Life Coaching Unpacked: What is life coaching?

Life coaching is one of the fastest growing professions, but many people are still unaware of it or unsure of what it is. Simply put, life coaching is a journey of personal growth and development that guides you through the process of discovering your full potential, your authentic goals, and your life purpose. In life coaching, you are empowered with tools and techniques to help you overcome the obstacles you face in achieving the desired transformation and excellence in your life.

Let’s unpack this topic by answering the following 5 popular questions.

1. What is a life coach and what can you expect from a life coach?

To begin with, life coaching is currently an unregulated industry, which means there is no requirement for accreditation. However, because I prefer dealing with someone I can trust to know what they're doing; therefore, my definition of a life coach is a certified professional who works with well-functioning individuals who want to improve their quality of life.

A life coach helps you find solutions to your problems. They do not tell you what to do or show you how to do it; instead, they assist you in identifying possibilities accessible to you in your position, from which you can decide on the best way forward.

Although life coaches are skilled in tools and techniques to help you achieve the desired results; life coaches are not role models, they do not have perfect lives and are not superior to you. As life coaches, we believe that each client is an expert in their own life; our role is to act as change agents and empower you with the necessary tools you need to succeed.

You can expect Winning Leap life coaching to aid you in gaining clarity on your objectives, to help you identify your obstacles and your disempowering beliefs holding you back from living the life you desire, and determining the best path to take to overcome these. You can count on our support to push you to be the best you can be and to hold you accountable for your commitments.

2. What are the benefits of life coaching?

It is difficult to come down to only a few benefits of life coaching because they are just many but I’ll mention 5 and leave the rest for your experience.

Overcoming procrastination

Many people fall prey to procrastination regularly; left to their own devices, they are prone to postpone and never complete what they set their minds on. When this becomes a habit, you lose confidence in your ability to achieve and make things happen for yourself. You may end up labeling yourself as a procrastinator and accepting it as your identity; this, in and of itself, tarnishes your self-esteem. The truth is, tomorrow is not a guarantee. Therefore, when you are tempted to procrastinate, consider what you would want to accomplish if tomorrow never came, and having a coach is having the catalyst to take the required actions.

Accountability

Accountability is somewhat intertwined with the first benefit since having an accountability partner puts you ahead of the game when it comes to procrastinating. The coach will hold you accountable for the commitments you make. When we face challenges and obstacles on our way to achieving our goals, we throw in the towel and give up because we don't know how to maneuver on these. Sometimes people close to you may discourage you by diverting your attention away from what matters most to you, even unintentionally. During these times, you should cling to your life coach and count on their support. Your coach will remind you of your goal, help you in staying focused, and walk you through the process of retracing your steps.

Blind Spot Check and Perspective

We cannot ignore the value of having an objective individual by your side to assist you in identifying aspects of yourself that are not immediately apparent to you. You'll feel safe working with a life coach since your coach will lead you through the process of bringing those blind spots to light without passing judgment. Life coaching helps you to think outside the box to be able to see different perspectives and this also helps you understand other people better.

Self-discovery

I think of self-discovery as a 2 in 1, because it leads to healthy relationships. As a result of life coaching your level of self-awareness improves; you learn who you truly are at heart, what your values and beliefs are, and why you hold them, what your real-life desires are, how you relate to others and they to you. When you know and understand yourself better, it's easier to understand and relate to others.

At the end of the coaching program, when I asked one of my clients what can they do now that they couldn’t do before coaching. This is what they said, “When someone talks, now I don't take things personally and I know it’s up to me how I respond to what someone says.” This client’s goal was not even around relationship-building but because they discovered themselves, it became easier for them to relate to others.

Life Purpose Discovery

One of the most rewarding outcomes of coaching, depending on the Life coaching approach you use, is discovering your purpose. This allows you to live a more focused, balanced and fulfilled life. It's like a rebirth when you discover your reason for being because you have a clear vision, know where to focus your efforts, and aren't persuaded by every new thing that comes your way. You can turn down what you would have found appealing without a purpose. Having a life purpose brings significance to one's existence, and it's a wonderful feeling to be able to live and use one's purpose.

3. Life coaching misconceptions

Some professions are frequently confused with life coaching and the 3 common ones are; counselling & therapy, mentorship, and consulting & advisory.

Counselling and therapy examine your past, present issues, and traumas to provide you with the skills you need to move on with your life. Life coaching, on the other hand, works with well-functioning individuals to help them create a great future.

Mentorship is a relationship in which one person has more experience than the other and acts as a role model for the other. A mentor educates, advises, and instructs you on what you should do and how to do it; whereas life coaching assists you in determining your answers, providing you with options, and empowering you to make your own decisions.

Consulting and Advisory; consultants and advisors are experienced experts who specialize in a specific industry to provide you with an expert’s opinion, analysis, projections, and recommendations based on their expertise. On the other hand, a life coach is not a life specialist; we think that each individual is an expert in their own life, we help you unleash the expert in you because sometimes it is hidden so much that it is difficult to recognize.

4. Who should consider hiring a life coach?

Anyone who is mentally well, willing, and ready to take the steps necessary to build the future they aspire to. Individuals who are undergoing therapy or counseling and wish to engage in a coaching relationship may only do so with the consent of their therapist or psychologist to ensure that they are in a good mental state for effective coaching and that the coach works alongside the therapist to avoid conflict over the therapy's goals with the client.

5. Is a life coach worth it?

I will respond to this question with a series of questions. How desperate are you for a change? If you attempted doing it on your own, how did it go? What would your life be like in a year, two years, or even five years if your situation remained the same? What would be the worst thing that might happen if you tried coaching?

To help you in the process of answering these questions, here's what some of my clients had to say when asked the following questions;

What would you say to someone thinking of hiring a coach?

“For growth and getting out of your comfort zone and having someone to push you, someone, that keeps you accountable. You need a coach in life.”

What difference has coaching made in your life?

“It has helped me to focus more on my goals and also l have managed to explore more on myself and identify what I’m good at and what l really want in my life. I now have a purpose in life that l believe in”

If you're still hesitant, you can contact one of my clients who would be happy to answer your questions. Please email us at WinningLeapCoach@gmail.com to make arrangements.

A word of caution: if you're looking for a mentor, consultant, or advisor, or if you need to address a mental health issue, life coaching isn't for you.

Life coaching is also not for you if you are looking for immediate results. Consider this: there is nothing in life that is truly worthwhile and worthwhile to keep that comes easy. True transformation requires a lot of effort, patience, and persistence. After that, you're in it for the long haul.

Lastly, the success of life coaching is dependent on your willingness to follow through on your commitments. Unfortunately, even if we could do it for you, doing so would be disempowering you. A life coach can provide you with all the skills you need to make positive changes in your life, but you can't expect results if you don't do your part. As the saying goes, you can take a horse to the river but you cannot make it drink.

I hope I have provided you enough clarity on what life coaching is for you to decide if it is for you or not. If it is, check out my services and choose one that suits your needs.