Coaching Corner – Q & A’s of Real Life Cases
Q: I’ve heard about Life Coaching but don’t really know what it is. For years I’ve suffered from a profound lack of confidence/self esteem. Is that something coaching can help me with? Joan C. (July 2008)
A: It’s appropriate that you ask that as in a very recent survey on Life Coaching it showed that low confidence and self esteem is one of the main issues that bring people to a coach. There are numerous others – relationships, health/fitness, career change, better work/life balance, personal growth and many more. Life Coaching is a very practical and results based way of tackling a problem. You would certainly benefit from coaching if you are both committed and ready to make the necessary changes. As your partner in this journey, a Life Coach will be there to listen, support, encourage, challenge and guide you to make it happen. Life Coaching is holistic so we address all aspects of your life, not just one. Coaching is not counselling or therapy. We explore your present, design and create your future, then make it happen! That’s quite different. We identify your goals and dreams, then take you there. What you will notice, often after just one or two sessions, is a feeling of being much more positive and in control of your life. You will break through your own limitations and be on your way to clarity and achieving your full potential. There is a great saying “if you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get what you’ve always got!”
Q: A friend has taken on a Life Coach and although he’s only had a couple of sessions I can see such incredibly positive changes in him. Can you tell me what you coach and how it actually works? Joan C. (August 2008)
A: Hi Joan! Yes isn’t it amazing when you see first hand the transformations that take place with the support of a Life Coach? I’m delighted your friend is blossoming from his experience. As I mentioned last month, coaching is holistic and addresses all areas of your life – relationships/family, love/romance, job/ career changes, work/home balance, spirituality, contribution, health/fitness, social life/fun, money and wealth, e.g. you may come to me about help in getting a job promotion. Along the way, and as part of the coaching process, we go through your goals, then we might identify that what you really want is to start your own business. So we address that and anything else which comes up. All you need is the commitment to change, together we do the rest. Once you’ve decided to go ahead, you work out how many sessions you need. They come in blocks of 4 or 6 one hour sessions, plus one extra free. The frequency is up to you – weekly, fortnightly – bearing in mind there will be fun tasks we set together to be completed in between. Sessions can be face to face or over the phone which is actually how most coaching is done – I currently have a client in Brussels and we communicate over skype.
Q: I am so happy that I decided to work with you, I can see how positive and supportive Life Coaching is. It was great to have the first session free, it gave me a glimpse of the amazing tools you have such as the Wheel of Life (below). I was surprised at the things I didn’t know about myself and what was revealed. I realise how through coaching you peel away the layers and get down to the real issues which aren’t at all what I thought they’d be. I feel I can now start to work on myself without having to ‘go it alone’, in which case I’m not sure I would do it. Knowing my main issue is lack of self esteem which prevents me moving forward socially and workwise, I can at last tackle it. Apart from what we do during coaching sessions, how can I help myself in-between? Joan C. (September 2008)
A: Glad you liked the Wheel of Life Joan, it’s so enlightening showing clearly where you are at any given moment in all areas of your life. Best way to help yourself is committing to carry out the tasks we set together after each session. And they’ll be fun, challenging and designed to take you forwards. You only do what you feel comfortable with – such as the dinner party you’re planning because you believe you can’t cook despite everyone saying the opposite! I can’t wait to hear what a roaring success it was. Remember that you have unlimited email support between sessions so you can always get in touch if you need to. Glen
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