What Life Coaching is not

Life Coaching is a rapidly growing global industry, with an annual growth rate in recent years of around 15-19%. And the results of some surveys and research done report that 99% of individuals and companies who hire a coach are satisfied, or very satisfied with their experience, and 80% report improved self-esteem or self-confidence due to coaching. Those are pretty outstanding statistics and obviously indicate a growing demand for life coaching in its various forms. Another statistic I came across recently said that 67% of adults in the United States are aware of the life coaching profession and 33% know nothing about it. Let’s touch here on what Life Coaching is not.

It is not:

A substitute for therapy or professional mental health treatment. While therapy and counseling focus primarily on addressing and resolving past traumas, psychological issues, and mental health concerns, life coaching is primarily future-oriented and focused on helping individuals set and achieve personal or professional goals. Life coaching is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment but rather a supportive and empowering process aimed at personal development and growth.

Someone providing all of your answers or solutions. Most Life Coaches do not typically give advice or tell clients what to do. Instead, they use various coaching techniques and tools to facilitate self-discovery, help clients gain clarity, explore possibilities, and develop strategies for achieving their goals. Coaches believe that clients have the inner wisdom and resources to find their own solutions, and their role is to support and guide them in the process.

A path or teaching for you to follow and copy. Life coaching is focused on the client and discovering their own unique path and purpose, and not about the client becoming like the coach or esteeming the coach as a guru and becoming a part of his/her following

A quick fix or a magic solution. While there can be some initial “aha” moments and insights, effective coaching generally requires time, commitment, and effort from both the coach and the client. Coaching is a collaborative partnership where the client takes an active role in their own growth and development. Coaches provide accountability, encouragement, and support, but the client is ultimately responsible for taking action and making positive changes in their life.

For people who know everything and are, therefore not teachable and find it difficult to change and try different approaches. To benefit from a life coaching experience, clients need to be open and willing to change and try different things and often means stepping out of old comfort zones. As the famous quote by Henry Ford says, “If you continue to do what you’ve always done, you’ll continue to get what you’ve always got.”

Having a sympathetic friend who will always hold your hand and cry with you. While a Life Coach can be a very sympathetic and understanding friend, their job as a professional life coach is to help clients reach the outcome and results they agreed on and this does not usually entail spending much time listening to life dramas and poor me “blame game” stories that we typically tend to discuss with easy-going friends and family members

Life coaching is not limited to specific areas of life. While there are specialized coaches who focus on specific areas such as career coaching, relationship coaching, spiritual coaching, health coaching, etc., life coaching as a whole can encompass various aspects of an individual’s life. It can address personal goals, attitudes, behaviors, professional aspirations, relationships, health and wellness, personal fulfillment, and more. Life coaches work with clients to identify their unique values, strengths and priorities and help them create outcomes and results based on their individual needs and desires.

While these statements generally describe what life coaching is not, there are, of course, many  variations and overlaps to these points depending on the clients and the individual coaches and their approaches.