The Need For Peers

For the first six years working with entrepreneurs I coached my clients individually; just the individual and me conversing alone. They often told me things like:

• “I know I’m not supposed to feel this way.”

• “I must be the only one.”

• “I know this isn’t how people are supposed to feel.”

I would tell them that their feelings were absolutely normal and they had to trust me but only half believed me. During that time I often wished that my clients could be flies on the wall for each other with the ability to watch each other’s sessions and realize how truly not alone they were. Then, I started offering coaching in small peer groups in which participants could support and challenge each other; the results of these early sessions immediately surprised me by the power of participants witnessing, nodding, and smiling along with each other. They knew they shared a common experience. This accelerated their abilities by improving their own self-efficacy – they believed in their abilities and knew they had others to support them.

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together – African Proverb.

You do not have to go it alone – find a growth oriented peer group of like-minded professionals.