NIRVANA

First of all, I believe that it is important to understand what life coaching really entails. Life Coaches are strategic partners in personal development who help clients clarify goals, overcome obstacles, and design actionable plans for transformative change. By providing accountability, empowerment, and targeted support, they enable individuals to bridge the gap between their current reality and their most ambitious aspirations. Life Coaching operates under a specific framework and a Code of Ethics. Moreover, Life Coaching involves a one-to-one coaching with a coachee, which is designed for a specific time frame.

The Code of Ethics incorporates the coaching agreement, the confidentiality and legal compliance, professional conduct and conflicts of interest, the professional integrity and accountability as well as the commitment to delivering consistent value.

The key elements of life coaching include active listening, which involves being totally present and listening attentively to the client to understand and uncover the client’s needs. Another key element is powerful questioning. Powerful questions promote self-awareness and facilitate self-discovery. Furthermore, these powerful questions promote insight and help clients uncover hidden perspectives that they may not have been aware of before, leading to breakthroughs and changes in their thinking and behaviour. Powerful questions also enhance decision-making and build accountability for the client.

Coaching frameworks are used, such as the GROW model developed by Sir John Whitmore, which is a framework that enables individuals to enhance their performance and achieve their goals. The model is based on four key phases: goal setting, reality check, options exploration, and way forward.

The Wheel of Life, which is a tool life Coaches use to get a snapshot of how satisfied a client is in their life. Other techniques include visualisation exercises and brainstorming to help clients get a clear vision and come up with their own answers. Reframing methods help clients see situations, problems, or beliefs from another point of view. Neuro-Linguistic Programming NLP techniques are also used to shift perspectives and replace limiting beliefs using methods like reframing and anchoring. Cognitive-behavioural Coaching CBC is used to reframe negative thoughts and develop a mindset that supports positive action.

Another important skill in life coaching is Goal-Setting. Life Coaches assist clients in creating Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely (SMART) goals. Action Planning is another important element where a plan of action is co-created to help the client reach the goal. Motivation and empowerment helps the client to work towards their goals. Additionally, accountability comes into place where a life coach holds clients accountable and ensures they meet their goals. In the process, clients also develop Problem-Solving Strategies.

The Co-Active model states that the client’s action is always wrapped in three core principles of fulfillment, balance, and process. Fulfillment is about living a valued and purposeful life. Balance focuses on widening the range of perspectives and options, which might mean saying yes to some things and no to others. Process is where the client is right now, and the coach’s role is to identify, point out, encourage, and support the client in difficult times.

Being a life coach, it’s also important to develop effective communication skills, which helps build trust with the client. Practising emotional intelligence and empathy will enhance the coaching relationship. Being self-aware and practising mindfulness is equally as important since it helps a coach to be in the present and aids in emotional regulation. Self-management can be at times challenging for the coach because the coach is also a human being. As a coach, it’s also important to develop intuition and curiosity, which helps to uncover what is going on below the surface for the client.

The Coaching Process include the discovery session, coaching agreement, action plan, monitoring of the progress and accountability, and adjustment of strategies if needed. The discovery session is the initial meeting where the coach and client discuss the goals for coaching. The values and life purpose of the client are also taken into consideration. Next, a coaching agreement is made between the coach and the client on what the client will work on during coaching. The next step is the action plan, where Coaches assist clients in defining their desired outcomes. They establish small action steps to take each week to achieve those goals. To monitor the progress and accountability, the coach and client hold regular meetings to discuss progress and any challenges the client might face in completing the action steps. Strategies might be adjusted when challenges arise or plans change accordingly.

Life coaching comes in different forms, and some of the most common types are Personal Development Coaching, Career and Life Transition Coaching, Health and Wellness Coaching, Relationship Coaching, and Mindset Coaching.

Life Coaching offers many benefits, including Self-confidence and Motivation, Clarity and Awareness, Happiness and Fulfillment, Work-life balance, and Improved Mental Health.

My experience with Dr. Krishna Athal at the International Coaching Institute ICI was very enriching and inspiring, and I believe that this course has enhanced my thirst for more knowledge and further growth in the field of Life Coaching.

Yashna Veera, Life Coach and Yoga & Meditation Practitioner