Why see a life coach

We live in a world where change is accelerating. We are bombarded by information and demands on our time; we are expected to make rapid decisions and to continuously keep pace with changes in our environment. The problem is that whilst the environment is changing, people do not like to change. We attempt to maintain the status quo. To stay in our comfort level, we don't want to move out of our comfort level because we have learned to deal with it. It is better to stay in a bad situation instead of going into unknown waters. We think because we know what to expect here. Even if here is not where we want to be! So we are conflicted.

People feel they need help, but they need to talk to somebody who can help them just unravel their particular lives, or situations; that can help them gain some clarity and see things from a different perspective. It was Einstein who said we cannot solve a problem from the same kind of thinking that caused it in the first place. As coaches, we help our clients with different kinds of thinking. seeing things from a different viewpoint.

Individuals see a coach for more reasons than I can think of! Life coaching in its broadest
sense covers career, financial, spiritual, health, family, relationships, work, and in fact
almost any human activity. Typical situations might be when making a life change or
when wanting to decide on a career, dealing with difficult relationships, dealing with a
difficult boss or work colleagues, wanting to improve your work performance, if in
financial trouble; wanting to improve your lifestyle; facing a crisis, desperate for change
but feeling fearful, when facing retirement, and many, many other situations.

When is the right time to see a coach?

Anytime that you want to invest in YOU! You will be amazed at how much you can gain from having a good coach on your side. Coaching does not imply there is anything wrong with you. On
the contrary, it is people with healthy ego strengths who really want to just go from good
to great, who benefit most from coaching. All good coaches have good coaches. Think about it. How many people have influenced your life to date? How many have influenced your life to the positive? Those mentors that we chose to follow are just an example of what a good life coach can start to do in your life. The difference is that a life coach doesn't just happen to help you do something positive in your life. A life coach is dedicated to helping you make a positive difference in your life.

What can they help you accomplish, how does it happen?

A good coach will help you accomplish more than you ever thought possible. But it is a
collaborative arrangement. The coach cannot do it alone. You cannot go to a coach and
say “Help me!”, and then just sit back and expect the coach to do all the work. It requires
commitment on your part.
A coach will question you, challenge you, support you, encourage you to set goals, cocreate
outcomes and actions with you, hold you accountable to your own outcomes, give
you honest feedback; provide a space where you can be honest to yourself without any
judgment form the coach.

What should one look for in a Life Coach?

Look for a coach who is actively increasing their skills, who has attended a credited coach specific training program. Look for a coach who you feel comfortable with. No one coach can be all things to all people and most coaches develop a niche, or a few select niches, in which they specialize.
Ask about their niche and specialties. Ask about their training. Ask them for references.
Ask how long they have been coaching and how many people they have coached, or how
many hours they have logged. This should not disqualify newly qualified coaches, as
many newly qualified coaches are very good, and some experienced coaches are not very
good, but it should pertain to the fee structure. Ask about their fee structures and the
options they can offer.
Good coaches will establish rapport and make you feel comfortable from the outset. If
you do not feel comfortable in the coach’s presence from early on, then that coach might
not be for you.

How is a Life Coaching about?
Coaching is not about being OK; it is about being at one’s best and producing superior performance, attaining higher levels of health, well being, focus and skill. Coaching works on refining and honing the individual's best skills, playing to one’s strength and eliminating the things that sabotage excellence. It is also about recognizing problem areas and moving forward to eliminate them or to strengthen the skill. Coaching is about what is going on right now and what possiblities there are in the future. It is for people who are growing and moving forward in their lives.

How do they help you manage change?

A good coach challenges, questions, awakens, gives candid sensory specific feedback, co-creates actions, helps you set goals and strategies for getting to those goals and holding you accountable.
A good coach stands with you when you go into those uncharted unfamiliar waters and shines the light so that you can see your way more clearly. They can help you to see the rocks and the dangers before they put a hole in your craft.

What is the best thing about Life Coaching?

The best thing about life coaching is you are in the drivers seat. You control the course and the speed. Any changes in your life are far more effective because they are the changes that you want. Not changes on some one else's agenda

Focusing on your goals

Can you believe that this year is almost 1/2 way over? This is the time of year when I do my 3rd evaluation of the year to see how I am doing on my goals, do they need adjustments or do I need to advance the goals to the next step. Do I need to focus more on one or the other to be where I want to be by next year at this time.
On January 1st of every year I set down my goals for the year and then break down them into where I want to be in 3 months, 6, 9 and by end of year. This allows me to stay focused on what my goals are throughout the year. In March I take my second look then in June my 3rd, Sept my 4th and then just after Christmas I look at where I came from and where I would like to go in the next year.