvement”. And I understood exactly why that phrase would put him off.

Because that’s not how I see coaching at all.

The men I work with are already capable, experienced and successful.

They don’t need improving.

What they often do need is clarity.

By the time you reach your 40s or 50s, the question is rarely “How do I get better?” 

It’s more likely to be “What’s the right next career step for me now?”

That’s a very different question.

Sometimes the answer is to stay exactly where you are but to do so intentionally, rather than by default or inertia. 

Sometimes it means adjusting how you work, what you take on or what you stop carrying. And sometimes it does lead to change.

But the value of coaching isn’t in becoming different or better. 

It’s in finally seeing things clearly so you can make decisions that work for you in this stage of life.

If the idea of self improvement puts you off, you’re not alone. 

And coaching may be far more relevant than you thought.

If you'd like to talk this through, book a free half hour chat with me.

Book your call now