What is a Life Coach
Thinking of hiring a life coach? It can be a great investment.
They may also not be right for you.
In this article I will help you understand exactly how they can help, if it is a coach, you really need and what types of coaches you can hire. Plus cover some frequently asked questions about coaching.
What is a Life Coach?
A life coach assists you in what you are working on in life. This can be everything from achieving a goal, to going through a divorce or trying to run a marathon.
You can consider them a cross between cheerleader, accountability partner and tough love friend.
Depending on the coach, they may also be able to provide guidance on what you are working on. For example, if you are trying to pay off debt and they are a financial expert then they can help you decide how to budget. However, this is not part of a coach’s role that they train on in their certification program.
Coaching training is about learning to ask questions, different coaching techniques and how to communicate to support your client. It does not include any topic specific information.
Should You Work with a Coach?
You might not need a life coach. Instead, you might need a therapist, an attorney or other professional source.
A general rule of thumb is to think about life coaching as moving forward. If your goal or problem is about making forward progress and not about the past, then it could be an option for you.
Additionally, if you need specific education, mentoring or specialization you may be better off with a professional in that area.
I like to use a three-level example to help you better understand when a life coach could be beneficial for you. I will use the example of going through a divorce.
Level 1: In the Middle of Distress – At this stage you are just trying to get through the day. You aren’t able to work forward, but instead you are focused on stabilizing yourself. On getting through the court system and having things finalized.
At this stage you need a counselor, friends, family and professional help like an attorney. You might work with a coach at this stage if their specialty is what you are going through.
For example, you might hire a divorce coach that specializes in finances. They could help you ensure that your finances are set up in a way that protects you. (You would want to make sure they have the right training. Such as a financial advisor.)
Level 2: Event Done and Ready to Move Forward – At this stage you are ready to rebuild. You are still dealing with the emotional turmoil and possibly other things to finalize. But you are done with the event that you were working through.
At this stage you may need a combination of the above plus a life coach. A therapist will continue to assist with emotional healing. A life coach can help you make decisions on the future and start creating plans to achieve the life you want.
Level 3: Moving Forward – You have decided the direction to go and are working on the plan. At this point you may only need a life coach to help you stay accountable. You have dealt with the emotions and all the legal stuff. Now you are actively moving on.
Another way to look at it would be – if your house burned down would you start working with a builder the next day? No, you would instead find temporary housing, talk to the insurance company and start to get settled. Then once settled you would start talking to a builder. Finally, when the house is done you may hire a designer to put the final touches on.
The life coach is the builder and designer. You work with them in the end.
Types of Coaches
There are many different types of coaches. The specialties being too numerous to name! Here are some of the most common ones are:
