Understanding The Benefits Of Having A Life Coach

By Beryl Dalton


People are accustomed to being exposed to a barrage of media advice covering nearly every aspect of living. From politicians to pop TV therapists, the message is to work ever harder and sacrifice more in order to achieve success. While no individual has all the solutions, the benefits of having a life coach include guidance in achieving personal goals in a quicker and more personally satisfying manner.

The people performing this job should not be considered psychologists, and do not treat specific mental health issues. Most have been trained and received certification, but the services they provide differ greatly from therapy. The overall goal is to create a platform of support that allows people to achieve personal goals that ideally match their own potential. The services provided are for anyone, not just professionals.

Coaches are most helpful when there is a gap between goals and the realities of individual lives. Their support is not restricted to achieving specific financial or business targets, but can also include help with issues such as conquering a debilitating fear, building a more satisfying relationship with a partner, or making the transition to a different career. It helps define those needs.

The job has been called a type of consulting that transcends the business world. Life coaches differ because they routinely remain close to clients for several weeks, which often stimulates accountability and reinforces the desire to persevere. They commonly help clients focus realistically on making a better salary, developing helpful social skills, or making career advancements.

These individuals have the ability to see a particular problem or situation from a different point of view, and are not sidetracked by related emotional reactions or a long-term history of under-achievement. They can assess a desired goal or a current situation objectively as an outsider, and provide courses of action that will actually achieve concrete results. They do not set forth non-flexible rules, but think outside the box.

A particular client may have a specific goal in mind, but lack the personal initiative to achieve it. Coaching helps clearly define goals and make individual motivations meaningful. They often encourage developing new skills that will support achievement, and provide the kind of backup that helps clients when inevitable delays or side issues become obstacles. Their approach is positive, not punitive.

Because each situation is different, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to problem solving. Individuals do not receive lectures on what they should be doing, but instead enjoy targeted advice that helps break ingrained patterns of self-limitation. They provide solid help for people serious about making personal changes, but who have not enjoyed the support and guidance that make those changes possible.

Many individuals find this type of help is a good way to crystallize their own priorities, and to discover and evaluate new ways of attaining goals. Modern culture lionizes independent action and thought, but always going it alone can result in wasted effort and even isolation. The benefits of this type of mentor not only include a wider perspective, but solid, realistic achievements that were formerly frustrating.




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