Coaching...Why not?

If you want to stop a conversation dead in it's tracks, tell the person you are talking to that you are a Life Coach. The reactions will very from "Oh" to "that sounds interesting". I have noticed that only a few ask "what's that?".

I have also noticed that when I explain the concept of Life Coaching to people virtually everyone agrees that it is a great idea and that so many people need Coaching in these troubled times.

So if everyone thinks it is a great idea and very needed now, why are more people not seeking the services of a Life Coach? Why do people insist on taking the more difficult solo path?

I believe that there are a number of reasons for this; one is cost, but if people are not looking for coaches then they can not know how much it will cost, i.e. they are putting up a barrier for themselves based on a presupposition.

A second reason, I believe is the culture in Ireland. Traditionally, Ireland is a place where everybody knows everybody else and feelings are very much kept in check. To recruit a Coach, spend time working closely with him/her, potentially expose feelings and thoughts that have spent so much time locked in and then run the risk of meeting the Coach at the local supermarket or the main street of a local town is too much for some people.

Finally, I believe that there are certain stigmas associated with Coaching. First of all, it is viewed by many as a form of psychological help, e.g. counselling. Secondly, it is viewed as a form of weakness; many people do not like to ask for help.

As someone who has been through the coaching process before, during and since achieving my qualification, I have to say that ALL of the issues/worries/beliefs that have been listed above are completely wrong when used as barriers to undergoing a Coaching process.

Let me address all of these issues.

First of all Qualified Life & Executive Coaches have to sign a Code of Ethics when they qualify and again when they join any Coaching Associations. This ensures a level of standards in relation to the Coach/Client relationship. It also ensures client confidentiality no matter where or how the coach is met. So bumping into your Coach in the supermarket will result in no more than a cheery 'Hello' (not a coaching session).

Next, in relation to price, Coaching sessions vary in cost from Coach to Coach. However, most coaches can have some form of flexibility depending on individual circumstances.

With regard to the stigmas, Coaching is completely different from Counselling. A Coach is primarily interested in where the client is now versus where they want to be and working with the client to help them reach their goals. A Coach will help the client to re-focus on goals or priorities in accordance with client wishes.

Counselling on the other hand spends more time looking back at the client's life to establish how they got to their current state. A good Coach will recognise very quickly when a client needs Counselling rather than Coaching and will have no trouble recommending that to the client.

Asking for help is a good thing. People get caught up in day to day activities and can easily lose sight of where they are, what's important and where they want to go with their lives. This is even more important in the current climate of economic uncertainty. With so many people worried about the future it is easy to get 'bogged down' in the doom and gloom that is all around.

The Coach is the lifeline. He/She can help the client regain some perspective, some focus and most of all some relief from the pressures of life. By challenging the client's current view of the world, a new and clearer vision can open up. New goals and challenges can be identified, and maybe an opportunity for a new beginning may be found where previously there was none. A Coach has no agenda but the Client's. A Coach offers no advice, and doesn't have the answers; THE CLIENT DOES. The Coach merely acts as the means to access thoughts and ideas that have long been locked away under the pressures of day to day living.

Coaching is a simple, practical and very cost effective way for a client to take stock, regain some perspective, start again and re-connect with what is important for him/her. The Coaching process can relieve much of the stresses that can lead to health issues if they are left unchecked.

Life Coaching is available to everyone either in groups or one-to-one sessions. It is not a form of 'pschyo-babble' but a real form of gentle assistance that revolves around the client. It is readily available all over the world. Life Coaches are equipped to deal with every issue no matter how big, small or embarrassing the client feels it is.

Do I believe that people should try the Coaching process? You Bet!!

It worked wonders for me personally, and I have had the honour to see the process working for my clients. The saddest thing for me is that every day I see people who look lost or pressured with nowhere to turn for help, and yet help exists. It is time to wake up. You don't have to face the world alone. As the old saying goes, "a problem shared is a problem halved". Let a Life Coach help you to tackle your problems, you may find that they are not as bad as you think.

South East Coaching Services offers Coaching to Individuals, Groups, Businesses, etc. at very competitive rates. As a member of the Life & Business Coaching Association of Ireland, we are ready and available 24/7 to meet at a time and place convenient to you.

Check out http://www.secs.ie for more information

Senior Execs...All Alone

I was recently speaking with a Senior Executive from a local organisation. Our conversation moved to Life and Executive Coaching and of course the usual question; "what's that all about?". I set about explaining the concept of Coaching and when I finished he paused for a while and then said "I could do with that". Of course I was thrilled to have a new client, but I was really amazed by his reason for opting to be coached.

He said that the position he holds (Managing Director) is an extremely lonely place, particularly in the current climate. He said that his staff were turning to him for security, the Board was putting him under pressure for the performance of the business and then he said the most shocking words I have heard in a long while; "Who does the MD turn to?"

This got me thinking. In the current economic climate, many senior executives are under pressure from all sides; staff want reassurances regarding job security, Boards want to see the business survive, maintain efficiencies, cut costs and make a profit and it falls to the senior executives to make it happen. With such pressure, it can be easy to lose focus or even to burn out. This is the last thing any organisation wants.

There is a solution though; Executive Coaching and NLP. Coaching is a process that enables clients to take stock of their current situation (both in their private and working lives) and to re-focus and take control of their situation in a very proactive and effective way. NLP is a process that assists in meeting the desired outcomes by identifying barriers or obstacles (particularly unconscious ones) that are holding the client back.

Through the process, clients can set a new course that will ensure a new energy, greater awareness and openness to possibilities as well as a much more positive approach to the task at hand.

Basically the Coaching process will keep executives at all levels at the top of their game, which will have a positive impact on everyone in the organisation. We all know that if the boss is happy, everyone can be happy, right?

It is more common to hire a business coach to help analyse operational issues. However, companies should also begin to look at bringing in Life & Executive Coaches for their staff (particularly those in management).

South East Coaching Services can help. With considerable commercial experience, who better will understand the pressures that today's executives are experiencing. Using the Coaching and NLP techniques, you can retain your staff, improve performance and look to the future with confidence. Senior managers work hard, but they should have somewhere they can turn to when the going gets tough and the pressure becomes too much to handle.

Call us to discuss your requirements on (083) 3714684 or e-mail denis@secs.ie