Wednesday, February 18, 2015

The Real Benefits Of Having A Life Coach

By Beryl Dalton


People are accustomed to being exposed to a barrage of media advice covering nearly every aspect of living. From politicians to pop TV therapists, the message is to work ever harder and sacrifice more in order to achieve success. While no individual has all the solutions, the benefits of having a life coach include guidance in achieving personal goals in a quicker and more personally satisfying manner.

The people performing this job should not be considered psychologists, and do not treat specific mental health issues. Most have been trained and received certification, but the services they provide differ greatly from therapy. The overall goal is to create a platform of support that allows people to achieve personal goals that ideally match their own potential. The services provided are for anyone, not just professionals.

A coach becomes an asset when there is a figurative chasm between achieving a personal goal and the realities of daily life. Support is not limited to achieving business or financial goals, but also includes issues such as building a stronger relationship with a partner, conquering paralyzing fears or anxieties, or transitioning to a different career. It helps people define what they want to achieve.

The job has been called a type of consulting that transcends the business world. Life coaches differ because they routinely remain close to clients for several weeks, which often stimulates accountability and reinforces the desire to persevere. They commonly help clients focus realistically on making a better salary, developing helpful social skills, or making career advancements.

The primary advantage coaches bring to the table is the wider perspective that exists only when there are no existing emotional influences or difficult-to-overcome personal histories to battle. They can view and assess situations far more objectively, and then provide action options that make success more likely. They very rarely specifically tell people what to say or how to act, but instead present viable choices.

Many clients have a specific achievement in their own mind, but lack the will or initiative to pursue it. A coach not only more clearly defines that goal, but also provides motivations that are more effective. They may suggest developing helpful new skills, and avoid the setbacks that can occur when clients are distracted by side-issues that threaten to derail progress. They use positive reinforcement, not punishment.

Because each situation is different, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to problem solving. Individuals do not receive lectures on what they should be doing, but instead enjoy targeted advice that helps break ingrained patterns of self-limitation. They provide solid help for people serious about making personal changes, but who have not enjoyed the support and guidance that make those changes possible.

This approach forms a solid foundation of support for those pursuing attainable goals, and helps define the ways that those goals can be realized. Although independent, single-minded action is widely admired in modern culture, it can promote social isolation while encouraging less productive results. The services of a personal coach create a wider, more productive perspective, and have a solid track record of achievement.




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