Do you need a writing coach?

I 'ate you commissioning editor.

US journalists are resilient souls, aren’t we?

Why should we need a new age guru to tell us how to move up in our career? Especially when friendly news editors will explain where we’re messing up for free.

Still, out of the growing army of life coaches, many will also offer career coaching - and with journalism being such a popular profession - is it any wonder that coaches will now also ‘coach’ in advancing a media career?

Coaching does not mean training. A coach will tell you they recognise you already have all the answers you need – it’s their job to help you find them.

Brighton-based coach Joanne Mallon is optimistic about the value of coaching for journalists. A former TV producer, with an impressive list of satisfied customers, she says: “The media world is quite positive about the value of coaching.

“There is still some cynicism around coaching from some sectors of the press. I once coached a journalist for a national newspaper and they didn't run it because her experience was too positive.

“People are not yet convinced of the value of coaching and this can put them off paying for it if they can't see what they're getting for their money.”

So what do coaches actually do? And what can they tell you that a best mate can’t – without the bill?

“I think a big part of the value of coaching is that you're not a best mate, so you can help a client look at their life objectively,” says Joanne.

“A friend will often tell you things you want to hear, a coach is trained in getting to the heart of the matter, which can involve asking tough questions.”

But it seems anyone can set themselves up as a coach. There’s not even a requirement for a minimum qualification although moves are afoot to put this right.

I didn’t know any of that when starting out as a freelance, I gave it a go.

I ended up seeing three different coaches. As the first session was free, what did I have to lose?

“Go on let it out, giggling is good, make it a belter!’ said the first coach as I started to snigger with nerves as she urged me to relax, sounding more like Kenny from Little Britain, before I knew Kenny existed.

“You’re driving the bus!” she repeated as I agonised over working hours and childcare. “Er, no I’m not, I’m just trying to make a living and look after a family,” I replied. “Perhaps driving a bus would be easier.”

The next wasn’t so amused when I laughed at his mannerisms and ‘folksy’ take on life and I refused to pay the third as her advice was my bum was too big. (I knew this already and didn't think it influenced my writing that much.)

So had I been unlucky, finding coaches whose sessions could be generously described as ‘duff’ or had my experience been part of a wider trend?

Janet Miller is another journalist who was sorely disappointed by coaching. She says: “I had some coaching some years back during a career change. I'd recently left behind a stressful job in the civil service to start a new career as a freelance journalist and I was finding the transition tough.

“I was working all hours, sending out hundreds of pitches each week - often to no avail - and desperately trying to finish the novel I was writing.

“I had a couple of sessions, but I couldn't really see where it was all going.

“During our first conversation she asked me to draw a series of boxes to represent the different areas of my life like friends, family, relationship and work. Another task was to convert this into a pie chart detailing how much time I devoted to each area.

“I didn't need a coach to tell me I was spending too much time on work matters at the expense of my family and relationship, but I had to hand over £35 for the privilege.”

Frank Furedi, professor of sociology at the University of Kent, author of Therapy Culture, is horrified at the prospect of journalists seeking coaching sessions.

He says: “In all areas of life you learn through individuals supporting you and in a profession like journalism the best training can come from those around you. You learn through experience and a coach can’t give you that,” he says.

“Especially when they are just looking for a new source of income.”

Furedi draws a parallel between media career coaching and parenting coaching. 'As journalists and parents, people learn through experience, through listening to those closest to them - and by making mistakes,'

But Joanne Mallon can point to an impressive list of heartfelt testimonials from satisfied customers. She charges from £100-£275 per month depending on time involved.

Ros Toynbee offers a range of programmes from around £200 to £300 a month.

She says: “Some of my media clients are initially sceptical. However I always have a free initial consultation with every potential client to find out what it is they really want and to explore the best way forward.

“I don’t take on anyone I’m not completely confident I can help in the first place.

“As for the client, any initial scepticism is quickly overcome when they start to feel better and more in control of their situation from the first call. Once they start taking action, see the results and feel more confident, they relax.

Ros agrees that coaching in general has an image problem. But she says it’s changing and standards are improving.

But she recognises not all coaches are as good as they could be.

“There’s a glut of new coaches coming into the profession, many of whom have had little training. They may have done a weekend or week long course and think they’re a coach, or their course is a long distance learning one where they never receive supervision on any coaching they do and who claim to fix any life or business issue.

Former BBC producer Ros says she’s often asked how her advice differs from that of a best mate.

“You know how it is. You go down the pub and have a moan about your boss, and your friend starts advising you as if all you need to do is follow their advice and life will be bliss.

That advice may not be sound – what worked for your friend may not work for you. Your life, your circumstances are different. Also can you really trust your friend to keep what you say confidential? Confidentiality is guaranteed by a coach.”

Ros says inferior coaches will simply fail to prosper.

She says: “Market forces will take care of this. If someone is really no good, and a waste of money, they will not succeed.”

Nicci Talbot, who specialises in writing about sex and relationships sought Ros’s support when she moved from a full time job to setting up as a freelance – and considers it money well spent.

“I had five sessions over a three month period. The first session was free and the rest were graded to my income at £60 each,” says Nicci.

“Ros was very motivating; she’s very organised and practical, full of good advice. She helped me to identify areas I wanted to specialise in and small steps to make each day. I liked the fact she wasn’t pushy.”

Amen to that, I say and I especially like the sound of there being no mention of buses.

Comments

[Darshni]

Hey Linda.
I enjoyed the article, as a training journalist, I can see the relevance of the "coaching" industry. Though I also think that a good old inspirational book does the trick. I'm reading "Spirit Intelligence" at the moment, the book has been a great investment considering the price I bought it for!
Perhaps my view will differ once I'm a journo veteran ; )
All the best : D
Darshni

[Linda]

Hey Darshni, thanks for commenting and the best of luck with your career in journalism. Personally I hope life will teach you much more than a book ever could, but what do I know?

[Joanne the Coach: The Secret Life of the Life Coach]

Read Joanne's follow-up article by clicking on the link:

http://joannemallon.typepad.com/joanne_the_coach/2007/04/can_i_quote_you.html

Years ago, when I was fairly new to coaching, I had a phone call from a woman called Mina. She said she was a secretary from London, was looking to make some changes in her life, and would like to meet me with a view to arranging some coaching sessions.

So we met and spoke for over an hour. There was something about Mina that didn't quite ring true, but I couldn't put my finger on what it was. She took a lot more notes and asked a lot more questions than new clients normally do....