As most of us know, life can sometimes become a little rough. When we progress through our unique journeys, difficulties may arise because of various reasons. Our professional lives may become engulfed in chaos, while our personal lives may have taken a hit in some capacity. We are not all invincible, and could use some help along the way.
You may have heard of enlisting a life coach to aid in your troubles, but don’t know exactly who they are. Once you go to one for their services, you’d be amazed as to how helpful they can actually be. Although they do have some differences with similar professionals in their field, life coaches are distinct for multiple factors.
Here is an in-depth guide to help you understand what does a life coach do exactly:
What do life coaches do?
Think of all the team sports that you may watch on a daily basis. From basketball to soccer, each opposing team has a coach that helps train them, physically and mentally. More importantly, these coaches help prepare their athletes to get to the next level of their careers.
A life coach serves a similar purpose, preparing clients with the right mindset. Over the course of their work, they will try to determine what the client’s main grievances are, before working on them. After finding out the source of their problems, a life coach can figure out how to minimize the gap entirely.
Similar in vein to therapists, life coaches also work with clients for a prolonged period of time. Since many issues are deep-rooted, they require a significant amount of time to resolve. That way, they won’t return down the line.
Life coach vs. therapists
Although their work may be similar, life coaches are still inherently different than therapists. Therapists are oftentimes considered to be valid healthcare professionals, while life coaches may not be. For more serious, health-related issues, the former should be sought out.
All of us can become stuck sometimes, for more than one reason. However, just because you’ve reached a mental plateau, doesn’t mean that you do not have solutions. Life coaches can be of a great service, especially if you need the motivation to succeed!
A life coach asks questions and listens.
In order to meet the demands of modern day servicing, life coaches ask their clients about various areas in their life. For example, if a client wants to discuss aspects of their work, a life coach will pose a unique line of questioning for that. This is done in order to make the servicing as advantageous as possible.
Clients can also meet their life coaches in various ways. Some may work in a physical location, which can provide for a more intimate session. Other life coaches offer their services via the internet, by working with their clients on video conferencing. By making communication as seamless as possible, a client can get straight to business.
A life coach establishes rapport.
As mentioned previously, the initial meeting between a life coach and a client is significant. Not only are goals established, but rapport is built between both parties. This is incredibly vital, due in part to how significant building trust is. Things such as honesty, transparency, and vulnerability are made apparent.
Moreover, the client is expected to be upfront with any grievances that are affecting their lives. Even if the problem is minimal, a life coach can determine if it is having more of an impact than initially thought. Once all of those preliminary agreements are solidified, the actual servicing can begin without delay.
A life coach identifies problems.
Life coaches can work with clients who have several issues that need discussion. For example, many clients seek out a life coach because they need help on how to better their relationships. Or, others may need assistance on how to create a better work and life balance. Many of these problems are common, but the solutions are not.
A good life coach knows exactly how to pinpoint the potential sources of a client’s troubles. With a bit of consistency, these problems can be solved entirely, leading to a better quality of life!
A life coach prepares a plan of action.
Professionals from all walks of life who aim to help others know how important taking action is. The same can be said for life coaches, who will determine the best course of action via a concrete plan. Most life coaches will advise their clients on following a customized plan, in order to reach their specified goals.
These plans of action can come in varying lengths, in addition to how much work a client should do. The plan is generally tailored to a client’s personality and profile, so that they do not have to feel overburdened by it. After all, the main goal of a life coach’s services is to better their client’s lives!
