Have you thought about hiring a career or life coach? Perhaps you wonder if hiring a career counselor is worth the time and expense. You may wonder if someone who has never met you before can offer sound advice on how to advance your career. 

Here are some ways your life coach or career counselor can help you.

![benefits of having a life coach](//images.ctfassets.net/6g4s9n00xmsl/5dy7AIf99hrcHX1gW3tirg/20e0a3a68646654cd2517ab99b86128f/benefits_of_having_a_life_coach.png)

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## Good Counselors See Right Through You

A career counselor may assist you in realizing that you have chosen the wrong job.

Perhaps you are in the wrong profession. Maybe you studied a particular subject in college for the wrong reasons. Perhaps you went into a job because of your family’s involvement in the industry. It could be that you went into a field, enjoyed it for many years, and now realize that your career needs have changed. A lot of people tend to feel this way, in fact, most people [change their careers 5-7 times](https://hbr.org/2002/12/how-to-stay-stuck-in-the-wrong-career). A counselor will help you determine this by taking in a number of factors like going into upper management positions, whether you take initiative in your job, and most importantly, whether you feel challenged. 

A good counselor will be able to ask the right questions to determine if your chosen field is right for you based on your reasons for entering the profession.

_____

## A career counselor can help you analyze your skills to find the right job

We are happiest when we are well-suited to our careers. Your career counselor should help you analyze your strengths and weaknesses to determine what job is the best for you.

A career counselor may have you take placement tests to determine what fields are right for you. The problem with career placement tests is that some people don’t have an accurate view of their strengths or weaknesses. Or they may take the tests desirous of a particular outcome and answer the questions dishonestly. 

_____

## A good career counselor looks at the whole picture

Besides looking at the results of placement tests, he or she should get to know you. A career counselor should ask you about your motives for your career choice. He or she may be able to determine whether your personality is conducive to particular fields or not. 

Keep in mind that the [career counselor](https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2018/10/03/3-reasons-to-hire-a-career-coach/#67863ccc39d2) may give you the news that you don’t want to hear. He or she is not in the business of being a cheerleader or offering platitudes that “you can do anything.” If you struggled to pass basic math and science classes, you aren’t going to be an engineer.

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## A career counselor should be a resource to help you find training and educational opportunities in your chosen field

Once you have determined a field that you would like to explore, your career counselor should assist you with this part of your journey. That means that your counselor should be knowledgeable about local or online programs that offer training or education in particular careers. 

This professional should be resourceful. If you want to job shadow an occupational therapist, he or she should have resources to make that happen. If you want to know where you can receive training to become a motorcycle repair person, he or she should be able to direct you to training programs in your area. If you had a negative experience at your last job, your counselor should be able to direct you on when you need to hire a worker’s compensation lawyers or not. This person should be an expert on all aspects of “work.”

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## A good career counselor should help you with writing or editing your resume

Once you have chosen a career and been trained in your industry, your career counselor should help you in writing your [resume](https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/10-resume-writing-tips). Whether or not writing is your strong suit, it is imperative that you have several other qualified people look at your resume before submitting it to potential employers. Your career counselor should have the skills to offer valuable resume-writing advice.

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## A career counselor should be able to help you with your interview or presentation skills

Unfortunately, some of the best people don’t get the jobs that they applied for because they struggle with [interviewing](https://www.inc.com/suzanne-lucas/10-interview-skills-you-need-to-get-hired-and-how-to-improve-at-them.html). Some candidates get so stressed that they crumble when answering even the easiest questions.

Your counselor should assist you with this process. He or she should help you practice your answers to common interview questions.

If you need health advice, you consult with a doctor. When you need legal help, you find an attorney. Why would you leave such an important aspect of your life to chance? Why wouldn’t you spend a few bucks to get advice on how to have a productive, rewarding professional experience?

Consult with a life coach or career counselor today.

Explore five ways career coaches can empower their clients for a better career path. Boost career experience and real-world skills with experiential learning.

6 Ways Career Coaches Can Ensure Better Career Experiences 

career coach

Explore five ways career coaches can empower their clients for a better career path. 

In these years of instant messaging and being able to receive emails on everything from a watch <a href='https://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/smart-fridge-goes-rogue-helps-spam-750-000-email-accounts-1216164' target='blank'>to a fridge</a>, you'd hope communication would be more accessible. Of course, this complicates the jobs of HR managers, as if the job isn't hard enough! So how can you improve internal communication in your team? Included below are some tricks and tips to help get those employees out of their shells and talking when you need them to.

![How to Improve Internal Communication](//images.ctfassets.net/6g4s9n00xmsl/Fm5dy9mskNAHkpJQbHsln/d4a73d711068504e7a11593f3568bd8b/how_to_improve_internal_communication.png)

## 1. Keep an ‘open door’ policy

Let your company’s __employees know that you’re there to listen__!  It may sound simple, but making it clear that you’re willing to hear everyone out is a quick way to get them to talk. Whether it’s changes they think could help with productivity, or nerves about the job that you can help settle down, they have to know you’re there to listen.  

If it helps, the tried and true suggestion box could work, in the form of an anonymous email or a literal box in a common area. Make sure that they have an outlet, even if they’re not yet comfortable enough to talk to you in person.

