How coaching is different from a self-help book
Posted on January 25, 2016 by Paula Facci, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
Do you think that coaching is a waste of money, because self-help books achieve the same result at a fraction of the costs? Think again...
As one of my clients was wrapping up her first 3-month coaching cycle the other day, we were just reflecting on her experience. She mentioned that a colleague at work had been curious about her coaching and they would occasionally chat about it at the office. He couldn’t however understand why she would need to see a coach. In his mind, there were immeasurable amounts of self-help books available on the market, which covers any imaginable topic that one could possibly need support with.
So why pay all that money and go to all that effort then, to do coaching? Prior to embarking on our coaching partnership, my client had also read numerous self-help books, and to her there is a vast difference. She explained it as follows: “Self-help books are great while reading them. You get all motivated and amped, but once you have read them, you put them back on the shelf to gather dust and all that motivation soon fades.”
Don’t get me wrong, I am an enthusiastic fan of self-help books myself, especially in combination with coaching. They can really complement one another and accelerate the coaching process tremendously.
Here are the top five differences between coaching and a self-help book:
1. It’s about wisdom, not knowledge
There is a wonderful quote by Lao Tzu which reads: “To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.”
Self-help books may contain tons of knowledge to add to your life, and where coaching comes in, is that it helps you to apply that knowledge. Sometimes we need to unlearn or remove certain things from our lives. Knowledge does not necessarily guarantee success or the ability to deal with life’s challenges. It is by practicing and applying the skills that you acquire in coaching, that will most likely make the difference in your life that you are after.
2. You are the expert of your life
Coaching has no blanket approaches, each client is completely unique and needs a tailored approach that will work for them. During coaching, clients are supported to find their own answers and solutions that work for their lives. Everyone has the answers they need within. Coaching is not about merely following advice that works for the average person.
3. Info overload!
I can personally contest to the overwhelm of information in this modern day and age. There is just not enough hours in a day or mental capacity to read and know everything. So leave the information processing to your coach. Part of our job is to keep abreast of the latest developments in personal development, so you don’t need to read 100 self-help books. You can think of your coach as a type of walking self-help book, who has condensed much information and made it readily accessible to you.
4. The human connection
Nothing can replace that human touch. If you think about it, a book is more similar to a monologue. There is not really an opportunity for a two-way conversation. In coaching, there is real-time feedback, observations and insights. Your coach helps you to meet some of your critical needs and is there to celebrate with you. Coaching can be a powerful collaboration. Sometimes we all need someone in our corner that believes in us and can see the greatness within us, even when we can’t. Your coach will also never let you off the hook. We are there to hold you accountable to yourself and remind you to stay connected to your big picture intention for your life. Think of your coach as your very own, personal co-pilot.
5. Sharing your goals improves your chances of reaching them
Research suggests that writing down your goals, sharing them, and communicating regular updates about your progress can boost your chances of succeeding. One study shows that people who wrote down their goals, and asked friends to help them by being available to receive regular progress reports, succeeded closer to 75% of the time, whilst people who merely thought about their goals succeeded only 50% of the time. So use your coach to share your goals and dreams with. It will vastly improve your chances of meeting them.
Want to start living your best life and reaching your dreams?
Book a courtesy session and let’s start meeting those goals.
Warmest Regards
Paula Facci
www.thrivefactorcoach.com
