Ride along on a coaching session?

Come along as we journey through a bit of what a coaching session entails..

As a Life Coach – one deals with those raw human feelings.  It can be very life changing for a client when they feel comfortable enough to be trusted to share the core of their feelings and thoughts.  The coaching process is one of discovery.  An opportunity for a client, some for the first time ever, to be truly “heard”. To be allowed to express: with no

judgement, no advice, no words.  An emotional nakedness of simply hearing their own inner deep thoughts come to the surface and spoken.  It’s amazing what can happen when we hear the own voices in our head, come to spoken words. The process of providing a safe trusting space to those words to form and transform is what a coaching session is all about.  Unlike a therapy session, where a licensed therapists might offer suggestions, insight or tools to heal those self-defeating thoughts, a coach gently provides a second, unbiased (outside the client’s head) think partner. A coach promotes a genuine self-curiosity by asking discovery questions.  Questions that hold the power to cause us to think, create answers we believe in, and motivate us to act on our own ideas. Asking questions that move the client beyond a passive acceptance of what others say, or staying stuck in present circumstances, to aggressively applying their create ability to provide solutions.  Afterall, who else knows what’s best for “us” than our own self. 

The coaching process allows the client to focus on what he/she feels and thinks vs what the coach feels and thinks. We are most likely to act or make changes when we are committed.  Through the questioning process, clients discover solutions based on their own values and goals – not as directed by a coach, but as allowed to explore. Out loud. To be heard. This discovering and accountability of the client exploring their own options & solutions is a great empowering feeling – the “Hey, I DID IT” feeling vs simply doing what someone else suggested. 

Coaching gives a client life thinking skills which create life solutions.

When a client seeks a coach, a coaching agreement is entered. A coaching agreement is generally focused on a particular area of a client’s life, work or relationship(s), which is a bit out of balance. It’s that uneasy feeling we get.  Knowing something is just not the way we’d like.  This could be something a client already knows and would like to change or something we have no idea what it is.. just an out of balance feeling. This is usually what brings a client to seek out a coach – an out of balance.  A need to require a solution.  A balance. With the balanced end in mind, each session begins with chipping away, session by session. What might be holding the client back or what thoughts might be at play? Each session might be different in what “chip” to address.  The client chooses what they would like to explore each session. Starting with what end session result would be most beneficial at this space in time. 

With the end in mind, questions begin. Curiosity, exploration, brainstorming, are the bulk of a coaching session. A safe area for a client to explore their own thoughts and ideas free of limiting beliefs.  The session is relaxed, comfortable and allows time to reimagine the goal ensuring the client is moving in a forward direction towards the main overall coaching agreement.  One session at a time.

Clients leave a session with self-discovered steps, processes or actions until the next session, ensuring progress.  Does this mean that there are no deviations? Absolutely Not. Many times, one purpose or overall goal is wrapped around other obstructions. It’s as if the mind is taking a journey and has road construction or detours while still eventually arriving at the desired destination.  A coach is a travel partner. Not deciding nor adjusting a destination.  The client remains the driver. This empowerment of self is one of the reasons a properly executed coaching agreement can be so successful.  The client found their own way. Their own solutions which are best for their own individual values and beliefs. In their best interest.  Each session is as unique as the individual and while no two sessions are ever alike, the process is very similar.

The client finds their way to their desired destination.

It’s a coach’s honor and privilege to be permitted and trusted to ride along. The hope is, when a client is faced with a new journey, they have the tools and confidence to hop on that road and “go” exploring all of their beautiful life within - Embracing the external and internal destinations while enjoying a fulfilling existence. 

LIFE IS TRULY A JOURNEY!

I wish you Happy travels!

Dawn, MCPC

*Dawn has over 40 years of empowering, leading & training others in professional direct sales, real estate and fitness & wellness goals. She is available for on-line or in-person individual or group sessions. You can reach Dawn or get more information at: LLECoach.com