One of my favourite coaching models comes from Sir John Whitmore's work on performance: Performance = Potential – Interference
In other words, our performance reflects what we are capable of once the interference has been reduced. Sometimes that interference is external, for example, a lack of resources, organisational politics, or unclear priorities. Often, however, it comes from within: limiting beliefs, fear of failure, perfectionism, or the need for external validation. The encouraging part is that internal interference can be recognised, challenged, and reduced.
I think this is where coaching can make a profound difference, as a coach does not give you all the answers. A coach helps you think more clearly, challenge assumptions, and uncover the obstacles that are preventing you from performing at your best. The goal is not to become someone else. It is to remove what is standing between you and the best version of yourself, because when interference decreases, potential has room to emerge. Contact me via this link for a complimentary 30 minute discovery session.
The power of the pause
I think if you want to grow your potential, you must know yourself: your strengths and weaknesses, your interests and opportunities. You must be able to gauge not only where you have been, but also where you are now. You can’t lead others well if you’re constantly reacting. You can’t create anything meaningful from a place of mental exhaustion. So maybe today, the most radical thing you can do is pause… and ask yourself: What do I actually need right now? Not to please others, not to perform but to feel human again.