The Benefits Of Having A Life Coach

By Beryl Dalton


There is a constant flow of advice from the media today prescribing often-facile solutions for complex problems. From television therapists to political figures, the underlying message is that achieving success always requires ever-harder work and more personal sacrifice. Although no one has all the answers, the benefits of having a life coach include genuine help in achieving important personal goals faster and more effectively.

Coaches are not surrogate psychotherapists, and their primary purpose is not to dredge up past issues. The majority are certified and have received training, but do not provide therapy in the commonly accepted sense. Their main intent is to give people support in those areas of life where it is truly possible to make positive achievements that match individual potential. Many clients are professionals, but anyone can participate.

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.

The primary advantage coaches bring to the table is the wider perspective that exists only when there are no existing emotional influences or difficult-to-overcome personal histories to battle. They can view and assess situations far more objectively, and then provide action options that make success more likely. They very rarely specifically tell people what to say or how to act, but instead present viable choices.

Many clients have a specific achievement in their own mind, but lack the will or initiative to pursue it. A coach not only more clearly defines that goal, but also provides motivations that are more effective. They may suggest developing helpful new skills, and avoid the setbacks that can occur when clients are distracted by side-issues that threaten to derail progress. They use positive reinforcement, not punishment.

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.

This approach forms a solid foundation of support for those pursuing attainable goals, and helps define the ways that those goals can be realized. Although independent, single-minded action is widely admired in modern culture, it can promote social isolation while encouraging less productive results. The services of a personal coach create a wider, more productive perspective, and have a solid track record of achievement.




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