How Can Coaching Improve My Work-Life Balance?
File this one under “It’s about time!” People - and companies - are starting to take notice of what’s possible with a little Coaching! (And I’m doing a happy dance that the “woo woo” stereotype is finally lifting!)
“According to a survey conducted by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), those who hire a coach can experience a wide range of positive effects in their lives. 80 percent of respondents said self-confidence improved, 73 percent said relationships improved, 72 percent had better communication skills, and 67 percent said they balanced work and life better.” Click here to read the full story What Is a Life Coach? Do You Need One? on Leaders.com.
In my experience, I’ve come to believe that trusting a Coach may be the biggest thing that’s going to help you create a life that inspires you, helps you live up to your potential, and allow you the time and space to develop the mindset and habits that will support a life you love. So yeah - it’s kinda a big deal.
Basically, in recent years, everyone from Forbes to the New York Times and the American Medical Association have been reporting that Health and Life Coaches are here to stay - and can absolutely be your tool to living your best life.
Now, you may be thinking, yeah but… Everyone who wants to call themselves a coach, can. Coaches charge too much. It’s too woo-woo - I’m not into that. Does any of this sound familiar?
And if you’re like a lot of overwhelmed and burned out women, you may even be a little skeptical about devoting more time and money to something (especially when you’ve tried so many things in the past that haven’t worked). Am I right?
Here’s the low-down on what it all means:
Coaches Can Help You Follow Through (Like Never Before)
We’ve read self-help books, listened to the podcasts, and watched the reels on Instagram. We “know” all the information of what we need to be doing to live a healthy, productive, and fulfilled life. Right? Yet… We very rarely put this knowledge into action. It’s too much. It adds to the noise and overwhelm we already feel on a day-to-day basis. So nothing happens. A Coach can help take your individual goals and define the steps to make them happen. They curate the info you need to know, add the accountability to drive your success, and will cheer you on along the way! They succeed when you succeed - so they will do everything they can to help you get there.
Coaches Help You Find Your Blocks
And no… Not those wooden blocks your kid leaves all over the floor. The scarier ones. Those darn limiting beliefs that have been nagging at you for YEARS and get in the way every single time you're ready to work towards an amazing goal (that you deserve!). Yep. I said it. You deserve a life you love. Many of us have these sneaky voices in our heads that say otherwise… A great Coach can help you shift those beliefs so you can move forward in powerful ways!
Coaches Make Space For Positive Results and… Joy
Researcher Barbara L. Frederickson puts it this way: “Individuals who experienced more positive emotions than others, over time became more resilient to adversity, as indexed by increases in broad-minded coping. These enhanced coping skills, in turn, predicted increased positive emotions over time (Fredrickson & Joiner 2002). These findings suggest that positive emotions and broad-minded coping mutually build on one another.” She calls this process an “upward spiral” of positivity and positive outcomes.” There is a direct correlation between life coaching and the psychological effects of positivity. Joy.
Coaches Set You Up For Success - Now and Later
In many cases, you come to a Coach with a desire for change; in your health, in your career, in your relationships or personal life. You’re at a place of “I know I don’t want ____” and “What’s next?” So you work with a Coach to create a vision of what you DO want. You come up with a plan together and begin taking action steps. Often, this will involve creating new or tweaking old habits that will make those goals a reality. The key is to go one step further - a great Coach will also teach you how to maintain those habits in the future, evaluate them periodically, AND get back on track when life throws you curveballs.
If You Think You’re Ready For a Coach, Keep In Mind…
Things are changing fast in Coaching world, and as fast as they change we need to pay attention, too. The Coaching Industry has grown by an extraordinary rate over the last 3 years. Many Coaches aren’t certified or trained. Many aren’t associated with an active Coaching network.
If you decide to work with a Coach, things to know before hiring:
Think of your goals or desired outcomes - each Coach has different specialities. Make sure you’re getting someone who can get you results.
Be sure to interview or chat with a few Coaches before deciding on one. Make sure your personalities work together. You’ll want someone you trust and feel comfortable with, but who can also push and nudge you to better outcomes.
Make sure your Coach is trained and certified. You want someone who has learned and practiced and understands the ins and outs of working with people’s emotions and dreams. ICF (International Coaching Federation) certification or training through an ICF-accredited institution is commonly referred to as the gold-standard.
Coaching costs money. A great Coach has gone to school to learn the latest theories, practices, and techniques. They’ve usually built their own business and have paid to learn how to do that as well. They have ongoing business expenses just like any other business. If they’re coaching full-time, this is not a hobby - but their livelihood. Many don’t take dozens of clients at a time - because they want to give their best to each client. They will often have a few tiers of coaching programs to choose from - but determining what you’re willing to invest will be important to finding the right Coach and program.
Action steps to take today:
If you’re considering working with a Coach, start brainstorming what goals or desired outcomes you’d like to move towards. Also, make a list of what you’ll be looking for in the right Coach.
Feel free to schedule a Breakthrough Session with me to chat about your options. I’d be happy to help you identify your goals, what’s been holding you back from already meeting them, and set up that first step to get you in action. And if I’m not the right Coach for you? I’m connected to many wonderful, trained, experienced, and effective Coaches. I’d be happy to make a recommendation.
You deserve a life you love - filled with energy, health, joy, and possibilities. And the world is waking up and realizing that Coaching is, indeed, a valuable tool to help you get there!
So what’s the first step you’re going to take toward creating a life you love? Let me know in the comments!
