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Personal Coaching is becoming more popular in day-to-day
living, to set goals, stay on track and achieve goals, while balancing family
and work.
Personal Coaching helps a client to realize more of his potential, achieve his
goals and enjoy success in many areas of life. Personal coaching also helps a
client to succeed in business while maintaining quality time with family and a
rewarding personal life.
Coaching is defined as- “a strategy used to help a client reach her fullest
potential and achieve her goals. The coach first helps to define the goals, and
then supports the client in executing them by mapping out a strategy and helping
her stay on track. Coaching helps to balance work, family and social demands as
well as leisure and spiritual activities.” -by East End Guild of Wholistic
Practitioners (eastendhealth.com/glossary.asp).
Top Seven Basics:
1) Why Coaching
Even when you have all the facts, it is easy to get distracted and lose focus.
If your ambitions and goals are important to you, you need to make sure that you
will stay on track. Coaching provides a solid opportunity to achieve your goals
fast.
“Coaching can certainly help you strengthen your sense of self-worth, focus on
your goals — and get there, fast.” - The London Daily Telegraph
People who are already successful in professional sports, in the entertainment
industry or in the business world still have a coach because they understand the
value that comes from coaching. That is how they keep on winning and make
further progress.
2) When to Get Coaching
If I were preparing for a marathon, I would get a coach. If I am planning to
start a new business, but do not know how, I would get a coach. I could have
used coaching when I was trying to host my first website or when I was trying to
learn a new tool. I could use coaching when I want to make progress in life or
in business, or live a disciplined life. I could use coaching to set goals, to
get support in executing them by mapping out a strategy and to get help to stay
on track.
Can I do without coaching? Yes. I can learn on my own and do whatever is
necessary to accomplish the desired outcomes. However, it takes longer and
becomes difficult and there are pitfalls of giving up. If I can afford, I would
get a coach, so that I can focus on achieving my goals and live a rewarding life
with discipline. Coaching helps me to keep myself accountable and on track.
3) How to Find a Coach
Searching on the internet can bring you many options. You may also ask around in
your personal network. When you ask around, look for the facts, not the
opinions. Everyone’s needs and goals are different. Choose the one that is
suitable and affordable to your needs. See the expertise of the coach below.
4) Competence and Expertise of the Coach
Personal and Business Coaches Daniel Midson-Short and David Wood, PCC note that
- coaches do not need to be certified to begin coaching, though it is important
for development of the skill and the coaching profession. In addition, that -
coaching the clients and helping them to change and improve their lives will
give a coach more confidence and marketability than all the certificates the
resume can hold. (Independent Report on Coach Training and Certification by
Daniel Midson-Short & David Wood, PCC)
There are many successful coaches – some are certified, some are not.
A client should choose a coach with whom he feels comfortable and who is
suitable for his specific needs. Client can try the free sessions and see if a
particular coaching program is suitable and affordable for his or her needs.
If you are looking for a general life coaching, any life coach may do. If you
have specific goals and needs, you need a coach who is competent enough or who
has experience in coaching others with similar goals. Example: Starting a web
based business, online marketing, investment and trading, learning a new
software language, developing and marketing software etc. Coaching is not
training but a coach having knowledge of a particular field can greatly reduce
your time and efforts.
5) Coaching Relationship
A solid coaching relationship is important for long-term success and ongoing
progress of the client in accomplishing his goals with less stress and in less
time. James Flaherty notes in “Coaching: Evoking Excellence in Others” that the
elements in a coaching relationship comprise of - mutual respect, mutual trust,
mutual freedom of expression. Confidentiality is an important part of the
communication in coaching. Client should open up to sharing the actual
situations than what he thinks the coach wants to hear. Coach should be open
enough to observe the things that matter without judging.
6) Commitment
Commitment to the coaching process should be from both client and coach. Both
should agree about schedules, about what is possible and what is acceptable.
Address any obstacles. Client is the one who needs to take action and it is his
or her interest in focus in coaching. Coach holds the client accountable and
encourages doing more. The schedules and action plans are flexible and can be
adjusted based on the new circumstances or possibilities. Coach should state
clearly the practical steps involved in accomplishing the desired outcomes,
without trying to sugar coat, but at the same time believing in client’s ability
to achieve them through a practical approach.
7) Coaching Process
Identify the immediate concerns and future possibilities. Set goals, establish a
strategy, and make an action plan. The purpose of the coaching is to help the
client take action and stay on track. Therefore, it is an ongoing process for
the duration of the coaching period. Coach and client communicate on scheduled
intervals, anywhere from weekly to monthly basis. Client can be assigned with
homework and assignments.
Coaching is a process of observation, correction and improvements. The purpose
of the coaching has the client’s best interests in focus. The same techniques
become less effective overtime. That is how so many New Year resolutions fail.
Therefore, the ongoing communication is an important key to get the full
benefits of coaching. Rather than just a course, coaching is an ongoing,
evolving process through questions and feedback.
Coach’s goal is to keep the coaching sessions and the process as practical as
possible for the client to succeed, as the client may already be busy with his
own tasks.
When you establish goals and create an action plan, the progress should be
measurable. Ex: If a client is struggling to stay motivated and disciplined to
exercise regularly, with the help of a coach, if he is able to exercise
regularly for 60 days, then this is identifiable. Coach’s goal is to make the
client take action towards the attainment of desired outcomes.
* Important Key: Commitment, Communication and Hope
Understanding the fact that coaching is for client’s own benefit helps him stay
committed to the coaching relationship. One’s own resolution to continue the
process is what keeps it going. It is easy to get bored and give up. Client and
coach keep the communication going and address any obstacles and hindrances, and
implement the required solutions and plans.
There must be something worthwhile that you (client) are trying to accomplish.
Never lose sight of the HOPE - there is always a hope of getting to where you
want be, as long as you do not give up.
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