What does a Life Coach Do?

These days, many people are familiar with the term ‘Life Coach’. However, you may be wondering what a life coach does exactly and how they can help you. We all need a little help sometimes, especially when it comes to our own personal development journey and navigating significant life events or transitions. It might be a career change, a relationship breakdown, how to create meaning and purpose, or in some cases, perhaps there’s just an underlying sense of apathy or feeling stuck.

There are numerous benefits to working with a life coach. They can help you identify your aspirations and achieve your goals, as well as cultivate an overall sense of well-being and fulfilment. Here are some key areas that describe the role of a Life Coach:

 

Develop Self Awareness

A life coach will help you make sense of your current situation and view it with more clarity and perspective. Very often, we hold unconscious limiting beliefs and assumptions that sabotage our potential and keep us stuck. Furthermore, a coaching partnership can assist you in developing self-awareness and boosting self-esteem by understanding your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, as well as their impact on yourself and others.

A skilled life coach will create a safe container for you to explore your values, beliefs, strengths, and areas for growth. Additionally, you may also spend time observing and reflecting on your patterns, triggers, and reactions, which can help you develop the ability to make better choices.

 

Goal Setting and Action Planning

Once you’ve had the opportunity to explore your values and aspirations, your coach can help you define your goals and create a roadmap to get there. They will assist you in breaking down your objectives into manageable steps and developing an action plan that aligns with your values and priorities.

 

Overcome and Reframe Challenges

A coach can help you develop strategies to overcome any barriers, manage setbacks, and maintain motivation as you work towards your goals.

 

Reflection, Support, and Motivation

It’s not only about asking powerful questions; a coach will offer emotional support, motivation, and encouragement throughout the coaching journey. They serve as a sounding board for your ideas, provide feedback and reflections, and celebrate milestones and achievements.

 

Accountability

A crucial role of a life coach is to hold you accountable for your commitments and actions. They might provide regular check-ins and help you track progress towards your goals. Additionally, they will support you to become more accountable to yourself and cultivate the resilience and courage required to make the changes you wish to make.

 

How is coaching different from therapy? 

Coaching typically focuses on the present and future with an emphasis on personal development and creating positive change in specific areas of life. In contrast, therapy often addresses past issues and traumas, delving deeper into emotional healing, resolving psychological issues, and improving mental health.

 

Credentials

It can be helpful to look for life coaches who have obtained certifications or accreditations from reputable coaching organisations such as the International Coach Federation (ICF), the International Association of Coaching (IAC), and the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC). These organisations often have rigorous training and certification processes, ensuring a certain level of professionalism and ethical standards. In addition to any credentials, establishing a good rapport and feeling comfortable with your coach is just as important, if not more so, for ensuring a successful coaching relationship.

 

Final Thoughts

Life coaching offers many benefits, and while the coaching journey can sometimes be challenging, it can also be inspiring, creative and fun! It requires a wholehearted commitment to change and a solid investment in yourself. In return, the rewards can be huge. If you would like to experience coaching firsthand and explore how I might be able to help you more specifically, I warmly invite you to book a free discovery call.