Often people ask me if coaching is for them, or if the particular scenario they have in mind would be suitable for coaching. My answer is always, yes yes yes*. You've probably read my blog 'So, what is life coaching?' which gives you a bit of an overview of what coaching is about, but here I explore who coaching is for.
There are no life coaching ‘profiles’ or typical personality types for who coaching would or wouldn’t be for. I have met many people, from all walks of life, who have had a successful coaching experience - regardless of their age, gender, career, interests, lifestyle or wealth.
A common theme throughout is that there is some element of change on the horizon for each person. The distance to that horizon will be different for everyone but at the heart the individual wants to do, change, transform, accept or explore something.
“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude” - Oprah Winfrey
There is an openness in people who arrive at coaching in that they are curious to explore. Curious is a word I use fairly often (in coaching and in life generally). It reminds me of childhood - of wanting to know more, to open the door and see what lurks behind, even if I don’t want to push the door open, I still want to see. This is what people who come to coaching tend to have in common. They are curious to explore, to see what lies beneath so they can make an informed decision about where to go from there.
This does not mean that change, acceptance or even, the exploration, is always easy. Coaching can lead you to think about deep rooted beliefs and values, and to look at your life through a fresh lens. All of us often know what it is that we want or need to do in life, but can lack the motivation, accountability or desire to do it. Coaching allows everyone to explore what they want, what they believe and how to get it.
There are many reasons people take up personal coaching. A few common areas are; not feeling happy or fulfilled in life, unable to make a decision, lacking confidence, feelings of anxiety, unbalanced work / life balance , desire to change something in their life or a general interest in their own personal development.
Our life and work are so intertwined, especially now that so many professions can be accessed from home or even on holiday, that personal coaching often includes some element of career / job coaching too. Of course, many organisations offer professional coaching for their employees to address areas of performance, leadership, confidence and progression. Again, often elements of personal life, values, and beliefs leak into this area of coaching.
As you can see, coaching is so individual to each person and could focus on absolutely anything. What is clear is that people who are introduced to coaching are at a point where they feel ready to do something, to move forward to live the life they choose.
If you're keen to know more, or to discuss something on your mind, please do get in touch as I would love to hear from you (gemmabrowncoaching@gmail.com).
*There are times when coaching may not be appropriate, and instead, counselling, mentoring or therapy would better suit the needs of the individual.
Gemma Brown is a certified coach who works with successful women, 1-2-1 and in groups, to identify their strengths and build confidence which enables them to have the self-belief to fearlessly bring their whole being into all areas of life. Gemma is based in Cambridgeshire and carries out face to face coaching in the area as well as 1-2-1 coaching via Skype and Zoom. For more about Gemma, visit her 'About' page.