As I dive into my MSc studies this month, I am reminded of the the poem ‘To Risk’ by William Arthur Ward. It educates me to take risk with my learning and writing this year for sure. A coach can only coach to level of self-awareness they already possess, and so on behalf of my clients and myself I will continue to learn, stretch, grow and challenge myself, as I continue on my pilgrimage towards self-awareness. However, it also made me reflect on, and consider the benefits of coaching for clients, and subsequently the risk of NOT engaging in coaching.
Sometimes I am asked to justify the business case or ROI of coaching, and of course, that is hard to do. So many benefits from the investment in coaching, may not be evident for many months beyond the time spent in dialogue alongside another human as they improve their own self-awareness and potential.
As I reflected, I took a bit of time to create my own version in the style of William’s poem, to explore the risk to self of NOT engaging in coaching. I hope this inspires those considering coaching, and I hope that it is respectful of the original work. I share both below:
To Risk
William Arthur Ward 1921 – 1994
To laugh is to risk appearing a fool,
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement,
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return,
To live is to risk dying,
To hope is to risk despair,
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow,
But he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or live.
Chained by his servitude he is a slave who has forfeited all freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.