For all Life Coaches, it's critically important to 'keep it clean'. This means keeping your own issues out of the coaching process and out of your mind while you are working with your client. It can be really easy to fall into the trap of getting invested in your own thinking, especially if you identify with a situation.
There may come a time when your identification and experience of the situation become useful for the client, but it is important to recognise that, as a coach, it's not your job to lead your client down any path at all to their desired outcome. Neither is it your job to determine or assume the desired outcome on behalf of your client.
So when coaching, remember to stay, 'content' free'. Be especially vigilant of your own state. Remember, if you are in really good rapport with your client, and have tested this by pacing and leading the rapport, if something your client tells you 'rattles' you - into an internal state and physiology that would not be useful for you to pass it on to your client - it may be best for you to downgrade, or even break, rapport and continue in a more detached mode.
Watch your questions for subconscious leading. We all want 'the best' for our clients but who determines 'the best'. They do! Don't lead them with your questioning or install assumptions and beliefs with your questions. Let your client determine their own desired outcomes and their own process for getting to it. Your job as a coach is to assist them in creating options and choosing their path.
Is there an exception to this? There might be. If you honestly believe your experience may be useful for them, explain to them that you have had an experience that caused you to identify with them and ask them if they would like to know about it. Then, tell them a story, impartially and without judgement or justification, of what happened and what you and other people did. Allow them to take from it whatever you will and, whatever you do, don't take any comments or feedback personally!
About Robert Neely: I have been practising and earning a living as a Life Coach for over 5 years, and I'm happy to share my experiences and learnings for you. I have made mistakes, done good things, made good money and had periods when I couldn't find work. Becoming a Life Coach has been a journey of discovery, satisfaction, highs and hard knocks. I've met and worked with some great people, and some not so good.
It's all here at http://www.all-about-life-coaching.com
You can get help to decide if Life Coaching is right for you, and what it can do for you. If you want to know about getting a life coach you can find out how. Perhaps you would prefer to learn more about what a life coach does and how life coaching works and coach yourself. Information and resources to help you is on Find out about being coached, or becoming a life coach at All About Life Coaching
Many people are considering a change of career to become a life coach. If this is you, you can read more about the background, skills and experience that life coaches have, and see if training to be a life coach is for you. You can find out about life coach training, and other associated training that may help you. Information about coaching professional bodies, accreditations and qualifications is also available from All About Life Coaching.
Please Contact Me at All About Life Coaching
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