Coaching is an underused source of support, according to career coach Marika Gillis, who works with Global Connection members. She debunks common reasons why expat partners shy away from coaching…
I’m not that desperate!
“During every transition in your life, even the fun and exciting ones, you can benefit from support. And that’s what coaching is all about – it has nothing to do with therapy,” explains Gillis. “A good coach will help you reflect on what’s happening, declutter your brain, and find new ways forward. So you stay sharp, fresh and motivated – it’s a really uplifting experience! Even though I am a coach myself, I use a coach whenever I need a boost. That’s how good it is!”
I don’t have time
“Coaching doesn’t have to be a drawn out process. Two or three sessions may be all you need,” says Gillis. “As a coach, I make people work hard to reach their aim as soon as possible. After that, my job is done. They’re equipped for the road ahead, because they’ll have learned how to approach the challenges. They most probably won’t need a coach again, until perhaps they encounter another major life transition.”
I’ve got friends to talk to
“During coaching sessions, you can be yourself in a way that you can’t be with a friend or even your partner,” argues Gillis. “That’s because relationships with loved ones always carry certain – perhaps unconscious – expectations. With a coach, on the other hand, there is no common past or future, which allows the relationship to be free of judgement. This is an important quality. It creates an environment in which you are truly free to speak your heart. You won’t find that anywhere else.”
Photo: Jared Goralnick – Flickr
