Most successful people are self-directing and self-managing. They take initiative, they know what they want to achieve, and they have discipline. They have self-knowledge and know their strengths and weaknesses. They have action plans to follow in order to avoid procrastination and keep on track with goals.

Then why would successful people seek out the services of a coach? Why do so many executives – who are already in top positions – demand an executive coach as part of their benefits package? Because they know from experience that even their highly refined ability to see what is needed is limited by their own assumptions and beliefs.

It is like the blind leading the blind when you only have yourself to turn to. The problem is that we all use our inner assumptions and beliefs to make decisions. We are driven by motivations and values that are outside our own awareness.

What are we talking about here? Surely, age and experience provides self-knowledge and certain wisdom. Most people know themselves pretty well and are able to set goals and make decisions that are in line with who they are. Well, most successful people have this ability, at least part of the time…and therein lies the problem. Sometimes our beliefs and assumptions are faulty or out of date. Yet we rarely take time to look at our assumptions and beliefs – they are too ingrained.

Many of the situations that block us in our daily lives do so based on a framework of assumptions we make. Draw a different frame about the same set of circumstances and new pathways come into view.

Have you ever tried to draw or paint a self-portrait? Even if you are artistically talented, this is a difficult task. To take a look at your assumptions and beliefs by yourself, and to explore them – examine them for their usefulness and value, is even harder to do – if not impossible.

A coach can help you see what you can't see yourself. A good coach will ask the right kinds of questions – the kinds you can't answer right away, the ones that make you think