Life Coaching Does Not Sit Well With Me

This is about Life Coaching and my issue with the ones that carry the title. You may think that since I am a Coach of sorts – that my statement would seem incongruent with my profession. In fact because I am so outspoken about how coaches operate – I get a lot of flack from my peers in the industry. Funny how the ones that are only focused on getting the next client or are not knowledgeable about how to really connect with people while bringing out their gifts have the most to say about some of my comments. I often challenge other coaching methods and techniques. (in a loving way of course). It is possible that I get a little flack because I do so in public – of course not calling anyone out in particular, but clearly I speak often about some of the so called coaching methods used.

Through my coaching practice I have learned very quickly that people are so different that one coaching style or even one method does not fit all. You would think this is obvious and it certainly should be, but the truth is that there are essentially a very small number of methods (with variation) that are used in the coaching industry. This begins to feel very much like the ‘a few sizes fit all’ mentality. But even as we are so different in our physical make up as people – we are even more different and even more complex in our mental and emotional make up. That makes it nearly impossible to try hanging off the rack coaching clothes on all clients. Even with Small, Medium and Large sizes on the rack – many of us need a little tailoring in order to feel comfortable in certain clothes.

Could you imagine the coach of the US Soccer Team trying to coach a prize fighter like Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather how to win a fight. Foot speed though important in boxing is not as important as hand speed. I’m afraid that either of these two fighters would suffer defeat very soon in their careers if they followed the guidance of the Soccer Coach. Of course this is not realistic – but I think it is just as ludicrous to have a coach for your Life that does not know your life skills, your capacity for change, your beliefs, your fears, and so on.

The potential Life Coach won’t know these things about anyone before taking them on as a client – but if the coach does not get to these issues within a very short time of engaging with the potential client – then they are not worth their weight in fertilizer.

Would love to hear your thoughts…

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