The true teacher is the learner…..

I have been doing a lot of 1-2-1 coaching which I absolutely love – it gives me time to work with food and drink producers over a period of time and really help them to achieve their goals.  Seeing businesses grow and gain the listings they have been chasing for a long time definitely has to be one of the highlights of my job.

On  a very long train journey  recently I took time out to reflect and review all the food businesses I am currently coaching and have done over the last year and what struck me is not only the successes that they have achieved – but all the lessons  that I have learned to.

As Elbert Hubbard said: “The teacher is the one who gets most out of lessons and the true teacher is the learner.”

So I thought I would share with you what my coaching journey has taught me (so far!) – in no particular order:

• Food and drink producers have so much tenacity and determination. It’s not an easy job – and every day the resilience and persistence my coachees exhibit never fails to amaze me
• Finding the potential in businesses and helping them grow is extremely gratifying
• To really, truly actively listen – not just to the words – but to what people are truly feeling behind the words.
• That positivity and optimism is very infectious.
• That everyone benefits from encouragement and someone having confidence in them
• That having true belief in an end goal really can help you achieve it
• Sometimes you have to step back and let them make their own decisions
• That it’s easier for me (whose livelihood doesn’t depend on it) to suggest bold and brave moves
• Sometimes businesses have a lot of the answers already – but they have never given themselves the time to step away from the business and work them out.
• Finally – and so far I’ve not been proved wrong – that food and drink entrepreneurs are genuinely lovely, authentic, hard-working people who are following their passion. I am very lucky to work with such wonderful people.