Sept. 17, 2024
Coaches can make a great impact on your personal and professional life, but how do you find the right coach and what should you do to get the most out of the experience? These questions and more shaped the conversation of the final NBAA Business Aviation Management Committee’s (BAMC’s) Summer Learning Series webinar of 2024, “Getting the Most from Your Personal Coach.”
“Anyone can benefit from coaching,” said Scott Moore, CAM, of Moore Life Leadership. “Think of coaches as advisers. We all live in our little box, holding on to what we value and believe, and sometimes, it can be hard to see beyond that world. A coach can come from outside that box with possibilities you never thought of or questions that challenge your beliefs.”
But how does coaching help?
“Coaching this isn’t about necessarily figuring out the big picture. You can take it in small steps, where in six months from now or just the next time you meet, you’ll have someone to talk to about how you are moving forward and maybe someone who can be an accountability partner,” explained Jo Damato, CAM, NBAA senior vice president, education, training and workforce development. “It’s those little steps that could lead to that big leap that can get you unstuck from what you need to come unstuck from.”
Coaching can also help you clearly define your goals, said Kandi Spangler, managing director at jetAVIA. “Wanting to be successful is normal, but articulating that into something definable, something with measurable goals and a realistic timeline can be difficult,” Spangler said. “A good coach is going to help you look inside yourself to discover what you really want. A good coach isn’t going to tell you the answers; they’re going to ask you the right questions so you can figure out what makes you happy.
There will be setbacks, but use these as learning experiences,” she added. “Setbacks are part of the process of learning what’s working and what’s not. Coaching can help you become acclimated to welcoming setbacks as sources of valuable information that help you reach your goals.”
Coaches should not be seen as a panacea, though, warned Dustin Cordier, founder of StepZero Coaching. “Do not expect a coach to be the person who gives you the magic bean or a silver bullet. Coaches should not be prescriptive,” he said. “Even if that did work, you are not being taught how to fish; you’re just being given a fish. You need a coach to be there alongside you to hold the mirror up next to you to give you the accountability we all need.”
You should also see coaching as a long-term investment, noted Spangler. “Life is a bumpy ride, so it doesn’t help to define success in the moment. Instead, ask yourself, “Am I in a better position today than I was last year, five years ago or even 10 years ago?” Once you look back at these bigger increments of time, you will see how much you’ve grown and how any setbacks were just steps in an experience of growth.”
The panelists agreed that the right coach for you is a personal decision, but Moore noted that accreditation has proven a successful guide for many people. “The International Coach Federation offers accreditation for different levels of experience, and that gets renewed every three years.”
This NBAA webinar is part of BAMC’s commitment to informing and educating aviation department managers about the latest leadership trends, techniques and tools. This includes the 2025 NBAA Leadership Conference, which will be held Jan. 27-29, 2025, on Amelia Island, FL, where you can elevate your leadership skills to new heights, focusing on the foundational elements that foster exceptional leadership growth and development for you and your team so you can lead with clarity and purpose.