Coach urges personal growth before guiding others
By: Solomon Nartey Tetteh
Life Coach Michael Adote has urged aspiring mentors and coaches to be intentional about tracking and reflecting on their personal journeys, stressing that lived experiences are essential to offering genuine guidance to others.
In an era marked by rapid change and increasing demand for personal and professional growth, coaching and mentoring have become powerful tools for development across the globe. In Ghana, the growing popularity of these roles reflects a broader cultural shift toward self-improvement, leadership development, and knowledge sharing.
Aspiring professionals, entrepreneurs, and students are increasingly seeking structured guidance to navigate their careers and life goals. As a result, life coaches and mentors are playing a more prominent role in shaping personal transformation, workplace effectiveness, and leadership capacity.
Speaking on Business Breakfast on Zed FM, Mr. Adote said the basis for being a mentor is being deliberate in tracking your journey and learning from your mistakes.
“Before you think of mentoring others, you must first be deliberate about documenting your own journey, what worked for you and the lessons you picked up along the way. That’s how you build a framework based on real experience,” he said.
According to him, effective mentorship stems from personal growth and the ability to transform life lessons into tools that can guide others.
“If I’ve created a process that helped me become a life coach, then I should be able to pass that framework on to someone who’s just starting out,” he stated.
Mr. Adote also stressed that becoming a coach is not about simply following a set formula. “There’s a process. You can’t become a coach overnight,” he noted.
He went on to distinguish between coaching and mentoring, pointing out their unique roles in personal development. While both can support growth, they differ in structure and focus.
“Mentorship often comes from admiration. A mentor can be someone you observe from afar, someone whose path or behavior you want to emulate,” the life coach explained.
Mr. Adote also noted that coaching is typically goal-driven and time-bound. “Coaching is usually based on clear objectives. We set a target, work towards it, and once it’s achieved, the engagement ends.”
He also highlighted the overlap between the two roles but stressed that coaching is outcome-oriented, while mentoring centers on long-term personal growth and development.
