With the hustle of your busy schedule and the difficulty of balancing your commitments and priorities, it can be tough to find the time and resources to dedicate to your personal development.  Personal and professional development requires the motivation to grow and learn and the discipline of self-reflection.  It challenges you to stretch yourself by trying or learning something new.  It asks you to go out of your comfort zone and dive deeper into your calling and purpose.  Investing in yourself means devoting the time and energy required to do the work, with the expectation of a worthwhile result－your fullest potential.  You are worth the time and energy, you are worth being invested in, and what you have to offer is needed in our world.  You are on the journey of becoming, alive with possibilities, but it isn’t easy to discover and develop your potential all on your own.  That’s where a professional coach comes in.  

When you are committed to realizing your potential, a coach supports your development as you find your way forward.  Where previously there was only the dream of who you could become and what you could do, your newfound commitment coupled with guidance from your coach can make these aspirations a reality.

Why is Professional Coaching a Good Investment?

As a result of coaching, clients set more defined goals, gain the confidence to take action, make thoughtful decisions and become more fully aware of their natural strengths and gifts.  The International Coaching Federation outlines the following statistics on coaching: 70% of people who have used a coach report improved work performance, 80% report increased confidence, 72% report increased communication skills, and 96% report that they found the process very valuable and would do it again.  Improving your skills by being coached and being exposed to new ideas and perspectives not only makes you better at your job and roles but makes you more fulfilled and engaged at work or the organizations you are serving in.  

One of the biggest components of professional development is self-awareness.  Have you explored what you are innately good at?  Your decision-making style?  Your personality type and how it affects your responses and relationships?  Professional coaches have tools and resources to help you discover how you are wired so you can identify how you want to learn and grow.  Coaching helps you process your motives, fears, and what holds you back from moving forward personally and professionally.

Receiving the Support you Need:  How to Communicate why Coaching is a Good Investment to Others

When it comes to professional development opportunities, you may not even be aware of the resources and support available to you through your work, ministries, or organizations you are already involved in.  It can be uncomfortable to ask for support and make the case for your personal or professional development, but asking to expand your horizons shows you are taking an active role in your growth and want to invest the time it takes to become a valuable team member.  

 

Before asking for funds for professional coaching, do your homework and anticipate the questions your employer or supervisor might have.  Be prepared to convey your vision and what you want to learn to those who will approve the resources and coaching you desire.  In order to communicate how you and the company or organization will benefit from coaching, reflect on the following questions:

• What do you need in order to move forward personally or professionally?
• What goals do you have?
• What skills do you want to develop? Where do you want to see improvement personally or professionally?
• Who will I become as a result of this investment of time and resources?

After reflecting on what you will gain from coaching, connect your goals and the outcomes of coaching to what the business or organization needs.

• Are there challenges at work that you could better resolve as a result of coaching?
• In what ways will your company benefit from your improved performance, skills, confidence or knowledge? 
• How does the benefit of coaching align with the vision, mission, and values of your organization or company?
• How can you pay it forward?  Are there specific skills or knowledge you can share with your manager, team, and/or company from your experience with coaching?

If full funding for coaching isn’t an option, see if partial payment is, and if coaching is something you believe will benefit you, you may have to invest in it yourself.  Take ownership of your growth, whether it’s being bold and asking for funds or setting aside the time and resources yourself.  You have to first convince yourself that it’s worth it.  

Small and incremental changes over time can have large payoffs later, just like participating in a coaching program will have payoff over time.  Invest in yourself now to unlock, uplift, and catapult yourself into your fullest potential.

______________________________________________________

Bonus Coaching Resource: 

Did you know that Grit & Virtue provides professional life coaching?  If you think coaching would be a good fit for you, we’d love to set up a Clarity Call with you.  We have also put together the following template to help you communicate the benefits of the G&V Professional Coaching program with your employers.

 

Hi [Enter Employer’s Name],

I was looking into professional development opportunities to grow in my role and be better equipped to serve our [company, organization, or mission], and I came across an opportunity for coaching with a professional development company called Grit & Virtue.  

The International Coaching Federation outlines the following statistics on coaching: 70% of people who have used a coach report improved work performance, 80% report increased confidence, 72% report increased communication skills, and 96% report that they found the process very valuable and would do it again.  For many, coaching is a life-changing experience that dramatically improves their outlook on work and life while improving leadership skills. 

Coaching helps people tap into their potential, unlocking sources of creativity and productivity.  Improving your skills by being coached and being exposed to new ideas and perspectives not only makes you better at your job and roles but makes you more fulfilled and engaged at work or the organizations you are serving in.

Grit & Virtue outlines a framework of coaching I believe would serve my professional development needs and provide accountability in achieving my goals.  They focus on holistic growth: helping improve self-awareness, align to true identity, become spiritually confident, and do meaningful work.  They incorporate methods such as positive psychology, spiritual formation, International Coaching Federation Coaching Standards, and Neuro-linguistic Programming that are proven to deliver results.  

After researching coaching options and how it could benefit me and [company/organization], I believe Grit & Virtue Coaching can help me [fill in your desired outcomes or goals]. 

The investment is a 6-month program that includes 9 individual coaching sessions, personal assessments, high-touch accountability, weekly check-ins, unlimited email support, and audio and chat messaging. This kind of coaching is valued at $3,600, but Grit & Virtue offers a one-time payment of $1,800 or a payment plan of $325 a month.  

I was wondering if there was a professional development budget available for me to participate in coaching or an opportunity for partial reimbursement?

Thank you so much for your time and consideration.

Best,

[Enter Name]