 Yet, clearly I’m missing the mark somewhere, as so many of my contacts and associates still don’t understand what life coaching is.
Today my mission is to demystify it, to make it just as identifiable as hairdressing or bricklaying and give you an understanding of not only the benefits, but also the things to look for in a coach. (Should you choose to look elsewhere, of course.)
So, to put it in its most simple form, life coaching is like having a professional best friend. It’s someone to support, encourage, motivate, challenge and essentially look out for your best interests. A coach is specially trained to identify patterns of your thinking and behaviour and ask fantastic questions to get you thinking about things in a new light. Much of a life coach’s work is shifting a client’s perception of a situation or challenge to make it more approachable and less daunting.
The process each coach uses will differ quite a lot and many coaches believe it’s closer to an art than a science. I’m a little more practical with my approach and am happy to outline how I work with clients. Generally clients go through the following steps:
 1. Fill in a questionnaire – This is designed to get people thinking about where they are at in life and what they see as their major challenges. This includes also their satisfaction levels with multiple aspects of their lives. From this questionnaire I can gauge how a client will react to coaching and gain an insight to what can be achieve for them personally.
 2. Free first session – This is a free session to give the client an idea of how coaching works. We talk about what they see as their major challenges, what they need help or support with and the best way to move forward for them. It really is a ‘get to know you’ meeting while familiarising them with the process. In this session we also nominate different aspects of their life that they would like to work on. Some clients want to spend more time on relationships or fitness and others on career and work life balance. Every client has different challenges and goals, and they need to feel validated, supported and inspired to make the changes they are looking for in their lives. This initial session really set’s the stage.
3. Following sessions – As the client becomes familiar with the process of coaching they open up and coaching becomes easier and more relaxed. Often clients will be pushed beyond their comfort zone in terms of what they believe or accept. Challenging clients in a gentle and supportive way is a major element of coaching, as is helping them to change beliefs and attitudes once they have been identified.
What can you expect to achieve with Life Coaching?
  Greater focus on your goals
A plan to improve your life (generally and specifically)
Increased motivation towards goals and action steps
More clarity on choices
Strategies to support positive thinking
Strategies to eliminate negative thinking and behavioural patterns
Increased confidence as successes build
Increased self awareness
A calmer approach to life and achievements
Consistent support and encouragement
What to look for in a life coach:
 Check that your coach has the necessary qualifications. A Certificate 4 or Diploma in Life Coaching is sufficient. There are many ‘coaches’ out there with little or no qualifications.
Make sure you meet your coach and have a certain level of rapport with them before posting off a cheque. It’s critical that you choose the right coach for you, not anyone else. Only you can be the judge of that. I have heard a few horror stories where people have been caught paying big dollars to a coach they haven’t met and when they did, they choose not to complete the program. Ouch!
Do your research before choosing a coach and ensure you’re dealing with a reputable company. Most coaches have a website and should have an array of client testimonials available. This is a great way to find out what they can really offer clients. A coach’s testimonials should look like this: (Just in case you’re wondering.)
www.advancedcoachingsolutions.com.au/testimonials.html
Ensure your coach isn’t going to charge you for emails and general phone calls. This should be included and can add up to a nasty surprise if it’s not specified up front.
I sure hope now that you have taken the time to read this you have a much clearer understanding of what life coaching is and what the benefits are. So next time something is askew in your life, or if you’d just like some additional support give life coaching a try, just like you’d book a hairdresser if you need a trim, it’s that simple!
If you’re really ready to step up and start living life and need a little assistance to get started, or you’re just interested in coaching and looking to give it a try, please give me a call on 0409 224 303 and we can book in your FREE session today!
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