The papers are full of it. Apparently, we're fed up, disillusioned and want something more than what the rat race has to offer. In a recent survey, eight out of ten people are suffering a ‘quarter-life crisis’ – disillusioned by what life and our careers have to offer, we are looking for fulfillment elsewhere – whether it’s voluntary work overseas or dropping out of the rat race altogether. We are tired, it seems of doing what we think we ‘should’ do and are ready to create something different. Fulfillment is the buzz word of the noughties.
So it’s no wonder life coaching is a growing phenomenon. What was once dismissed as just a fad is now seen as excellent and effective tool to help people find the missing something in their lives. Coaching is growing at a phenomenal rate as more and more people strive for better lives and to reach their goals. In the US, it’s now a $100 million business second only to the IT industry in its growth rate.
You may have seen a life coach on television or read a life coaching book, or just read some top tips in a magazine but how do you know that life coaching is for you? Is it really going to help? And how on earth do you find a qualified coach who knows what they’re doing when every second person you meet these days seems to be training as a coach? Here we ask Suzy Greaves, one of the UK’s leading life coaches, Top Sante’s life coaching columnist and MD of The Big Leap Coaching Company to give us some straight answers to our top 7 burning questions:
1. What is a life coach and how can it help?
A life coach is essentially someone who’ll help you get from where you are now to where you really want to be – whether that be in your career or just life in general. Most life coaches work on the telephone and you arrange to talk for 30-60 minutes once a week, three or four times a month.
I hired a coach after reading about it in a magazine. I hoped my coach was going to provide all the answers I was looking for. I got none. A life coach isn’t a consultant who has all the answers, they make you do all the work and find your own. A life coach’s currency is the questions they ask, rather that the answers they give.
For half an hour a week, you have questions asked of you, which are aimed to make you think ‘out of the box’ - how do you really want your career to look? What would you have to believe about yourself to get your dream career? If you won the lottery, what would you do with the rest of your life?
2. What areas of my life could life coaching help with?
A life coach can help you move forward in most areas of your life - from career and relationships to health and wealth. A coach is trained to get to the source of what is really stopping you moving forward in your life. Rather than agreeing that all men are horrible or your boss is a witch, as your best friend might do, your coach will challenge you to take responsibility for everything that is going on in your life. A coach will ask you to dig deep to get to the root of why you are attracting commitment phobic men into your life or why you are choosing to play the victim at work. A coach will not let you whinge and be the victim of life, they encourage you to be the creator of your destiny!
3. Is coaching for you?
Coaching is not for everyone. You have to be prepared to dig deep to discover what drives you and what stops you moving forward. And you also have to be prepared to take action – and lots of it. From ridding yourself of the energy drainers in your life – from the coffee you drink to needy friends who sap every ounce of energy– to discovering your vision of how you really want your life to be. You have to be willing to shift from victim to creator, to take responsibility and make new choices. And from there ‘do differently’. Coaching follows the old adage, if you keep on doing the same old stuff, you’ll keep on getting the same results. Coaching is all about finding a new way. If you’re not willing to step out of your comfort zone, get a little scared and experiment with new ways of being, living and doing, coaching is probably not for you.
4. Does it work?
A 1998 survey by the International Coaching Federation revealed that 98.5 per cent of clients polled reported their investment in coaching to be highly valuable. The general feedback from clients is that by using a coach, you become incredibly focused and therefore produce results faster. I believe coaching is growing a phenomenal rate precisely because it does work.
5. How much does it cost?
Most life coaches will give a free consultation for half an hour before you sign up. It can cost anything between £100 to £400 per month for three or four sessions a month once a week.
If you can’t afford it, there are some new coaches who sometimes coach free of charge if they gaining experience. However, I personally feel that part of the commitment is parting with your dosh. Because I hand over my hard earned cash every month for my coach, I make very sure that I’ve done all my homework, that I turn up on time, that I make the most of every minute of that call. If I got it for free, I’m not sure I would.
6. How do I find a good coach?
You can be paying £60 to £100 an hour for coaching and as it currently stands anyone can set themselves up a coach without any training at all. So how do you know you’re getting a good, well-qualified coach – and how do you find them?
There are dozens of organizations offering life coaching training at different levels and intensities. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is one of the most respected coaching bodies and ICF accredited courses are very well thought of.
(www.coachfederation.org.uk) For basic coaching accreditation with the ICF, you need to have documented proof of 250 coaching hours, five references from clients, you need to have graduated from a ICF Accredited coach training programme, and two references from ICF accredited coaches, who have witnessed your coaching ability.
I would suggest that you don’t just rely on a training certificate as proof of ability. Ask for references and to speak to people who have already received coaching from your preferred coach. Also ask how many coaching hours with real paying clients they have under their belt. You will, at least, know then if you’re hiring a new coach or very experienced coach.
And don’t sign up without trying a coach first. A professional coach should offer a free introductory session that should help you establish whether they can help or not and whether you are compatible. It’s very important to have that intuitive ‘click’ with someone.
When my husband hired a coach recently, he spoke to five coaches, taped all their conversations, listened to all the tapes three times before making his decision to work with a coach based in Los Angeles. You don’t have to go to this extreme (maybe it’s a man thing?) - just find a coach who you feel would be a real ‘partner’, sounding board and cheerleader for you. Yes, find a qualified coach or at least someone who is enrolled on a training programme but also trust your intuition.
How do you find a good coach? Ask your friends for a referral. There’s nothing better than word of mouth. If you don’t know anyone with a life coach, the ICF have a ‘find a coach’ service. For more details click www.coachfederation.org.uk.
I trained to be a coach with Coach University, the only virtual university in the world, which has a referral service detailing qualified coaches all around the globe. Obviously, I’m bias but I think they are an excellent training organisation and train coaches to a very high standard. To graduate from Coach University, I had to coach for 500 hours, be mentored by another coach for 6 months, go through an intensive 18 month training programme, take verbal and written exams as well as provide 5 written references from clients. To find a coach U coach, click on to www.coachu.com
7. How long must I commit if I start working with a coach?
Most coaches ask for a three to six month commitment but usually let you stop immediately if coaching is not working for you. Very few coaches will ask for a written contract. Your coach is there to support you getting the best results and if you don’t think it’s working, it would be unethical of them to hold you to a contract. For the corporate client, however, a signed contract is often just good business practice.
What a life coach isn’t:
A therapist: Coaching isn’t about delving into your past. Coaching looks at today and develops action plans to enhance the future.
A consultant: A coach isn’t going to give a ten step plan on how to live a fulfilling life. They will ask you the questions that will help you to find the answer to that question. They might make a few suggestions but generally a coach’s job is to help you create your own solutions.
A best friend: Everyone should have a best friend. But a best friend will never be able to give you an objective view.
