We had just started the first module of our spring 2018 cohort for the Foundation for Effective Leadership.

As I continue to dive more deeply into the field of professional development, I hear more and more stories about the lack of appreciation in the workplace.

“What’s the ROI on that?” I’m sure you’ve heard this question, or asked it yourself, in any role you might have in a business. As the founder of a professional development organization, I also hear it frequently.

In over ten years of experience, I’m pretty sure nobody asked me this question (at least not very often).  And it’s the one I most fervently wish I’d been asked.

I’m too busy.  I don’t have enough time.  I feel like I’m always behind.  I’m stretched too thin.  

Translation:  I need help prioritizing more effectively.

It’s easy for us to classify our decisions as being “right or “wrong.”  

It’s how we were taught. It’s how we live in a civilized world.  It’s the right thing to do or I don’t want to make the wrong decision.

Awareness.

That was the word my client and I recently focused on during a meeting when I felt the power of coaching firsthand.

During a conversation with an executive coach, something really hit home: “It’s one thing to have the experience to coach, but having the skill set is entirely different.”

When some people think about coaching, they think it involves simply listening. But coaching is about much more than that — it is about building a relationship, more specifically a partnership.

Companies are busy, and it can often feel tough to navigate your way in the workplace — maybe your work feels siloed, and you’re not sure where to turn for help. Whether you feel lost now or foresee wanting help with challenges down the road, it’s important to build a support network.

Over the past 10 years, I’ve held jobs in many different fields, from the U.S. military to large corporations. Even with such a wide range of experience, there was one theme I noticed in all of my jobs: The workplace always had its fair share of dysfunction.