Meet Amy Kulisheck, MBA, ACC,BCC | Professional, Life, and Productivity Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy Kulisheck, MBA, ACC,BCC and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, how has your work-life balance changed over time?

Over the course of my career and through training to become an executive and life coach, my perspective on work-life balance has evolved a lot! Instead of viewing work in opposition to life and something to “balance”, I’ve adjusted my mindset to see the balance as being between the professional and personal realms of life or even the integration of work and home activities, energy, and attention. The realization struck me that work is a part of life – often a really big and important part, but still only one part. Striving for “Work-Life Balance” is an attempt to compartmentalize either the personal to protect the professional or vice versa, which often leads to unnecessary stress and dissatisfaction that spills into both realms and becomes unsustainable. It’s important to recognize that the different areas of a holistic life aren’t mutually exclusive but rather intricately woven threads that contribute to the fabric of how we experience life overall.

Embracing this holistic approach has transformed the way I think about balance. Instead of striving for separation and equilibrium between work life and personal life, I focus on the fluidity between them, the influences one has or could have on the other, and the satisfaction and joy I experience overall. This mindset shift allows me to approach challenges with a more comprehensive perspective. I believe that because life encompasses both personal and professional dimensions, acknowledging this duality empowers each of us to design a life that is not only successful in our careers but also fulfilling on a personal level. With this clarity for myself, I’ve subsequently made it my purpose to help others cultivate confidence and a sense of fulfillment that extends across all facets of their lives.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I love my work as a coach. Honestly, the hardest thing about it is helping other people understand how coaching works and how it can benefit almost anyone who is ready to do the personal, reflective (and often scary) work associated with the process. I get most excited when I am working with a client to address a specific issue they are currently facing, and through our work together, they not only work through that specific issue but also learn new things about themselves and their world that help them change persistent patterns in their lives and successfully navigate future issues better than they would have before our work together. I started my career in project management and consulting where clients paid for my expertise and solutions. When I transitioned into coaching, I discovered the value and power of not being the expert in the room and offering no specific solutions. Consultants are paid well to quickly assess a current situation, evaluate capabilities, and offer recommendations for how to most effectively go forward. As a coach, my goal is to help you (my client) become stronger and more capable in whatever way you are motivated to grow. It’s like the difference between asking, “What problem are you facing that we can solve?” and “What types of problems do you face, and how do you need to develop yourself so you are better able to solve them?” I’ve learned that helping my clients see the difference between these two questions is critical and ongoing because our world (especially the Western business world) doesn’t always have the patience necessary for the path of coaching growth.

A great example of when coaching can be extremely helpful is when an individual gets promoted from a contributor to a leadership role. Transitioning from being a “do-er” to a “manager” requires a shift in mindset because you are still responsible for all the work, but you no longer do it all. This is not a singular problem to solve because management is a collection of dynamic skills that are never fully mastered. Solving whatever presenting issue this person faces at any given moment would be inefficient, likely inconsistent, and often counterproductive to long-term success. Coaching layers reflection into the process to see more of what’s going on (internally and externally) and what could be possible. Coaching fosters learning by maintaining an action-orientation to try new things and examine the impact. Combined, coaching can result in growth in the individual who is now more confident in their own abilities to see more, learn quickly, try courageously, and be more than they were before in whatever situations arise.

My approach to coaching invests a significant amount of energy in defining the client’s “Vision of Success” before we start “solving” any problems or filling gaps. The Vision articulates the personal and professional life they want to live most every day. From that, we identify milestones and markers of achievements. This is the opposite direction traditional approaches to goal setting take which first ask, “What do you want to accomplish?” and then get to “What will you need to do get there?”. This traditional approach ignores the reality that accomplishments are relished for a fleeting moment and then are quickly replaced by a new, bigger goal, while the path to achieving them is what you actually live. To live a joyful life requires designing a life you enjoy living!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Cleveland is filled with so many things to explore. I live on the near west side of the city and love to shop at our historic West Side Market every week for my meats, cheeses, vegetables, and specialty items. I love the personal interaction with the vendors who all know their products, are happy to make recommendations, and provide guidance! During the summer, a visit to Edgewater Park is a must for the beach or a walk along the lake – or maybe take a boat tour! Families will enjoy our Science Center, Natural History Museum, Children’s Museum, and the Botanical Garden. Even the Cleveland Museum of Art has programs and exhibits that many kids will find fun. If you have a bit more time and you love the outdoors, my family always enjoys hiking in the Cuyahoga National Park and exploring any of the “ledges” hikes – most of which are within 30-40 minutes of the city.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many people have contributed to and supported me throughout my adult life. The Weatherhead School of Management’s Executive Coaching program gave me a truly solid foundation for understanding how people can achieve real change in their lives. More recently, the guidance and support I’ve gained from Jonathan Reitz, MCC of Fluxify has been invaluable as I continue to navigate my career. So many authors and podcast hosts keep filling me up the stories they choose to share and the perspectives they put into the world. Some of my favorites are David Drakes’s model of Narrative Coaching which opened my eyes to a completely new way to meet clients (people) where they are; The “Hidden Brain” podcast with Shankar Vedantam always gives me “food for thought” and typically a great translation of esoteric topics into a digestible narrative; The “Coaching for Leaders” podcast with Dave Stachowiak breaks down critical and common leadership issues with actionable guidance; and finally – I recommend any book or podcast with Brene Brown for research-backed analysis of really tough issues we all face in this messy thing we call life.

Website: www.standtallcoaching.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standtallcoaching

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-kulisheck/