A recent email demonstrates the challenge of explaining coaching. The comments in italics are my response to the writer of the email.
It just so happens that I know two people (and contacted a third) who happen to be life coaches… So far, none have made the claims (on your websites homepage) that you do.
I’m not sure what “claims” you are referring to since different ads point to different pages depending on the content. If you are referring to “Gay, Thrive With It,” that is not a claim it is a belief. I truly believe that if we as members of the GLBT community choose to, we can thrive. While we may define thrive differently as individuals it is possible for each of us to have a thriving life based on our own definition.
Question: Now, I know life coaches are supposed to be beneficial and I know that part of the role of a life coach is to provide such things a “removing mental blocks”, and many other (positive) life changes.
“Removing mental blocks” sounds like therapy to me depending on where the client is coming from. If the client is coming from a feeling or sense something is wrong then this is an issue for a counselor or therapist not a coach. If the client is coming from a sense that things are right or going well but could be better this is an issue coaching can impact.
With all of that being said, why would anyone who has benefited from exposure to either you or the other life coaches just mentioned, ever want to go through the monstrous rigors of trying to land the so-called “dream job” instead of becoming an entrepreneur?
What if you considered a job search a challenge, an adventure like hunting big game in Africa, with a camera if you prefer?
I ask this just for my own personal clarification because I attempted to sell all three of them on the benefits of having their personal coaching retraining graduates go into business for themselves, after all, there are no more “blocks” or limitations, correct? It just incongruent to me for one to go through such a positively life altering experience, only to set one’s sights “lower” by going after a mere job. Any thoughts?
Coaching is not about retraining a client, it’s about helping the client discover and enhance tools and resources they already have. As their coach I am not serving the client’s best interest if I am “selling… the benefits” of any outcome. My role as a coach is to help the client objectively look at the possibilities and let the client choose the outcome. A successful outcome is one the client feels honors their vision and purpose in life, one that brings them happiness. If it meets those tests it’s not lowering their sights for a mere job. It’s a successful outcome for that individual.
Posted on Sep 5th 06 by David Stocum.
David Stocum works empowering gay men to thrive in business, career and life. David hosts the ICF GLBT SIG, Rainbow Coaches Alliance (Coach U and Coachville) and Rainbow Network (GLBT business owners) online communities. David will be co-presenting at the ICF Conference on bringing Coaching to the GLBT community. David lives in Las Cruces, NM with his partner of 7 years. He is active in the local GLBT community as a volunteer. http://www.greatlivescoaching.com
Other posts on Coachamatic by David Stocum.
Great topic. Earlier this year I was offered a part-time job as facilitator of a coaching program at a nearby college. While I loved the idea of working with the prospective coaches, I had a visceral negative response to the idea of being an employee. I knew it would be bad for me. My compromise was to accept the offer to be an occasional guest presenter on the course, which was great. That said, I beleive absolutely that someone could well achieve a high degree of self-actualisation and self-realisation while being an employee. Sometimes to achieve things I’ve been able to achieve in my life I have simply had to join a team on the basis of being an employee. In the right circumstances, with the right employer and workmates, that can be hugely empowering and satisfying. And more than one very creative person has taken on a ‘routine’ job to give them the income to be able to spend time being creative without starving. Lots of ways in which having a job can be the best next step on the path.