A Little Background on Life Coaching
Coaching benefits an individual by helping them fulfil their potential, thus promoting and enhancing their well-being.
Traditionally the word ‘coach’ was synonymous with sports instructors, but over the past thirty or so years it has evolved to become associated with the development of a person’s skills, abilities and performance in many areas of their lives. However the origins of the word ‘coach’ are in transportation, where it refers to a carriage or a bus, as a means of transporting a person, or people from one place to another . Using this as an analogy, coaching can be described as a means of empowering people to implement changes and move forwards with their lives; helping to transport them from where they are now to where they want to be.
What Happens in a Coaching Session?
Coaching happens in the form of a conversation between the coach and the client, also known as coachee. The client determines the agenda and the coach uses skills such as listening, questioning, observation, intuiting, clarifying, and articulating; while also providing support and accountability, to unlock the potential of the client and evoke transformation.
As every person is naturally creative, resourceful and whole, they are capable of finding the answers to their own objectives
Reasons that People Choose Coaching Today?
Due to this fast-paced life and ever increasing demands of the hyper-connected nature of the world, many people are suffering from high levels of chronic stress and low satisfaction. All the knowledge, information and choices available to us have, in some ways, made life more complicated. People look for balance and fulfilment in life but are unsure how to achieve this and seek coaching for support.
There are lots of reasons why people choose coaching whether it’s health and well-being issues, reducing stress, lifestyle changes, career developments, the elusive work/life balance, family, self-esteem or building confidence. But while the reasons are varied and vast, most relate in some way to growth or change.
Reasons why business or executive coaches are sought may seem different initially. For example: improving performance, developing motivation, expanding leadership skills and correcting behavioural problems. However, again they relate to growth and change, have similar benefits and the coaching process is very much the same.
Fundamental Benefits of Coaching
Clarity and learning: Using effective coaching skills, a coach can help clients to identify what they really want personally or professionally. By evoking the clients’ own wisdom and knowledge, thereby raising awareness, there is massive potential for self-discovery and learning for the client.
Support and encouragement: Whether dealing with the stresses of life, loss of confidence, low self-esteem, career changes, upskilling, personal development, learning from experiences, implementing changes and overcoming obstacles; a coach offers essential support. The coach encourages the client’s capacity to reach their full potential.
Accountability and ownership: Probably one the most effective ways in helping clients to define and successfully achieve goals, make effective decisions, implement changes and to ultimately, move forwards in their lives.
Coaching by its very nature is rich with benefits. The concept at its core, that people are naturally creative, resourceful and whole, is fundamental to the process. The principle that the clients hold the answers, together with the future focused, solution based model, is both empowering and motivating. Accountability, also central to the practice, engages the client and enables them to achieve their full potential.
Yes, people are seeking life satisfaction and fulfilment at home and at work but I think it’s a sense of purpose that is paramount to our well-being. Daniel Pink illustrates this clearly in his enlightening talk “The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us”.
Autonomy, mastery and most importantly, purpose, are often the driving forces behind what motivates us. I believe coaching is fundamental in helping us define our purpose.