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.

The individuals who do this job are not psychotherapists, and do not delve deeply into past psychological issues. Most are trained and certified, and the services they provide differ from analysis. Their primary purpose is to provide support in areas of living where personal achievement commensurate with individual potential is the desired product. Their clients are often professionals, but anyone can benefit.

When there is a gap between desired achievement and the realities of day-to-day living, a coach can help. The support provided is not limited to reaching a business or financial goal, but also includes personal solutions helpful in conquering anxieties, building better relationships with others, or making a significant transition to an entirely different career. Coaches help clients define those goals.

These efforts have been described as a form of consulting outside of business. Unlike standard consultants, coaches remain in personal contact with clients for many weeks, encouraging both accountability and continuing response. They help crystallize realistic goals in the areas of career advancement, making more money, becoming more skilled socially, and other categories.

These individuals have the ability to see a particular problem or situation from a different point of view, and are not sidetracked by related emotional reactions or a long-term history of under-achievement. They can assess a desired goal or a current situation objectively as an outsider, and provide courses of action that will actually achieve concrete results. They do not set forth non-flexible rules, but think outside the box.

A particular client may have a specific goal in mind, but lack the personal initiative to achieve it. Coaching helps clearly define goals and make individual motivations meaningful. They often encourage developing new skills that will support achievement, and provide the kind of backup that helps clients when inevitable delays or side issues become obstacles. Their approach is positive, not punitive.

They do not take a uniform approach to problem solving, understanding that each situation differs. Clients are not given lectures about what they ought to be doing, but rather receive advice designed to help them break away from patterns of self-limitation. Coaches provide assistance to those who want to make radical changes, but who alone lack the guidance and support that can help make an about-face possible.

Many individuals find this type of help is a good way to crystallize their own priorities, and to discover and evaluate new ways of attaining goals. Modern culture lionizes independent action and thought, but always going it alone can result in wasted effort and even isolation. The benefits of this type of mentor not only include a wider perspective, but solid, realistic achievements that were formerly frustrating.




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