For those of you who are not too familiar with the terms “personal coaching” or “life coaching”, I hope that the following information will give you some insight and help you to see how this service can benefit you. Coaching is a professional service providing clients with feedback, insights, and guidance from an outside vantage point. The major difference is that coaching is an on-going collabora
tive partnership built on taking action. In this powerful alliance, clients find themselves:
- Doing more than they would on their own.
- Taking themselves more seriously.
- Creating momentum and consistency.
- Taking more effective and focused actions.
- Becoming more balanced and fulfilled. People hire a coach when they are making a career transition, starting a new business, feeling dissatisfied, re-evaluating life choices, or simply looking for personal and professional breakthroughs. Coaching is action-oriented. It’s also about moving forward, not dwelling on the past. It doesn’t matter how clients got where they are or who is to “blame” for how they turned out. Coaching is about where an individual is right now, and where they would like to be. With a coach as their guide, clients are able to define their dreams, recognize what’s holding them back, and move forward with great momentum and clarity of vision. Coaching is an ongoing partnership between coach and client, designed to improve and enhance the client’s quality of life. The benefits of coaching are far reaching and extend to individuals from all walks of life. At one time, only a select few professionals, executives, and politicians had coaches. Now, most people can enjoy the benefits of having their own coach. One of the reasons for the popularity of coaching is how it is perceived. Psychologists have long been the answer to the question, “Who can I talk to about this?”. Women – accustomed to communicating well and reaching out for help – seemed comfortable receiving support in this way. Men, on the other hand, did not find this the most desirable solution. Seeing a therapist to straighten out one’s life was the equivalent, for most men, of stopping to ask directions on the freeway of life. It either wasn’t going to happen, or if it did, no one was going to know about it. Coaching appeals to people because it facilitates a confidential relationship with a trusted professional, without any social stigma attached to it. Admitting you need help, showing vulnerability, and revealing life has gotten out of control, is tough for most of us. Maybe we don’t feel “crazy” (yet, anyway) but it sure would be nice to talk with someone who could help us get our lives back on track. Coaching does not wallow in the past. It is not about how you got to where you are, or who is responsible for how you turned out. It is about where you are now, where you want to be, and how to get there quickly. Coaching is about taking action, and many times all someone really needs is an accountability partner in order to live the life they’ve always wanted. Life coaches are not just someone with whom to share problems. They are a sounding board for solutions to the challenges we face on a daily basis. They are mentors in some cases, cheerleaders in others. They are part consultant, part family. Coaches unleash the power of partnership. Coaching is becoming even more mainstream. People are understanding that if they want to improve their lives, have accountability, and get to the next level, that having a coach is going to help them do that. Typically, most coaching is done on the phone at weekly intervals either three or four times a month. These calls usually last 35-45 minutes, and sometimes an hour. In addition to the weekly calls, some coaches plan to also field unscheduled short calls and email inquiries.