[When employees give you their ideas](https://www.peoplegoal.com/blog/encouraging-feedback-from-employees), remember to take them seriously. Sometimes the best new ideas, like finding a new <a href="https://tipalti.com/mass-payments/" target="_blank">mass payment system</a>, or allowing sick-day employees to work from home, will be found in a suggestion box. The company has to open itself up to those ideas. Above all, by showing you're taking their notes, they'll be more open to communicating with you in the future.

![Internal Communication - open door policy](//images.ctfassets.net/6g4s9n00xmsl/3Kg6xeSSh3L0ZKEqJn5zrj/a23b4240507dd8257b41698a5d78f74d/Internal_Communication_-_open_door_policy.png)

## 2. Work from the top down

Employees can be worried about saying anything if they feel like they'll get quieted down regardless. __Work with managers and supervisors to teach them how to be open to employees bringing up concerns__, and how to improve internal communication in their own team.  

Tell them if they're not comfortable, to be nonjudgemental, and send the employees your way. Ask that nobody mocks or shames employees for their opinions or ideas. If an employee feels listened to, they're more likely to be open to change and criticism of them as well.

Make it clear this isn’t optional, and that it’s now standard for the company that people are allowed to request help, or offer ideas (within reason).

![Internal Communication - work from the top down](//images.ctfassets.net/6g4s9n00xmsl/7kQGAofli03GuxXdXtFmJP/7233947177b36dd01270cb151b6caebd/Internal_Communication_-_work_from_the_top_down.png)

## 3. Build teams, allow friendly competition

An easy way to get employees to get more comfortable with communication is to allow some healthy competition. Nothing too dire, or intense; __consider some team-based games__. Whether it's which team gets their numbers up highest- or a real game like corn-hole- get them excited and competitive. 

Working together towards a more tangible and shared goal, rather than just for the company itself, can make them more comfortable.

![Internal Communication - build teams and healthy competition](//images.ctfassets.net/6g4s9n00xmsl/4v5anNc4FUjk290Pl3byT7/aba85aa51717b9fdcddd8f5646623a24/Internal_Communication_-_build_teams_and_healthy_competition.png)

## 4. Set goals on every level

Another great way to get people to start communicating is to __set goals within the company__. Regardless of what type of company you're in, there are endless metrics to measure success. Let employees and teams set their own goals for what they want to see. Whether it's higher production or reaching more bonuses, be sure it's reachable to some degree. [Managers and supervisors](https://www.peoplegoal.com/blog/smart-goals-for-managers) can help set goals for themselves and [their teams](https://www.peoplegoal.com/blog/how-to-set-clear-goals-for-your-team) as well. Employees will talk more with their supervisors because it'll help them make their goals more manageable.

It all comes back to the team mindset. Make sure they know that the business is one unit with dozens of pieces that have to work together.

![Internal Communication - set goals on every level](//images.ctfassets.net/6g4s9n00xmsl/6HSCkzBvPZ64DkvLRezHPo/c882fe52dd046c410ade1dbd5211c56e/Internal_Communication_-_set_goals_on_every_level.png)

## 5. Be clear on the mission of the whole company

What’s the <a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/inspiring-company-mission-statements" target="_blank">company’s mission statement</a>? Not only should it __inspire growth, it will let your employees know exactly what the company expects of them__. Communication is always a winding two-way street. By emphasizing a collective goal, you'll give employees a vision of what they're bringing to the team.

If the company doesn't have a published mission statement, which often happens in new or small companies, consider working with employes to create one. __Let them be a part of defining what it means to be a part of the company__. 

If you want, you could use it as a team-building contest and let employees enter for what they think it should be. This act, however small, shows that you have faith in how they view the company.

![Internal Communication - be clear on company vision](//images.ctfassets.net/6g4s9n00xmsl/6WeHoYLRHqbQ6SGPWQbo1m/dec4c2c17faca7628be34177375aef91/Internal_Communication_-_be_clear_on_company_vision.png)

## 6. Start from scratch with new employees

Taking all of these steps and moving forward with current employees can be a lot of work. The next and most essential step is to [make sure you're training new employees](https://www.peoplegoal.com/blog/onboarding-for-new-hires-how-to-make-it-a-success-story) on these policies as you hire them.  Not only will it save you from extra work down the road, it will also make sure a precedent is known and set for all employees. Communication helps a company grow stronger. In return for the work you're putting in, employees will become more satisfied with their jobs. Multiple studies show that a happy employee is a hard-working employee, so give them a chance to prove themselves.

In the end, __the number one tip to improve internal communication is to listen__. Whether it's a workplace miscommunication that's turned into an argument, or someone requesting a new snack machine - everything has to be heard and taken into account. As an HR manager, you're the acting mother duck to dozens (or hundreds!) of people who need some guidance.  Help them see that your company is the one they should stick with, and the inevitable return will be overwhelmingly positive.

![Internal Communication - start from scratch with every employee](//images.ctfassets.net/6g4s9n00xmsl/IUJGYWiqnf2Keme4bF3bu/7b215c95f40345f30b2842101890e6ff/Internal_Communication_-_start_from_scratch_with_every_employee.png)


Asking yourself how to improve internal communication in your organization? Use these simple but effective strategies that will help you manage your workforce.

Gil Artmoore

Posts

6 Ways Career Coaches Can Ensure Better Career Experiences

How to Improve Internal Communication

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Gil Artmoore

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6 Ways Career Coaches Can Ensure Better Career Experiences

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