| Self Improvement Guide
Thursday March 11th 2010

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TEST DRIVE A LIFE COACH BEFORE YOU DECIDE

Are you feeling a bit low ?Stressed out ?Looking up the corporate ladder but can’t climb it ? Are your relationships suffering ? Know you could do better but not sure how ?Needing some changes in your life ?Have set some goals but can never achieve them ?
These questions are just some of the reasons why life coaching has become an indispensable tool for so many individuals.Not every body has the skills to take their life in their desired direction.  In fact, not many people at all can go it alone.And that’s the main driver behind the growing popularity of life coaching and executive coaching.   Simply put, a life coach has the skills to help others to achieve their goals. 
A recent global study which surveyed coaching clients from over 60 countries found that self-esteem/self-confidence and work/life balance were the two dominant categories for people seeking coaching.90% of participants reported a positive change as a result of coaching.52% of people surveyed reported benefits in the area of self-confidence and self-esteem although that wasn’t one of their main objectives.Participants also said that they decided to seek coaching because of relationships, communication skills, work peformance and interprersonal skills.
Everyone’s talking about coaching.But what is it ?It’s probably easier to explain what coaching is NOT.   Coaching isn’t therapy or counseling.It also isn’t the same as training, consulting or mentoring.It doesn’t delve into the past and dwell on it, it won’t provide a blueprint for success or tell people how to behave.
Individuals can be far more fulfilled with help from a life coach.It is a creative process that inspires people to realise their professional and personal potential.  From self-improvement and development, learning new skills, achieving goals and managing life-changing situations and personal challenges, coaching enables people to understand themselves and develop their own solutions.  It draws out rather than puts in, develops not imposes and is neither prescriptive nor judgmental.The process is very flexible, tailored to each unique client. 
And that’s the important point.Coaches help clients find their own answers.Coaches work with different sized groups, from the individual to a whole organisation.
What are the basic elements of a successful coaching engagement?Jennifer Atkins, a top life and executive coach in Perth says it’s important for the client to accept that there is a gap between where they are in life and where they want to be.”The client has to be prepared to take responsibility for closing that gap by learning, growing and developing.”  
Making a decision on a coach is almost like buying a car.You wouldn’t invest in a car without doing your research, looking at the history of the car (the coach’s credentials), read the service book (track history) and test-driving.A professional coach will offer clients an obligation-free session to enable the client to assess the chemistry between the two and to evaluate if it’s going to work.
Who can say they don’t want the most from life.A life coach can help you find balance,happiness, success and personal fulfilment.Why not take a Perth life coach for a test drive today, and see how far you can go ?