Bluebonnets blanket our Texas fields and highways right now.
Of course, we greet these flowers with substantial anticipation every spring. Bluebonnets signal that winter has lost its grip, and warmer temps await.
Fields of blue lure many Texans outdoors to take photos among the flowers. The areas make for great pictures of children, pets, newly engaged couples and anyone wanting to enjoy a Texan experience.
Do you know who else likes bluebonnets?
Rattlesnakes.
They're not flower fans; instead, the snakes are looking for food, and they will slither through a bluebonnet field in pursuit of rodents.
Every year, the arrival of bluebonnets comes with warnings about checking where you sit or stand for those pics. You must be careful about the ground cover and know where you're stepping.
Achieving life goals can be that way, too. Knowing where to step or how to find an alternate route can make your journey easier.
Sometimes, no matter how beautiful the bluebonnets are, you still walk among the snakes. Maybe you don't even notice them. If you do, you have a choice: kill them, walk away or shoo them off.
Other times, you find yourself frozen in place, unable to make your next move.
Communicating isn't much different.
Speaking to a group or putting your words in writing can also downshift you into a similar fight-flight-or-freeze response. When you must decide how to approach the te business of having snakes in your bluebonnet field, communciation coaching can help.
The coach helps you pinpoint your communication goals, and together, you work toward making those goals a reality and creating change -- often in only a few sessions spread across weeks or months.
How the communications coaching process works
You've decided you want a communication coach, so how does the coaching process work?
Working with a communication coach typically involves the following steps:
1. Identify your goals: Before working with a communication coach, you should clearly know your goals. Your communication goal could be anything from improving your public speaking skills to becoming more assertive in your workplace to enhancing your interpersonal communication skills.
2. Find a coach: Once you have identified your goals, you need to find a communication coach who can help you achieve them. You can search for coaches online or ask friends, colleagues or other professionals for recommendations.
3. Get an initial consultation: Once you have found a coach, you will typically have an initial consultation to discuss your goals and assess your current communication skills. A short meeting will help the coach to understand your strengths and weaknesses and develop a customized coaching plan. You'll also dicover if you're a fit for each other.
4. Participate in coaching sessions: Coaching sessions may occur in person, over the phone or online. During these sessions, your coach will work with you to improve your communication skills through exercises, role-playing, and other techniques.
5. Practice and get feedback: Communication coaching is a hands-on process, and you will be expected to practice your new skills in real-life situations. Your coach will provide feedback and support to help you refine your approach and achieve your goals.
6. Recieve an evaluation and follow-up: After completing your coaching sessions, your coach will evaluate your progress and provide recommendations for ongoing practice and improvement. Consider scheduling follow-up sessions to ensure that you continue progressing toward your goals.
If you're still on the fence about enjoying the bluebonnet field in your life in spite of the potential for snakes, try a free 15-minute communication coaching consultation. Here at BNCS, we may suggest a coaching technique like GROW (Goal, Reality, Options, Way Forward) to get you started.
As your coach, I'll help you overcome the obstacles in your path, whether those challenges are rattlesnake-substantial, or just annoying -- like our river lice.
But that's a topic for another post.