What can we expect from using a life coach?

by Mervin Straughan

Okay, so you might have decided that there are areas of your life that need improving or that it’s time for a complete change with a new year looming. You decide you need a life coach. Do you know what's involved?

In this post, I will provide a broad insight into what a client can expect from most - not all - non-directive coaching relationships.

A coach helps clients empower themselves to address aspects of their personal and professional lives. Some coaches deal with personal clients while others only work with businesses and other organisations that have identified individuals who could benefit. Some work with both types.

Either way, there’s an early discussion around expectations and about the role of the coach. An effective coach sets out to create a trusting and confidential environment in which the client can speak openly and explore the areas they would like to address.

FRAMEWORK

Some coaches will use a framework that encourages the client to set goals and map out action plans for achieving them. The key, here, is to break down goals into small, manageable steps. This helps to make the goal-setting progress realistic but it's also useful for identifying milestones at which the client can observe progress and reward themselves accordingly.

However, sometimes, the client is unaware of the issue - or issues - but the coach, through careful probing and listening, will help them get to the root of the matter.

The coach may well follow up with a series of monitor-and-review sessions to discuss progress. Additional email and phone personal development coaching are sometimes available but the overall aim is to give clients the tools and techniques for moving on as quickly and effectively as possible themselves.

And a coach needs a coach. For instance, the Association for Coaching encourages members to participate in co-coaching sessions, allowing them to gain new perspectives and develop new techniques. This co-coaching also enables us to understand from the client perspective.

Is it the same as mentoring?

There are several debates around this but my approach – and that of many of my associates – is to be non-directive. There are frequent misconceptions about the role of a life coach with potential clients reporting they “need a mentor” or “someone to advise where I’m going wrong.” Some even mistake it with the role of the counsellor.

First, the names "mentor", "life coach" and "counsellor" are not interchangeable and, second, a good life coach will not tell someone what to do but will, instead, help the person to identify and bring about changes themselves.

Let’s familiarise ourselves with a few of the basics

The life coach helps the client consider all aspects of their life. The focus isn't on the past but on the client’s desired outcome and on strategies to make it happen. A coaching session is non-judgemental and explores opportunities while helping the individual to take responsibility. Rather than advise or instruct, the coach adopts the role of sounding board or catalyst. The coaching tools of effective questioning, listening and rapport building allow the individual to find the answers.

A mentor is usually someone from the same profession or industry who is able to provide insight, advice and recommendations. Usually the focus is on a career. The career guidance aspect means the mentoring relationship might last a long time.

A counsellor helps an individual to address an issue that is causing dysfunction such as a traumatic event or bereavement. The discussion will be about past events with the aim of understanding their impact on current emotions and behaviours. The counsellor will work with the client to come to terms with the current situation.

Readers of this blog will be aware that we explore reaching our potential through coaching and effective goal setting. It’s important we understand these major differences to avoid confusion.

The role of the coach has taken on great significance in recent decades. And given the immense pace of technological change, the increasing number of individuals questioning their contribution to society and the huge uncertainties of the current economic climate, it's little surprise that coaches are in demand. Life is not a rehearsal so sometimes it makes sense to get all the help we can.

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