The timing of my coaching experience came at a critical juncture for me. Personally, I was dealing with aging parents and as a leader I knew it was time for a change. Coaching allowed me to gain some clarity around what was important and what next steps might look like. I think one of the key learnings for me in the coaching process was to learn how to manage being uncomfortable.

Having spent 30 plus years in HR, I've spent my entire career investing in associates and colleagues at my places of work. It's been rewarding to see their development and growth and to feel I played a small part in their journey. In retrospect, what I did for them I didn't do for myself. I regret that so the fact that I finally involved myself in coaching IS my greatest ROI.

I would describe my coaching experience as messy and I don't mean that negatively. Done right, coaching is messy because leadership and leaders are messy. If you don't believe that then I would argue you're in denial and you should consider therapy versus coaching. Coaching was the ultimate safe space for me. I had several confidants but my coach provided the objectivity and balance that I often needed. My coach was a combination of Yoda, a big sister and my high school basketball coach. She possessed wisdom, was a great cheerleader and listener and an accomplished @#$ kicker. She was "tailor made" for me. Anyone that knows me would tell you I'm a hand full on my best day and my coach handled all of the "Mikes" she encountered with curiosity, wisdom and humor. Thank you Cate!

It's worth pursuing because as leaders, like the organizations we represent, we always analyzing, adapting, and pivoting. It's not easy. We bring our knowledge, our experiences, our successes AND our failures to our teams hoping they don't realize that we have no idea what we're doing most of the time. And that's OK. Coaching helps you get better at putting together organizational "jigsaw puzzles." But the first puzzle you must figure out is you.

The Team Development Experience helped me pull all of my past and present leadership learnings together. It finally made sense. The ROI was better organizational performance (metrics), better teamwork and better relationships both inside and outside of work.

The 6 years I spent in the Bloombase "family" were some of the most rewarding years of my career. I'm a better leader for my time spent "trusting the process."