One of the things I’ve been trying to do recently in talks and articles about coaching is to demystify the coaching process. Like Toto in "The Wizard of Oz", I want to pull back the curtain and show that being a coach isn’t about being all-knowing, all-powerful, or some type of magical guru. That seems to be a common misconception about coaching in the popular culture – that your coach will somehow grant you your true wish via some type of series of magical tricks.
But the truth about coaching, coaches, and the characters in the Wizard of Oz is that what is needed, what is true, what is forthcoming, all resides already within you.
The scarecrow already was brilliant; the tinman already had a heart of gold; the lion already was the king of the forest, and as brave as can be; and Dorothy could go home whenever she wanted to. The Wizard was really just a man from Kansas, but the journey the characters took to see him allowed them to find out for themselves what was really true about them.
So, like the characters from that movie, what coaching is about taking the journey to find your own truth inside. It’s already there.
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What’s already true about you?
Before specializing as a professional coach in 2004, I spent more than a decade in leadership, management and program development for state and local government and non-profit organizations. Now I get to help leaders and teams have more clarity and ability to stand up for what's important in their work and in their organizations. Working with me, leaders and teams find more meaning and purpose, feel happier and more confident, navigate change and conflict, and work together better.
The truth lies already within you is very true. The literal(latin) meaning of the word education is to drawout what is already in and not to be a fact stuffer like an instructor. so a real coach is for all practical pursposes a true educator. The sad part is that despite so many reknowned people talking about real education, in practice, it is hardly followed.
Well Hanna, you’ve given me cause to share my own personal mantra.
“Oz is the Yellow Brick Road”
I try to continually remind myself that it isn’t about there; it’s about getting there.
I have been infatuated with The Wizard of Oz for my entire life. So much of life relates.
Hiren – Part of what I hope to help clients do as their coach is help them learn how to self-coach. I always know that a coaching client is soon ready to finish when they ask their own coaching questions, when they coach or teach themselves.
And Dave – thanks for adding to the conversation here and on your own site (Dave continues the dialog here: http://wizaard.typepad.com/rothacker_reviews/2005/10/oz_is_the_yello.html)
The journey is the prize!