The ICF’s (International Coach Federation) definition of coaching is:
“Professional Coaching is an ongoing professional relationship that helps people produce extraordinary results in their lives, careers, businesses or organizations. Through the process of coaching, clients deepen their learning, improve their performance, and enhance their quality of life.
In each meeting, the client chooses the focus of conversation, while the coach listens and contributes observations and questions. This interaction creates clarity and moves the client into action. Coaching accelerates the client’s progress by providing greater focus and awareness of choice. Coaching concentrates on where clients are now and what they are willing to do to get where they want to be in the future.”
More information can be found on Life Coaching and/or Business Coaching.
Coaching is used to turn ideas into actions, experiencing and embracing change leading to improved performance. In Life coaching the objectives are mapped out with the individual’s personal goals in mind whilst business coaching offers measureable improvements for both the person being coached and the organisation itself. Business coaching ranges from individual and executive team coaching, to coaching owners of small- to medium-sized businesses. Coaches help executives, staff and businesses develop and grow. A key difference is the reporting structure. In Life coaching it is all between the coach and the coachee, whereas in business coaching the contract will typically involve the coach, the person being coahed and that person’s manager.
Coaching works through a process of active listening and asking powerful questions to clarify goals, create strategies and actions to achieve them. As a client you will need to be prepared to invest in yourself and this requires motivation, commitment and the willingness to do something new. A coach will be friend and foe all in one, by being non judgemental and honest as well as challenge any self-limiting beliefs. The goal is to facilitate deep learning and lasting change.
Coaching works because it is personal and unique. It focuses on the things that are important to YOU. Your goals will become clear and specific. Coaching also enables you to become more accountable to yourself and someone else, creating momentum to take needed actions to reach your goals. The process of implementing changes will be dependent on you taking action and keeping an open mind that the process works. The coach will accelerate and guide the learning process providing specific development tools as needed.
People who are committed to succeeding, want to improve their lives and are prepared to put in the effort. Clients come to coaching because they are looking to make a change. Some people are already aware that there is an area or an issue they would like to focus on, some know they are not fulfilled yet can’t quite put their finger on what it is, whilst others want to take their life’s success to a higher level. Whatever the case may be, coaching provides choices.
Something to consider, what are the benefits of having a business plan to run a business? Would you do it without one? Coaching will help create a life plan to help it run smoothly and more efficiently. Having a plan for your life with specific goals, means that you know you are following your purpose, mission and values. It becomes about being very clear about who you are, what you want and how you will get it.
Coaching can help you live the life you choose and get the results you aspire to. Maybe you would like to:
It is important to remember that the above topics are examples and that many different issues can be addressed. Life coaching will focus on all aspects of your life (personal, emotional and professional) and can offer you a way forward.
An increasing number of people want and choose to employ a coach to increase their sense of acheivement and fulfilment. They decide to make an investment in themselves. There is often still a mental block in relation to investing in life and personal development. This is precisely the area where the stakes are highest. Coaching can have a positive impact on every aspect of your life and those around you. How many times have you felt the urge to change and not done anything about it? What will be the cost of this in years to come? Once you decide to change, coaching holds you accountable and encourages you as will as gently pushing you along to follow through and succeed.
It is very difficult for friends and family to be as impartial. A coach has no personal history with you and so will have no preconceptions or clouded judgement. The coach only has your success in mind and has no vested interest in encouraging you to chose one direction or another. You set the agenda and the coach supports you.
Therapy and counselling tend to focus on a person’s past experiences, deep self analysis and serious underlying problems. In contrast, with personal coaching very little time is spent processing the past and the emphasis is on more practical issues. It is forward looking and concentrates on where you are today rather than why and helps define where you want to be tomorrow. The focus is to help you clarify and achieve all you want and Aim To Be now and in the future.
Life Coaching is not appropriate to address serious medical conditions, addictions or mental illness. Your coach will be able to provide contacts for professionals in other areas when these are more appropriate.
Every coaching session is entirely focused on you. As your coach my priority is your success and well being. Through a series of confidential sessions each lasting about 1 hour (1st session might be longer) we establish what is important to you in your life and what needs to happen to get you where you Aim To Be. After each session you will probably have some “homework” to do. Generally sessions are weekly and at a pre-scheduled time. Between sessions you are free to contact me by email or brief phone calls if you have any questions, excellent news to share or need extra support on your actions.
Most of my Life Coaching sessions take place over the phone. You may be surprised to learn that one to one telephone coaching is a particularly effective personal development tool. A deep level of listening can be achieved when visual and auditory distractions are removed and conversations tend to be more focused and powerful . Clients also find this the most convenient method as there is no need to commute and you can be anywhere for work or holidays and sessions do not have to be interrupted. An initial face to face session can be arranged with subsequent sessions on the phone. All of the coaching is 100% confidential and complies with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1988.
The answer is No. I can do telephone coaching for people all over the world. Skype calls on the internet are free so wherever you live, I’m only a call away.
My username on Skype is ‘aim.to.be‘, and if you would prefer to use another VOIP system, let me know and I will get signed up.
Congratulations for chosing to take control of your life! You can either fill this form for a complimentary first session or contact Ana on +44 (0)7825809134 to arrange a free first session.
If there is anything else you would like to discuss please fill in this form or contact Ana directly on ana@aimtobe.co.uk or on +44 (0)7825809134.