Maria Connolly, LPC
Life Coaching helps you sift through your problems, dig deeply into your innermost desires and formulate plans to achieve the success that you crave. Coaching focuses on your entire life as it relates to your goals, the outcome you want and changes you need to make. It’s an approach that’s positive, strength-based, and extremely efficient because it disentangles you from emotional roadblocks.
There’s a special kind of thrill that comes from watching someone realize just how capable they are. So when someone asks, “Does an experienced coach really need a life coaching mentor?” I respond, “Let me tell you about a recent experience and you decide.”
There is something so satisfying about using your life coaching skills to help your clients succeed. It’s the greatest feeling to make a real difference in their lives! Conversely, there’s nothing more frustrating than spending hours with clients, helping them plan out their goals and strategies, and then checking in a week or two later to discover nothing has changed.
What goes wrong at times like these? What are some reasons your clients may not be making the kind of progress you expected? Possibly it’s one of the following:
This may be controversial, but I have to speak up…
As coaches, we’re often told we need to specialize in one area to stand out from the crowd, like nutrition coach, business coach, public speaking coach, mindset coach, personal development coach, etc. But to make a real difference in our clients’ lives, we can’t be so hyperfocused on only one aspect of life. Everything affects everything else. We need a holistic approach and that involves a self-care mindset!
You can be a coach without being a mentor. And you can be a mentor without being a coach. Isn’t this just a case of semantics? Don’t coaches, mentors, consultants, and trainers all do the same thing basically? No, there are subtle but vital differences that form the relationship between the client and the Mentor/Coach/Trainer/Counselor. You need to understand these differences to fully benefit from Mentor Coaching, which is the ultimate way to accelerate personal and professional growth. Mentor Coaching is like coaching on steroids!
Is there an influential coach you greatly admire and aspire to be like? What is it about her that makes you want to be like her? When you look closely, you’ll find it’s not because she’s charismatic and mesmerizes you. Or that she “leads” by bullying or intimidating. A good leader influences others by example, bringing the best out in those around her because she walks the talk.