“3 Common Misconceptions About Life Coaching”
There are two things I know for sure – life coaching can be life-changing, and it is gravely misunderstood.
Personally, I will forever be grateful for coaching. As a coach myself, I am deeply appreciative that I get to engage in this transformative work with individuals. It's an extraordinary privilege to support someone in making the changes in their life they have been craving for months (and sometimes years!).
Sometimes, it's not about a job change or a shift in relationships; it's as simple as shifting the way they see the world. Countless clients have shared with me that hiring me as their life coach was the turning point in their lives.
And as a life coach myself, I also work with my own coach. This is not only to support my personal development but also to ensure I can show up as my best self for my own clients.
I've experienced both sides of the coin – supporting individuals to get unstuck as their life coach and working through my own feelings of being stuck with my own coach. The power of coaching is immeasurable. I share this to provide my 360-degree view, as a certified coach.
Yet, there are still many misconceptions I wish people were more aware of. I've been on discovery calls with individuals who have had the wrong idea about what coaching is. I've engaged in numerous conversations at networking events where it felt like I was defending life coaching.
1) Life Coaching Is Not Advice:
Yes, you may feel stuck, and yes, you may feel like you need answers. But if a coach is giving you the answers, that's consulting, not coaching. A coach does not know your whole history and how you see the world. They are not the experts on you. So their advice may fall flat, or worse, not take into consideration where you have growth left to do. Life coaching is not one-size-fits-all, and advice sometimes is.
2) Life Coaching Is Not a Regulated Industry:
This means anyone can call themselves a coach. However, there ARE standards and ethics set forth and regulated by the International Coaching Federation (which I proudly abide by). So often, I see folks who genuinely want to make a change in their life hire a coach who is not certified, leading to a negative experience. If you're looking for a life coach, ensure they are certified.
3) Life Coaching Covers Emotions, But It's Not Therapy:
It's crucial to clarify that life coaching is not therapy. Although emotions may come up during coaching sessions, the goal is not therapy. There is a common misconception that any discussion of feelings or the past is therapy, which is far from the truth. Coaching recognizes that you are a whole being with thoughts AND feelings that contribute to actions. Without understanding how all three parts interplay, sustained action will always feel more challenging than it needs to.
You may be wondering, "What does life coaching cover?" The International Coaching Federation defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. The coaching process often unlocks previously untapped
I partner with my clients, keeping the goal at the forefront, and we explore what's beneath the surface. This could be anxiety, worry, guilt, anger, or simply second-guessing yourself as you work to get unstuck. It's in this exploration that new ideas emerge, and I've witnessed my clients take action time and time again.
If you have questions about your perception of coaching or want to explore further, I'd love to dive deeper in an exploratory call.
With joy,