Life Coaching - What is it?

Exactly what is Life Coaching? It is the process of directing an individual(s) in personal achievement of their current and future life discipline. It entails, mentoring by the coach in areas of personal growth and development or human resource development, adult education, a part of psychology to include, sports, clinical, organization and social and is becoming a part of individual desire and businesses for areas of growth. A lot of businesses use motivators and trainers to improve their employees knowledge of how they want to operate business.

Coaching has been a part of recognized discipline for professionals in the recent times for those who working with personal development issues and other areas of patient concerns to improve their life.

Life coaching however, as an apparent profession is relative new and self regulating. There is no independent advisory board which offers standards or license. Some individuals are ‘certified’ through programs of certification but to date there is no binding licensing rule. There is an ICF (International Coaching Federation) code of ethics which Life Coaches must adhere to. The reason to date is said that Life coaching is unlike psychotherapy as it does not focus on examining or diagnosing the past. Life coaching does not get into mental illness or dysfunctions.

Coaching, mentoring, and instructing are all different methods. The coach builds skills, the mentor shapes mentee attitudes and instructors train to immediate task. Coaches train to immediate task and mentors provide whole life shaping.

The difference is:

• Managing is making sure people do what they know how to do.
• Training is teaching people to do what they do not know how to do.
• Mentoring is teaching people who are really good at doing something; how they do it.

Coaching is none of these; it is identifying skills and capabilities within an individual, and developing them to use these skills and capabilities to the best of their ability. This increases the independence of the individual and thereby reduces dependence.

Life Coaching

Is helping an individual with what’s to come, process (future-focused) with the goal of helping a person determine and accomplish personal gains and goals. There are different variations of practice and methods used to initiate the person to set and reach goals.

Coaches are not meant to be any type of therapists or consultant; psychological intervening is not within their range of work or task. The roots of life coaching began in the developing techniques for management consulting and leadership training.

It has been studied that the coach may apply mentoring, values assessment, behavior modification, behavior modeling and goal setting along with other techniques.

Business Coaching

This is a practice within a business which is usually provided without fee. It is used to provide positive support and positive feedback while offering occasional advice to an individual or group to help them identify new ways in which they may improve their business. Sales Executive is a prime example. Marketing experts is another source that this could apply to. But, any business who values their employees, and wants to help them grow and become quality employees, should consider. This is why in recent years that so much work goes into the hiring process and companies want to know they have the right person for the job. It is because hiring and training new employees who leave after a short period of time can get relatively expensive. Most companies have learned to put more emphasis on hiring and in the end; save a lot of time and unwanted expense.

Personal Coaching

This type of coaching involves a relationship which is designed and defined in an agreement between the client and a coach. This is based on the individual’s expressed interest, goals and objectives with what they feel is a personal need.

A professional coach may use asking, looking into and reflecting on requests and discussion to help the person identify personal, relationship and business goals. They try to indulge in strategies, relationships and action plans which are intended to produced the desired results. They also provide a place for clients to be held accountable to themselves and this is done by monitoring their progress toward exercising their plan of action.

Transformational Coaching

This type of coaching can include many areas of help in meeting the needs of the individual. This can include personal growth, business best practices and even spiritual matters. It is said that this help may increase self awareness and success in transforming one’s life. This can mean that people who sometimes having life changing events. This being no employment, major job changes, or any life changing event which alters their lifestyle or their goals. This can help them to reach out to gain outside help to make these transitions healthier. Not necessarily because they want to but, because they feel the need to; so that they can improve their stance on how to deal with these formidable changes.

Until I started some research I did not realize that there were so many areas of coaching available. Some additional areas of coaching include but are not limited to:

Conflict Coaching

Dating Coaching

Sports Coaching

Health Coaching

ADHD Coaching

Ethics and Standards Coaching

Although this type of coaching has gained momentum, it is always necessary that those who need more professional assistance and/or medication should seek that from a licensed professional and not misconstrue any of these or other methods for what might be needed. These standards are strictly for education and knowledge of what is acceptable for one to help turn their life into something more satisfying.