What to Expect from a Great Coaching Experience
Posted on April 03, 2011 by Cheryl Roshak, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
What to expect from a great coach and a great life coaching or career coaching experience.
Coaching is “in” today. People talk about it, many want it or think of trying it, but what will you really get from a great coaching experience? If you understand what coaching is not, and what you can expect from it, you’ll be in a better position to make an informed decision on who will be the right coach for you.
Coaching is not therapy. It does not deal with severe psychological issues resulting from past traumas or issues. You need a licensed psychiatric professional for that who works with a dysfunctional patient and works backward. Coaches work with a functional person and goes forward to make him or her more optimal.
Coaching is not your friends or family. They like to give helpful advice though it’s not generally unbiased or free of motives. It is well-meaning but your happiness or goals are not their prime focus.
Coaching is not a trainer or sports coach. Our goal is not to make you win at all costs. There is no winning or losing. It’s all about achieving whatever it is with which you are comfortable.
Who do you want to be and become and what are the goals you wish to achieve? These are the main questions that a great coach focuses on. The next area of exploration is what do you need to do to achieve these goals? There are internal goals and there are external goals.
When these goals are defined and established, then comes the reality check. Are these goals reasonable and tangible? What resources do you have to achieve these goals? Who do you have in your life who will support you in achieving these goals? These things are important.
Significant change takes time, but a great coach will break down your ideal goals into smaller, achievable goals whereby you make successful steps on your journey so that you can begin to see some change week by week. As your success accrues, so does your power and motivation.
Your coach does not have any of the answers, they will all come from you as your coach gets to know you and all your hopes, your fears, your dreams, and your goals. Every person is unique and every coaching session is unique because of this.
Your coach should be respectful, a good listener, empathic, curious, non-judgmental, supportive and more. He or she should understand who you are and who you want to be. You should feel a resonance with that person immediately; there are people you click with, and there are those you don’t. Always trust your instincts. In time, hopefully a bond of trust will be built. Remember, your coach has no other agenda than your goals and your happiness.
