X-rated – Surprising Coaching Lessons from the X-Men

It is guest post day here at Duct Tape Marketing and today’s guest is James T. Noble – Enjoy!

How many times have you heard the question “If you could have any single superpower – what would it be?”

It’s a tricky decision, but personally I’d go for telepathy. . . just imagine how lucrative that could be in business!

Second on my list though has got to be one of Wolverine’s skills – he’s just so cool. Not only is he pretty much indestructible and therefore immortal, he’s also got the knife claws. Amazing.

We all want to be heroes, and the good news is there are more parallels than you might think – even in the world of coaching. All we need to do is look to Wolverine and his mutant buddies for guidance, it’s amazing what they’ve got to teach us… when they’re not too busy saving the world…

Choose wisely

Just like Professor-X v Magneto – the right coach to choose is not clear cut. The two mutant powers that be actually share more or less the same goal (a world where mutants are accepted members of society who can live without fear) and it’s only their philosophy for how to achieve it that differs. Xavier wants to achieve this through gentle integration, tolerance and the education of ‘normal’ humans. Magneto on the other hand wields an aggressive approach – seeking to annihilate humans who threaten his fellow mutants.

Same goal… VERY different outlook.

You know yourself best, so trust your instincts when deciding whether or not a coach truly understands who you are and what you need. The right coach for you should share your fundamental ethics, have a compatible approach to business and a coaching style that suits you.  It is vital to choose a coach you can trust with whom you have rapport – and beware of those (like Magneto) who will judge you and try to turn you into a version of their own selves…

What to look for: Proof. Look for real testimonials and referrals from real clients as the opinion of those similar to you is the most valuable way to assess a coach. If possible contact previous clients to ascertain the methods and coaching styles your prospective coach uses. Make sure your coach has experience in your area and speaks your language.

Get as much intel as you can before making your decision – you are trusting your coach with your money, your time, your business and your reputation, so you must choose wisely.

Stay true to yourself

Wolverine took a long time to trust Professor-X – and even when he eventually did, he still remained powerfully and independently passionate about his motives, choices and actions. This made him a hard nut to crack, but it also won him respect from his mentor and his X-men peers.

Likewise Xavier’s calm and supportive yet firm and wise guidance won the respect of Wolverine, and their relationship developed over time to help Wolverine go from strength to strength. They worked well together because they had a good ‘fit’. Professor-X knew not to demand or push or dictate, and he never tried to change the fundamentals of who Wolverine was – he simply pointed him in the right direction and encouraged him to think differently and expand his horizons.

The takeaway: Your business is YOUR business, so stay in control and never lose sight of your vision. An effective coach will empower and guide you but never take charge – instead they will help you discover for yourself what you need and want and create an action plan to achieve that. However this doesn’t mean that they should be a pushover. The right coach will challenge you and your assumptions to help you recognize the behaviours holding you back so you can change them for the better.

Mutation is hard. Business is hard.  Having your very own Professor-X on your side can be the difference between failure and success. Now more than ever, entrepreneurs need to be strong enough to ask for help to gain a competitive advantage. The coach’s role is to provide support to enhance the skills, resources, and creativity that you already have and to know when to jump in and provide direction when you get off track.

Remember that YOU are in charge of your own destiny and only you have the power to change it – so embrace adventure and take action like the superhero you are

James T. Noble makes small businesses bigger. He’s worked with some of the world’s largest brands and companies to market their products and services online – including Disney, Microsoft, 20th Century Fox, Virgin, Coca Cola, MTV and many others. Find out more and read business growth tips at http://www.JamesTNoble.com 

is a post from: Small Business Marketing Blog from Duct Tape Marketing

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