What is a life coach?
Here’s the simple answer: A life coach is a trained professional who helps you plan and achieve your goals.
But there’s more to it than that.
Before I get into the details, stop reading for a second and think about who and where you want to be 10 to 20 years from now. If you can’t conceive of the future or there is a gap between where you are now and where you want to be, a life coach can help you.
Here’s why.
A life coach is…
1. Someone who will help you get clear on what you want
"If you do not think about your future, you cannot have one." -- John Galsworthy
- Do you know what you want? Have you stopped to assess your life? Do you understand your strengths, weaknesses, values, dreams, desires, and where all of that is leading you? A life coach is a strategic planner that will help you develop a future vision that compels you to move forward in life.
- Do you ponder life’s big questions? Do you take the time to look inward? A life coach is a questioner who will help you get more clear on the conversations that are happening in your mind.
- Are you stuck? A life coach is a teacher that can share their wisdom to help you move forward.
2 a). A "Get Stuff Done” Expert
“Action is the foundational key to all success” --Pablo Picasso
- Are you overwhelmed with a todo list longer than a roll of toilet paper? A life coach is a task master that will help you prioritize your list and check them off, one at a time.
- Do you struggle to know what you need to do next? A life coach can be a drill sergeant tracking your everyday progress.
- Do you fail to take action and need someone to hold your feet to the fire? A life coach is an accountability expert that will rigorously follow up with you and your commitments.
2 b). An “Achieve More than You Believe” Expert
“What we can or cannot do, what we consider possible or impossible, is rarely a function of our true capability. It is more likely a function of our beliefs about who we are.” --Tony Robbins
- Are you taking on scary goals that push you outside of your comfort zone? A life coach is a cheerleader to encourage you to keep going.
- Do you sometimes lose your enthusiasm for taking on challenges? A life coach is a motivator to remind you of what drives you.
- Do you doubt your own abilities? A life coach is a believer in you.
3. Someone who sees you for who you are
“Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!” --Dr. Seuss
- Do you have self-doubt? A life coach is a deep listener that will hear your words and the emotions you express.
- Are you going through a hard time? A life coach is an empathetic listener that can provide you a shoulder to cry on.
- Is there something that needs to be said but you can’t find the words? A life coach is a mind reader, someone who will tap into your thoughts before you speak them.
Still have questions? Check out answers to these common life coaching questions:
- How much does life coaching cost?
- How to choose a life coach?
- How does life coaching work?
- What is the difference between life coaching vs therapy?
This article was written by Stephan Wiedner, co-founder and "Head Coach" at Noomii.com.
