AFTER HOURS
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Erik Powell
GUIDING FORCES By STEVE BURKS
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ife is full of challenges, and one of the biggest — yet most rewarding — challenges is being a coach. Coaching at any level takes a lot of time, effort, patience and understanding of how different people learn differently. These same traits are valuable in the workplace. AZRE Magazine found three commercial real estate professionals who are also active coaches in their communities and asked them what rewards they get from coaching and how coaching helps them in their professional life.
AMY DOOLEY
associate, interior designer for SmithGroup
Dooley has been coaching young athletes in the Arcadia Little League for four years, starting with T-ball 12 | March-April 2021
when her oldest son was 5. She also has coached soccer with Phoenix Rising Youth Soccer for two years. Dooley enjoyed all sports throughout elementary and middle school, competing in softball, gymnastics, soccer, tennis, basketball and swimming. In high school, she excelled in track and field as a sprinter at Rockford High School in Michigan. What rewards do you get from coaching? “At first, I wasn’t sure I would be good at it. I volunteered to be an assistant coach with my friend, and head coach, and since then we have been co-coaching together, we make a great team! What I love most is being able to interact with not only my kids, but all the kids on our team at a whole different level than what I can as a
parent. I can be a mentor, I can give them encouragement, and I can help them achieve goals.” How does your coaching experience help you in your professional life? “At the beginning of each new season there is always a learning curve to figure out how best to work with our team, so they are all working together and listening to their coaches. Some kids are easier than others and there are always a few that are extra challenging. This is the same with my professional career. Just like kids, adults all have their own unique personalities and to work well together you need to find ways to connect on their level. Working with the kids has helped me to focus on and sharpen those skill sets.”
