My witch godmother has always been a mysterious figure in my life. Ever since I can remember, she has been there to guide and protect me, but she has always done so from afar. I have never actually met her in person, but her presence is always felt. From a young age, I have always been fascinated by the supernatural. I devoured books about witches and wizards, and dreamt of having magical powers myself. Little did I know that my wish would come true, in the form of my witch godmother.
Little did I know that my wish would come true, in the form of my witch godmother. She first reached out to me when I was just a child, leaving a small package on my doorstep. Inside was a sparkling silver necklace with a pendant in the shape of a crescent moon.
My philosophy: More like Glinda the Good Witch, Less like a Fairy Godmother or Your Boss
As an executive coach, I love the work I’ve been doing for over a decade. And part of what I love the most is the fresh challenge of helping people break down barriers and achieve their goals, no matter how diverse and complex those people and goals may be.
But this is work that can look confusing or intimidating from the outside, so I get a lot of questions about my process and philosophy. I’m frequently asked whether or not I’m disappointed when my clients don’t achieve all they set out to accomplish in their work with me.
Here’s my answer: No.
I can answer that question unequivocally and honestly because of the way I see the work I do. Don’t get me wrong: I have aspirations for all my clients – sometimes, even loftier aspirations than the ones they have for themselves. But as an experienced executive coach, I’m neither their fairy godmother, waving my wand of magic so as to fix the rut they’re in, nor their boss, setting performance expectations and tying goal achievement to salary increases. A good executive coach is more like Glinda the Good Witch, she of Wizard of Oz fame, reminding clients, “You’ve always had the power, my dear. You’ve had it all along.”
So while I definitely work hard at connecting deeply with my clients, trying my best to see the world from their perspective and therefore often serving as a guide and a cheerleader for them to reach their goals, I don’t have expectations that they will necessarily achieve them. I have too much respect for my client’s right to choose what’s best for them: the risks they’re willing to take, the courage they’re capable of mustering, the myriad number of ways people can move forward in their own unique ways when they are ready. And those things don’t always manifest during the time we have to work together.
I’ve been challenged by some in the corporate world who think this philosophy is a contradiction in terms when it comes to measuring success. As a former corporate executive, I’ve certainly had experience setting expectations and employing a performance management process to optimize the likelihood of success regarding ROIs for employees and team members. But after working with over 300 different individuals one-on-one in a coaching capacity, I find joy in opening the door for my clients to explore the meaning of success relative to their personal, lifelong trajectory of growth. My goal, as a coach, is not to magically fix problems or to check off boxes in a performance review. It’s to help my clients have the courage to delve deeply and swiftly into identifying personal barriers that might be impeding progress, then give them the space to make a meaningful, personal decision about what they are ready to tackle – or not tackle.
So when people ask me if I’m disappointed when my clients don’t always achieve everything they set out to do, I still say no. When people haven’t reached their goals yet (that yet is optimistic in its intent!), I’m still happy for them if, in the process of coaching, they’ve been able to see what they couldn’t see before, then decide with intentionality what they are or aren’t ready to do or change.
If you’re on board with my philosophy, I’d love to work with you as a coach. In the meantime, see if you can apply my perspective to your own life – right now! If you’re struggling with a barrier or conflict, ask yourself:
- Is the pain of not doing anything worse than taking a small step in a new direction?
- Can you imagine setting an aspiration for yourself, then giving yourself grace and compassion for both the steps you do take and the ones you don’t, knowing that you had good reasons for your choice?
- If you’re ready to make big, transformative changes, can you see that those around you may not be ready? And can you give them the same degree of grace and compassion when they don’t achieve all of your expectations?
If you’re ready to take a small step in a new direction or make a big transformative change in your life, good executive coaching can open the door to exciting growth. After all, it’s my job to help remind you that you’ve had the power all along.
So when people ask me if I’m disappointed when my clients don’t always achieve everything they set out to do, I still say no. When people haven’t reached their goals yet (that yet is optimistic in its intent!), I’m still happy for them if, in the process of coaching, they’ve been able to see what they couldn’t see before, then decide with intentionality what they are or aren’t ready to do or change.
Attached was a note that simply said, "Believe in the magic within you." Since then, my witch godmother has continued to send me little gifts and notes of encouragement. Each one filled with enchantment and a reminder to embrace the mysterious and whimsical parts of life. In a world that often feels dull and mundane, her presence has always brought a sense of wonder and possibility. Though I have never seen her face or heard her voice, I feel her watching over me, like a guardian angel with a touch of sorcery. Sometimes, when I'm faced with a difficult decision or in need of guidance, I can almost hear her whispering wise words into my ear. It's as if she knows exactly what I need to hear, even before I do. My witch godmother has taught me to trust my intuition and to believe in my own magic. She has shown me that there's beauty in embracing the unknown and allowing myself to be enchanted by the world around me. Through her, I have learned that sometimes the most extraordinary things can happen when we step outside of our comfort zones and dare to dream. I may never meet my witch godmother in person, but her presence in my life is a constant reminder of the extraordinary and the magic that resides within each of us. She has been my guiding light, my protector, and my source of inspiration. And for that, I am forever grateful to have her as my mysterious and enchanting witch godmother..
Reviews for "How My Witch Godmother Taught Me to Harness My Inner Magic"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "My Witch Godmother". The plot seemed promising and unique, but it quickly became cliche and predictable. The characters lacked depth and I couldn't connect with any of them. The dialogue was also quite weak and unrealistic. Overall, the book failed to live up to my expectations and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Emily - 3/5 - "My Witch Godmother" had an interesting concept, but it fell flat for me. The pacing was off, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. The writing style was also distracting, with unnecessary details and excessive use of adjectives. The main character was supposed to be relatable, but I found her annoying and lacking growth throughout the story. There were a few enjoyable moments, but overall, it left me feeling underwhelmed.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "My Witch Godmother", but unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. The story lacked depth and originality, and the world-building felt underdeveloped. The romance subplot was forced and cliched, adding nothing of substance to the overall plot. The pacing was slow and the ending felt rushed, leaving me unsatisfied. It's a shame because the premise had potential, but it ultimately failed to deliver a compelling story.
4. Mark - 1/5 - I couldn't finish "My Witch Godmother". The writing was amateurish and filled with grammatical errors, making it difficult to follow the story. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any real development. The dialogue was stilted and unrealistic, making it hard to connect with the story or the characters. It felt like a poorly written fanfiction rather than a professionally published book. I would not recommend wasting your time on this one.