Life coaching is a fast growing industry, starting in the US in the 80s. It has since become a popular profession across the world and now worth multi millions to the world economy.
Just like in sports, in order to achieve a goal, get you where you want to be, or move closer to the desired result, it is universally accepted to have a coach. So as in life, we need coaching. No one teaches us life lessons at school, how to understand your values, how to network, what adulthood real life is about, social interaction and so on.
On one hand, the life coaching industry has been around for years and known to millions of people whose life has never been the same again after attending a course, enrolling on a coaching programme, or simply learning by reading a personal development book. On the other hand, you may hear a bit of scepticism about life coaching. People may think “What makes you think you can be a life coach?” ‘Shouldn’t you have a “Ferrari” in your garage, a perfect family, successful career, or whatever success may mean to you, before you “life coach” me”?!
Since I have been fascinated with this subject for many years, when previously doing some research by asking and talking to people about life coaching, people come up with things like, “life coaching is for people who are lost in life” or for whom it makes easier to find some kind of meaning.
If you ask a life coach what life coaching is, they are likely to say, “it is helping you move from where you are to where you want to be and get you there faster”. But is that definition of a life coach slightly outdated?!
It is Tuesday 29th of June and I am doing my research and looking into getting an internationally recognised professional certification, even though I don’t necessarily need it, I thought for the Great British public, it may make a difference and boost my credibility and trust. I come across The Coaching Academy (established in 1999), and they are doing a free 2-hours live webinar this evening. I quickly sign up to see what they are about and what kind of diplomas and certifications they offer. The webinar begins. There is a brief introduction into coaching, then a coaching session example of a coach and a client and how a coaching session (in their eyes) should be. In the example the client’s goal is to write a book and all the coach is doing is asking questions on the time frame and resources they have. They teach you not to have any face expressions and how not to give any opinions. This organisation has internationally recognised accreditations but frankly, if it was me, there is no way I would have another session with such a coach.
Times have changed now, people are smarter, more intelligent, and have more resources available online than ever before. Even though it is crucial to ask questions during the session to understand where your client is and what might be holding them back, it is by far not the only technique to be used. And, in my opinion, an old fashioned approach of simply just asking clients questions will not or even should not work. You have got to give more than that! People know what they need to do, it is the “why am I not doing” part that is more interesting and should be looked into in depth. The point of coaching is to give value, broaden horizons, take you outside of your “box”, open up possibilities and dig a lot deeper than some obvious questions.
If we look at what goes into coaching in sports, there is mindset, motivation, focus on the end results, discipline and so on.
I found there is another type of coach/mentor who on their home pages have pictures of luxury items, expensive cars, watches, penthouses. I am all for it and happy to see life coaches succeed to such a degree but you certainly do not have to have it to be a life coach to provide value to your clients. And again, that might have worked years ago where potential clients look at you and think “I want a bit of your luxury”.
Our lives and values have changed during the coronavirus pandemic and now life coaching is about connecting on a human level, understanding your needs, moving you towards your goals which most of the time are outside of your comfort zone.
Life coaching may not be for everyone, some people are super clear on their goals, are disciplined and go towards it no matter what. However, if you are at the crossroads, not sure what way to turn, have too many thoughts and very little action, tend to over complicate your life and need help breaking it down into simple steps in order to solve a problem, feel your life can be better but you’re not sure you can improve it on your own or stuck in your ways, or think one day things will magically change – no kidding, that day may never come. Open yourself up to possibilities you have always been looking up to but the time has never been just right.
HEAD & HEART MATTERS 
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