Do I Need a Life Coach?
“Everyone needs a coach. We all need people to give us feedback. That’s how we improve.”
~Bill Gates
If you’ve ever heard the term “Life Coach” and wondered what the heck they do and if you need one, you’re not alone. Although the Life Coaching industry has been growing steadily over the past decade or so, the majority of the population still has no idea what they do, who hires them, or how they can help. The truth is, Life Coaches can be extraordinarily helpful to pretty much…anyone.
Read on to find out what exactly a Life Coach is and if you could benefit from working with one.
What’s a Life Coach?
First things first. Let’s get to the heart of what a Life Coach is. A Life Coach is someone who helps people make desired change in their lives by addressing 3 domains of health:
- Physical well-being
- Emotional well-being
- Cognitive well-being
Life Coaches work with clients over a period of time (or indefinitely), either virtually or in-person, to help them set goals and achieve their desired results. They offer their clients the ongoing support and accountability that’s key to making successful and sustainable change, and work with them to create habits that support a happier, healthier life.
Life Coaches are not to be confused with therapists. They don’t diagnose or analyze clients. Their work is rooted in present challenges, whereas therapists help people work through past issues.
Coaching sessions typically last a half hour to an hour, after which clients may be given resources or homework to work on in between sessions. Life Coaches may also choose to make themselves available for additional support in between sessions by phone or email, should the client need it.
For more info on what a Life Coach is, click here.
The Benefits of Life Coaching
So, what are the benefits of working with a Life Coach? There are many ways enlisting the help of a coach can benefit you in your life. Here are 5 ways working with a coach can be a game-changer for you:
Gain Clarity and Perspective: Oftentimes, people seek out Life Coaches because they know they need a change in their lives, but they’re not quite sure what they want. Alternately, they may have an end goal in mind, but no idea what to do to get there successfully. A Life Coach can help you get crystal clear on your best path forward and create a plan of action to get there.
Accountability: One of the most motivating aspects of working with a Life Coach is that they act as your accountability partner, keeping you honest about the actions you’ve agreed to take. Together, you’ll agree on your goals and the bite-sized action steps to take each week that will help you achieve your desired outcomes. During each session, you’ll touch base on progress made toward your goals, and you’ll also have the opportunity to discuss any challenges that may have kept you from making the level of progress you desired. Accountability can be an incredibly powerful catalyst for change. Just the act of voicing your intentions to someone else can make a big difference in your decision to follow through.
Get Faster Results: Building off of the first two points, when you have a clear path forward and the support of an accountability partner, you’re far more likely to reach your goals faster than if you were trying to do it alone without a plan. If you’re ready for change and you want it now, a Life Coach can help you fast-track to your desired destination.
Receive Objective Input: One of the beautiful things about consulting with a Life Coach is that they can offer their completely unbiased feedback on whatever it is you’re grappling with in a way that well-meaning friends and family can’t. A Life Coach doesn’t have any stake in your life outside of your coach/client relationship, and any feedback they offer is based purely on facts and the present situation, not on outside circumstances or judgments.
100% Focus On You: Your dreams, your goals, your aspirations. With the hustle and bustle of life and our laundry list of daily commitments, the first things we tend to let go of are things that give us joy, make us feel most alive, and fuel our passion. It’s sad but true. We ALL could use dedicated time and space to grow and dream and get clear on what’s most important. Working with a Life Coach gives you that space and that time—to revisit what you want most in your life and make a plan to accomplish what you desire.
Do I Need a Life Coach?
Now that you have a clearer idea of what a Life Coach is and the benefits of working with one, let’s talk about when you should work with one.
Here are 16 signs you may need a Life Coach:
- You feel stuck, lost, or “in a funk”.
- You constantly second-guess your decisions.
- You’re not happy with where you are in life.
- You want to find your purpose.
- You have a vision, but need help creating a plan to realize it.
- You’re going through a transition, like retirement or a divorce.
- You set goals but have trouble following through with them.
- You’re unhappy in your career, but aren’t sure what you want to do next.
- You’re easily overwhelmed.
- You struggle with self-confidence.
- You want to improve your overall health and well-being.
- You’re grieving.
- You want to break out of your comfort zone.
- You’re craving a space that’s just for you.
- You successfully completed therapy, and you’re looking for that “next step”.
- You’re happy, but want to continue to grow and reach your next level of greatness or success.
Regardless of what you may be facing, a Life Coach can help you find perspective and clarity, and will work with you to determine your best path forward.
What Does a Life Coach Do For You?
Put simply, a Life Coach can help you move from feeling stuck, confused, or unfulfilled to empowered, purpose-filled, and on the path toward achieving your desired goals.
A Life Coach will work with you to assess where you are and where you want to go—and then help you find the clarity, confidence, and courage to make it happen. A Life Coach will help you grow and step into the greatest version of you.
They do this by listening intently to what you say, and noticing patterns and connections in your life, the way you think, and the way you speak. They listen for any limiting beliefs that could be subconsciously hindering your growth.
They bring a neutral perspective to the conversation and help you connect the dots by asking challenging questions that encourage you to look inward for answers. They help you shift your mindset so you can approach your situation through a different lens and uncover new ways of solving your challenges. And finally, they help you achieve and sustain your goals by creating systems of accountability that will support you during your time together and far into the future.
One thing a Life Coach WON’T do is tell you what to do. A Life Coach’s role is to help you identify your options and figure out your next, best steps forward.
Does Life Coaching Work?
If you’re willing to put in the “work” (because there IS work required if you wish to see results!), Life Coaching can absolutely help you make positive change in your life. Reaping the full benefits of working with a Life Coach requires that you be open, present, 100% engaged, and that you put your thought and energy into answering the challenging questions honestly. If you commit to giving it your all, working with a Life Coach has the power to transform your life.
What Do Life Coaches Charge?
The cost of working with a Life Coach can vary dramatically depending on how experienced the coach is, what they specialize in, how long you’ll be working together, how much support you need, etc. You could pay anywhere from $50 to a couple thousand dollars a session.
The good news is that many coaches offer packages, where the per cost session decreases if you work together for a longer period of time. Some coaches may also be willing to negotiate price depending on your financial situation.
A good coach will be happy to offer you a free consultation so you can take them for a test-drive before you decide to work together, so be sure to ask any Life Coaches you’re considering if they offer one.
Join Health Coach Institute and Become a Health Coach
Coaching is a great career that you can help others, while also learning how to help your own personal growth. Health Coach Institute is a top health and wellness coaching certification program. Join our Become a Health Coach program and begin coaching in 6 months! If you are already a coach and want to advance your skills, check out HCI’s Coach Mastery program. Feel free to get in touch with with one of our clarity coaches directly, by calling 1-800-303-2399.
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