Do You NEED One?

NEED one what, you might ask. We’ll come back to that shortly. In the meantime, let’s talk about Maslow.

Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist who was known for creating Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. His first publication was in 1943 and is represented as a pyramid.

In summary, the more basic needs are listed at the bottom of the pyramid and for a person to be motivated by a higher level on the pyramid, they need to have most or all of the prior or lower-level met. Slight modifications were made over the years, but the concept remains consistent. For individuals to reach the highest level of self-actualization defined as the desire to become the most that one can be, they need to have most of the lower needs being met.

The way I’ve incorporated Maslow into our coaching business is through asking questions of my clients and potential clients that help me find out where they are as it relates to the hierarchy of needs. I tend to think of the pyramid as a mountain.

At the lowest level, you might be hiking up a local trail. In my area, I think about Thunderbird Park. You can hike anywhere from 1.5 to 9.7 miles and your highest elevation gain will be about 528 feet. A good pair of shoes, proper clothing for the temperature, some water, and maybe some tunes is all you’ll need to pull off this hike. Not overly challenging but a good workout, nonetheless, obviously based on how hard you push yourself.

On Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, I look at this kind of a hike as the lowest level. Some may argue that a brisk walk to the mailbox should be considered in this category so yes, let’s face it, it’s all relative. But where are we going with all of this?

The title of this article is “Do You NEED One?” The question relates to your NEED for a coach. If you’re briskly walking to the mailbox or hiking a 500-foot elevation gain trail, chances are that you don’t need a coach.

But as you move up on the pyramid, coaching becomes a necessity. For you to perform at your highest levels, coaching is almost always present. Back to our pyramid, to get beyond the first two steps, the right coach can make a world of difference.

Think of the highest levels as a mountain. Would you set out to summit Mount Everest by yourself? Of course not! So where are you in your journey up the mountain? If you’d like to find out what a coach can do for you, reach out, and let’s have a conversation.