1. What is Life Coaching?

Life Coaching or Personal Coaching is an increasingly popular practice designed to help people grow, improve, develop and find their own level of personal success and goal-achievement.

Through the coaching relationship between coach and client, this is a very effective and constructive way of supporting people in many different life situations: relationships, careers, life transitions and so on. As The Coaching Academy suggests, “Coaching draws out rather than puts in. It develops rather than imposes. It reflects rather directs…it is flexible and enabling, not prescriptive or instructional.”

By working from the present – looking at solutions rather than problems - and developing an understanding of what someone wants to achieve, realistic goals are set that are designed to help clients achieve their higher level ambitions and desires. Ultimately a coach guides and encourages them to go out there and do it for themselves.

Life coaches aim to help people be the very best they can be, as they deal with, learn and grow from the process of change.

"Coaching can certainly help you strengthen your sense of self-worth, focus on your goals - and get there, fast." THE LONDON DAILY TELEGRAPH

2. Is Life Coaching like therapy or counselling?

Life Coaching does call for honest, sincere dialogue but it is NOT therapy, counselling or psychology. Often these practices rely on looking at the past to help formulate a particular solution to a specific problem or issue. Or a therapist will look to address a physical or mental condition. The coach will take a more holistic view and come to have a picture of how your past has shaped your present however, the focus is on what you are dealing with now and where you want to be in the future. A coach works with clients to help them find the answers.

3. Why should I use a Life Coach?

You know how it feels when something inside tells you it's time to move on? Yet often it seems much easier for you to remain in a groove or pattern in the short-term, where the urge or motivation for change isn't around long enough for you to actually do anything about it. Before you know it, months, sometimes years have gone by and nothing has changed. Many of us take what we think is the ‘easy option', and remain in this stuck place, though often complain about our situation. Now, imagine that you are deciding on change. You know it really is time to move on…but how?

This is where Life Coaching comes in. Once you've decided to move on, your coach is there to gently push, encourage and basically hold you accountable for that change. The coaching helps get you focused on what you want, why you want it and enables you to bridge the gap between where you are now, and where you want to be so you can see how you can get there. And since the coaching takes place in a judgement-free space, it helps provide you with the confidence, structure and motivation to accomplish your goals and ambitions.

Life Coaching is really about you investing in YOU.

4. How do I know Life Coaching is for me?

You don't really know until you try, though anyone can usually benefit from hiring a coach. Why not start by being really honest with yourself and answering some of these questions?

•  Do you have some clear goals or ambitions to work towards?
•  Is your home or life clutter-free and well organised?
•  Do you find you have enough time to do what you really want?
•  Do you have a plan on how you'll achieve your desires?
•  Are you as successful as you want to be in your career?
•  Are you happy in your relationships?
•  Do you have a good work/life balance?

If you answered ‘yes' then that's great, coaching might not be for you at this time. However, if you hesitated or answered 'no' to the questions then coaching could be of benefit to you. The insights you gain from your coaching relationship will help free you from the obstacles you feel are holding you back and you'll see that you have the answers to succeed.

5. How many sessions will I need?

There's no fixed answer to this question as it really depends on the person, and the type of goal or issue a client wants to deal with. For some clients, four sessions are enough to achieve a short-term goal. And for others, having weekly or fortnightly sessions over a period of several months works well for them. Some clients like to work on one aspect of their lives, then after a period of time, they come back to work on and progress with another goal. Part of the boost-you commitment to you is to inform you when and if you reach a point where coaching is of little benefit to you or your progress.

6. Does coaching over the phone work?

Telephone coaching is as effective as it is face-to-face; indeed many clients prefer to speak over the phone. What's more, it's very convenient and offers greater flexibility for people with a busy lifestyle. Here are just some of the advantages of this coaching using the telephone:

• The coaching can be conducted wherever the coach and client happen to be in the world
• It's relaxing and comfortable for the client to be in their own ‘space', be that their home or office
• The client doesn't incur any travel time or travel costs
• Telephone coaching sessions can be arranged with minimum prior notice

A coaching session is typically thirty to forty-five minutes and rarely longer than an hour. (Some business coaching sessions are structured for a longer session.)

7. Are the sessions totally confidential?

Absolutely. Given that the nature of the coaching relationship involves the passing of personal and business information that may be highly confidential, the coach agrees that, unless express permission is granted, all coaching calls and conversations and written communications remain completely confidential between the Coach and Client, except where prohibited by law. boost-you coaching abides by the Ethical Principles laid down by International Coaching Federation. (See Question 8 for Ethics and Principles.)

8. Does boost-you coaching follow any principles or guidelines?

Yes, there are two aspects to this. The first is that as a Life Coach, I follow the code of Ethics set out by the International Coaching Federation Code of Ethics and can be read in detail by clicking on this link.

Are you willing to take action right now? Do you want to take responsibility to achieve what you really want? Then click here to send me an email. Let's get going!