Breaking the chain

Like any intervention, coaching can be a tough process, especially when it comes to unpicking a problem we either didn’t know was there or that we’ve been pretending wasn’t there…because it’s on the difficult pile.

The gears on my bike were a little bit jumpy recently and making a few odd noises. They were ok but they needed attention. I knew what I had to do, it just felt big and overwhelming. I had to stop, check the chain and assess what repairs or maintenance were needed. It’s only a bike! So, I took a deep breath and got on with it. Thankfully, a quick measure told me there was still life in the chain and that I didn’t need a replacement. A visual assessment told me that it was very low on wax so I had to take the chain off the bike, give it a thorough clean and re-wax then put it back on. It worked! So quiet, so smooth, I was ready to roll again – no jumping and no funny noises.

It had felt like a dauting job and yet, once I got into it, I actually enjoyed dealing with it and now have a better functioning bike and a more satisfying ride.

Coaching offers a similar break in an unhealthy chain, while taking away some of the overwhelm that can come with having to unpick and sort out a problem. Because your coach is there to support you, you can get on with the cleaning, re-waxing and putting the chain back on without feeling you’re on your own.

When the system needs some attention, take a deep breath, break the chain and explore what’s going on. The results are always worth it.