Who Needs a Coach?
I was delighted to chance upon this image on Pinterest the other day. It was so apt for me given my earlier career as a court attorney and now as a life coach. Jokes aside, there is some truth in the cartoon. At some point in our lives, when we feel lost and uncertain of our way, having a coach to take this life’s journey with you is definitely beneficial! So, who needs a coach? My simple answer is everyone!
I attended a meeting with fellow coaches several weeks ago and we were discussing the need for coaching especially during this period when we are all experiencing stress and uncertainties in life. Mental health issues have increased due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Our entire reality as we used to know it has been turned topsy-turvy. We also discussed the importance of recognising when our clients require counselling and therapy in addition to coaching and how to bring this up when we see this need in a coaching session. My view is that counselling and therapy helps the individual recover and heal from an emotional pain and trauma whereas coaching supports the person get from a good place to a better place, both personally and professionally.
For a deeper dive into the differences between coaching, counselling, mentoring and consulting, please click on my Coaching 101 page.
People choose coaching because they are ready to accelerate their personal or professional lives and work with a professional who will enable them to achieve their goals faster, easier and with better results than they could on their own. A coach will facilitate your self-discovery, the identification of your goals and the prioritization of those goals. Your coach will help you create your action plan as well as prepare for and overcome any challenges you encounter along the way. Your coach will hold you accountable for taking consistent action toward the realization of your goals.
Accountability is one of the greatest payoffs of coaching. It is so powerful because it can make all the difference in terms of you being a “Goal Achiever” instead of just a “Goal Setter” and someone who walks the walk instead of just talking the talk.
Think of your coach as your success partner, whose reason for being is to help you get what you want quicker, easier and with better results than you could on your own.
In a coaching session, your coach encourages you to slow down and reflect deeply on your thoughts, emotions, beliefs and values. It is as though a mirror is held up before you where you can see and appreciate your true self. Your coach recognises and celebrates your authenticity!
“A life coach does for the rest of your life what a personal trainer does for your health and fitness.”
Photo by Victor Freitas on Unsplash
What is holding you back from engaging a coach to support you in your life goals?
Here are three common themes that I’ve encountered in my conversations with people on the need for coaching in their lives:
“I’m fine. I don’t need a coach.”
I get that a lot when I speak to people here in Asia. There is a misconception that coaching is the same as counselling. They are concerned that if they engage a coach, it’s seen as a stigma. They think it’s a sign of weakness, that there is something wrong with them. The truth is that when people embark on a coaching journey, it’s not to fix something that is wrong. It’s when you realise that you want to get better results, achieve your goals effectively and reach your highest potential in life with clarity, focus, determination and commitment. A coach is your accountability partner to help you stay on course.
“I can’t afford a coach.”
Is this really true?
The truth is that you can’t afford not to have one. Coaches are highly in demand these days because coaching has proven itself to be an extremely effective method for facilitating personal and professional development and fulfilment.
The word is out everywhere, it’s in the media, it’s in corporations and it’s in the community. The word is out that coaching makes sense and it really works. In studies that have been done on the impact of coaching, the results have consistently shown a return on investment of more than 100%.
Coaching clients from all walks and areas of life consistently report that it is the best money they ever spent because their investment in an ongoing coaching partnership enables them to achieve their goals. What’s even better is coaching enables them to achieve their goals quicker, easier and with better results.
Now think about that for a moment. Think about what that means for you. Anything you want is available to you quicker, easier and with better results through the vehicle of coaching.
“I don’t have time for coaching”
You may think, “I can wait. Now is not a good time.” Is there ever a “good” time? Are you waiting for the “right” time to make a change or go after the things you really want in life? We are all busy. All of us have 24 hours each day, no more and no less. It’s about knowing your priorities and making time for them. We often make time for others, especially those who depend on us. However, if we don’t make time to take care and invest in ourselves, how can we be there to support and help others.
Stop thinking that there is a right time for coaching. Don’t wait until it is too late. Don’t wait until the “pain” in your life becomes unbearable before you take this proactive step to have a more fulfilling, peaceful and joyful life.
Working with a coach on an ongoing basis is the most time and cost-effective investment you can make in yourself and your quality of life.
What is holding you back from starting your coaching journey? Are you thinking of these same reasons too?
Let’s have a conversation about it!
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