Lead into Gold: Coaching as Alchemy*
Gold tiles in the Roman Pool at Hearst Castle, San Simeon CA
Recently I saw an advertisement announcing the 25th anniversary edition of Paulo Coelho’s book “The Alchemist.”** I remembered enjoying the book when I first read it, but had totally forgotten the story line. On a long car trip last week, I listened to it on audio, and was reminded exactly why I had so enjoyed it.
Mainly, I really love the goal of alchemy: to turn lead into gold. In fact, I love this metaphor so much that I became a coach. Although coaches cannot turn anyone else’s lead into gold, we are skilled questioners, compassionate thought partners, and thrilled witnesses to the transformations our clients dare to attempt.
Unlike an alchemist, a coach is not attempting to transmute an inanimate object through wizardry or chemistry. A coach partners with a fellow human, within whom lies the potential to take whatever is his or her version of lead, and turn it into gold. And if there is “magic” involved, it lies not within the coach, but within the person being coached, and in his or her belief that a transformation is possible and worth pursuing.
If you are considering engaging a coach yourself, perhaps it would be useful for you to know some of the “magic ingredients” I have seen successful clients use:
-They believed that it was possible to turn the “lead” in a particular situation into “gold.” The idea of attempting it evoked not just nervousness, but also curiosity and excitement.
-They accepted that looking at the “lead” might not be pretty or fun. They knew that they would not be spending a ton of time in their comfort zones–but were “all in” anyway.
-They accepted that being transformed through the coaching process meant being in continual “learner” mode, even if they had a high level of professional mastery already. They were willing to throw out or retool old ways of thinking and doing, in service to growing.
-They welcomed their coach as a partner, but knew that ultimately, change would be achieved because of what they–and not the coach–did. They did not become overly reliant on the coach, and they took 100% responsibility for coaching outcomes.
-Lastly, they knew that change is not a linear process, consisting only of rapid-fire improvements. They expected the process to be messy, to sometimes look more like regression than progress, and to take longer than they might want. They felt their feelings of both hope and defeat, and they persevered.
Although some think that seeking coaching is a sign of weakness or failure, I believe it is quite the opposite. Coaching is a sign that an investment has been made, a commitment to move oneself forward to a place of secure authenticity, fuller realization of potential, and more capacity for personal and professional joy.
For readers who are considering working with a coach, I invite you to explore the idea of transforming your “lead” into “gold” in the comments below. And for those of you who have been coached, I would love to hear about your moments of “magic” during the process.
*I dedicate this post to all of my coaching clients, past and present, who have enriched me, taught me, and grown me. I am so grateful for your willingness to let me see you, and for allowing me to walk along with you for a bit of your journey. You might not know it, but you were coaching me, too. Thank you.
