What is Life Coaching? How Can a Life Coach Help You Achieve Your Goals?

What is life coaching? is a frequently asked question about a relatively young profession. Life Coaching is a collaborative process where a trained coach supports individuals in achieving their personal and professional goals. Through this partnership, clients gain clarity, overcome challenges, and unlock their potential for greater fulfillment. Unlike therapists who focus on healing past experiences, life coaches empower clients to move forward and create the future they desire.

How Does Life Coaching Differ from Other Helping Professions?

• Consultants: Consultants draw on their expertise to direct clients to a solution. Life coaches view clients as the experts in their own lives, and partner with them to discover solutions. Consultants tell us what to do. Life coaches ask us probing questions so we discover what to do.
• Mentors: While mentors share their own experiences as the basis of good decisions, life coaches focus on the “coaching process” to guide clients in making decisions based on their personal values.
• Sports Coaches: Sports Coaches focus on win-lose. Life coaches promote “win-win” scenarios, considering the impact of choices on various aspects of life and on our significant relationships.
• Therapists: Therapists address mental health concerns and analyze how our past experiences impact our present functioning. Life coaches focus on the future we wish to create, and help us create strategies to take us from where we are today to where we want to be.

Benefits of Life Coaching:

• Collaborative goal setting: Achieve goals aligned with your values and aspirations.
• Active listening and respect: Experience a safe space to be heard and understood.
• Vulnerability and self-discovery: Explore new perspectives and unlock your potential.
• Improved skills and confidence: Develop practical tools for various life situations.
• Achieve desired outcomes: Take action and get things done.
• Breakthrough limitations: Overcome self-imposed and external barriers.
• Accountability and support: Receive ongoing encouragement and guidance.

The Coaching Process:

• Active listening: Coaches attentively listen to understand both verbal and non-verbal cues.
• Empowering questions: Open-ended questions prompt clients to explore their own solutions.
• Constructive challenge: Coaches gently point out inconsistencies to help clients gain new perspectives.
• Action planning: Coaches work with clients to create actionable steps towards their goals.
• Accountability: Coaches support clients in following through on their commitments.
• Multiple perspectives: Coaches help clients see situations from different angles for a broader understanding.
• Acknowledgement and support: Coaches celebrate clients’ progress and provide encouragement.
• Client-centered approach: The coaching agenda is tailored to each client’s unique needs and goals.

What Skills Are Used in Life Coaching? (Not an exhaustive list)

• Centering: Guiding the client towards a state of calmness, focus, and present-moment awareness.
• Holographic thinking: Encouraging clients to consider their situation from various angles. This includes not only their logical and analytical perspective, but also their emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being.
• Powerful questioning: Crafting thought-provoking questions that help clients explore their inner world, gain new insights, and develop solutions.
• Goal setting: Guiding clients in establishing SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) that are challenging yet attainable and aligned with their values.
• Visioning: Assisting clients in visualizing their ideal future to create a roadmap for positive change and fuel their motivation.
• Values clarification: Helping clients identify their core values, the fundamental principles that guide their decisions and behaviors.
• Uncovering energy blockers:  Helping clients become self-aware about negative thoughts, beliefs, or patterns that hinder them from achieving their goals, and developing skills to overcome these energy blockers.
• Intuitive listening: Going beyond surface-level listening to pick up on clients’ underlying emotions and energy through deeper understanding.
• Prioritizing: Assisting clients in identifying what truly matters most and allocating their time and energy accordingly.
• Celebrating: Recognizing and acknowledging successes, big or small, to maintain client motivation and progress.

Why Do People Seek Life Coaching?

• Personal development
• Relationship building (family, intimate, social, professional)
• Personal finance
• Health and wellness
• Career guidance
• Life transitions
• Goal setting and achievement
• Decision making
• Stress management
• Personal branding

Life Coaching Specialties (Not exhaustive):

• Life coach
• Health and wellness coach
• Business coach
• Career coach
• Executive coach
• Leadership coach
• Financial coach

How is Coaching Structured?

• Sessions typically last 30-60 minutes, once per week.
• Coaching engagements average 3 months for individuals and 6 months for companies.
• Coaching can be conducted in person or virtually (phone/internet)
• Coaching packages may be customized to fit the needs of clients.

I hope this comprehensive overview encourages you to learn more about life coaching and how it can benefit you! See below for more resources and  how to contact me if you wish our Life Coaching or Career Coaching support.

Ready to learn more about our Life Coaching Services?

 

Contact Cheryll Messam, CPC
Certified Professional  Life Coach & Career Coach
Professional Resume Writer &
Email: cheryll@youinmindjamaica.com
Local Clients in Jamaica: Call Us +1-876-357-6397
International Clients: Call Us +1-954-762-7404

Resources

101 Things to Work On With a Coach
CLICK HERE FOR 101 Things to Work on With a Coach!  – Coach University, 1997

References:

• The Institution for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) / www.ipeccoaching.com
•  The 8 Skills for Effective Coaching by Duncan Brodle – http://ezinearticles.com/?The-8-Key-Skills-For-Effective-Coaching&id=747747)
• To 10 Professional Life Coaching Myths – http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-57345386/top-10-professional-life-coaching-myths/