How a Life Coach Helps People

What is a Life Coach?

I recently quit my job and was chatting with a friend about expanding my coaching business to full-time. She was asking me what I would be doing and I explained there is some marketing involved, but I will be building a full-time coaching practice.

She then asked, "What does a life coach do? I don't know anything about life coaching." So...I got to thinking, she's not the only one who doesn't know what a life coach is; therefore, I need to write a blog post! This post is for anyone who doesn't know what a life coach does and who may be interested in knowing more about this job in the helping profession. It is a growing field and at some point, you might consider hiring a coach to fulfill a desire of yours.

Life coaching is the process of helping another person achieve some kind of goal or desire, overcome challenges, and lead a more fulfilling life. It is a collaborative and client-centered process where a trained professional, known as a life coach, works with clients to identify their strengths, values, and aspirations, and then helps them create a plan of action to reach their desired outcomes. Many people struggle in a one or several different areas in life. One of the main areas is relationships. There are relationship coaches, marriage coaches, parenting coaches and divorce coaches. Other areas include career and business issues, money and financial issues, health, wellness and managing weight issues, or general every day struggles and anxieties with living.

You can read about the variety of ways I have helped people on this page where I share specific issues people have had who came to me for coaching.

The job of coaching

The coach's job is to determine what the client wants to achieve - a better marriage, a change in career, planning to start a business, making more money, getting ahead at work, quitting a job and starting a business, how to get along with family members - and to help the client formulate a plan for achieving the desired goal.

The process is done through coaching sessions where the conversations reveal the current situation, the goal for change, the obstacles (real or perceived) to successful change, the possibilities for improvement, and the action plan to achieve the stated goal. It is a process because the goal can't typically be reached in one hour. It often takes several weeks, months or even years to reach certain goals or to create meaningful change.

The following are some key aspects of life coaching:

The Foundation:  Figuring out what, specifically is the goal, desire, challenge or thing that a client wants to work on and getting very clear about that.

Action Planning: Coaches help clients create actionable plans to achieve their goals. They break down larger objectives into smaller, manageable steps and guide clients in setting priorities and deadlines.

Self-Discovery: Life coaching often involves self-reflection and exploration of personal values, beliefs, strengths, and weaknesses. This self-awareness can help individuals make informed decisions and navigate life transitions.

Accountability: Coaches hold clients accountable for their commitments and progress. Regular coaching sessions help clients stay on track, make adjustments as needed, and maintain motivation.

Problem-Solving: Life coaches assist clients in identifying obstacles and finding creative solutions to overcome them. They may provide tools, techniques, and strategies to address specific challenges.

Positive Psychology: Many life coaches draw from the principles of positive psychology, focusing on strengths, resilience, and personal growth. They help clients cultivate a positive (or useful) mindset and develop strategies for happiness and well-being. Mind-management is one of the main tools used in coaching.

Communication and Relationship Skills: Some life coaches specialize in improving communication skills, conflict resolution, and building better relationships, whether in personal or professional contexts.

Work-Life Balance: Coaches often address issues related to work-life balance, helping clients manage stress, prioritize self-care, and find harmony between their personal and professional lives.

Some coaches work with very specific niched clients. For example, one woman coaches farmers and helps them become more successful at farming, both personally and as a business. These are the only people she coaches.

It's important to note that life coaching is distinct from therapy or counseling. While therapy typically focuses on addressing mental health issues and emotional trauma, life coaching is future-oriented and geared toward helping individuals achieve their goals and enhance their overall quality of life. Life coaches do not diagnose or treat mental health disorders but may refer clients to mental health professionals if such issues arise during coaching.

The Coaching Structure

Life coaching can take various forms, including one-on-one sessions, group coaching, online coaching, and workshops. The effectiveness of life coaching largely depends on the coach's skills and the client's commitment to the process. When choosing a life coach, it's important to consider their qualifications, experience, and coaching style to ensure a good fit for your needs and goals.

Coaching calls are done either on the phone or a Zoom call. Sometimes people coach in person if that is their preference. I know one coach who likes to meet for coffee and have a more intimate setting. It all depends on the availability, flexibility and preferences of both the coach and the client.

Life coaching is typically sold by the package, mainly because one off sessions aren't very helpful. The packages should really be whatever is going to get the best results for the client. Every coach is different in what she offers and that partly depends on how the coach wants to structure her schedule.

I hope this helps you in understanding what a life coach does.  If you would like to have an experience of life coaching with me, simply schedule your time by clicking on the image below:

If you don't yet have my Top 3 Questions to Ask Yourself During Any Life Transition, you can do that here:  www.lisaknellercoaching.com/top3