Galway Now – December 2003
Life Coaching - By Jackie Dawson
I’m sure we’ve all heard the expression ‘sure he wouldn’t tell his left hand what his right hand was doing’. In fact, I heard of an elderly lady the other day who was changing her car. She bought the new car in the same colour as the old one in case the neighbours would notice and think she had come into money!
There was a time in Ireland when, if you were successful or doing well, you played it down. You definitely never told anyone how you did it. It was a BIG SECRET!
We all know someone whom we admire. Have you ever wondered how they do what they do? Are you curious but don’t dare to ask?
What’s interesting about life coaching is that now people have the opportunity to access the wisdom from coaches with diverse backgrounds, who walk their own talk and are trained to help you do likewise.
Life coaching is becoming better known ain Ireland. It’s big in the US and growing fast in the UK and many European countries, because it works.
It makes sense, when you think of it. People run out to book a session with a golf and tennis coach to perfect their game, so why not work on perfecting you life?
The higher up in the corporate chain you are, the more likely you are to have a coach. For example Bill Clinton and Tony Blair have had their own coaches. It’s the smart thing to do if you want to handle yourself well or to improve your life in any way.
Human Resource Departments constantly use life coaches to help bring out the best in their management and staff. Why? Because the return on investment is 60% higher from training followed by coaching than it is from training alone.
Wouldn’t it be nice to invest in yourself and get a 60% return? It’s comforting to know that if you are dissatisfied in some way with your life there’s a professional body of coaches who can help you.
Ann Kelly is a life coach who takes a very pragmatic approach to coaching. Her clients are people who want to be responsible for their own transformation. She helps them to seek new ways of operating and to use their natural resilience to make changes.
Ann says, “Life is full of uncertainty. The secret is handle yourself so well that the impact of the outside world is softened and more manageable. Temporary setbacks are just that, temporary.”
“For instance, one of my clients, a project manager, was feeling stuck in a company where she was not being promoted. She found the courage to move, was promoted twice within one year and is now being head hunted again. Her confidence soared and her income has increased significantly. Most of all, she knows how to handle herself and how to get what she wants.”
“Another client of mine, a business owner, felt he was working for his bank manager: his business wasn’t giving him the lifestyle he wanted. He has cleared his overdraft of 10 years; he no longer exposes himself to bad debt and is moving very successfully into a second business.”
“Life coaching works on the basis that we have the answers ourselves. Coaching is all about helping you find your own success buttons” Ann adds.
Having changed her own life completely over the years, Ann helps clients to seek new ways of operating and new directions. She provides one-to-one sessions, group seminars and runs her Personal Foundation for Success Programme, which is re-commencing at the end of January 2004.
“This programme is a means of revitalizing and renewing the fire in the belly. It puts you in the driving seat where you have more confidence and more control. You choose how you want to be and the life you want to live,” says Ann.
You can visit her website www.yourworldyouray.com and if you wish, subscribe to her monthly newsletter which has plenty of tips and advice for you.
Often coaches meet face to-face. However, for those who prefer more flexibility and do not wish to travel, there are a number of coaches who work individually, or in groups over the telephone.
As a result, life coaching is universal and, of course, email can come into play as an additional form of communication and feed back.
Fees vary from coach to coach, but they are usually based on a monthly fee, depending on the level of involvement. This is based on a weekly meeting or phone call and some interim email contact.
Most life coaching agreements last from 3-12 months and there are a number of specialized products or programmes, which may be introduced.
It may sound extravagant, but if it helps you get out of a rut and move in a more positive and profitable direction, it has to be well worth the investment.
Powerful stuff indeed. Certainly food for thought for the New Year.
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