New Year New You

The International Coach Federation (ICF) conducted a global survey with respondents from 73 countries recently that established some encouraging facts about the scale and seriousness of the coaching business:

There are at least 30,000 coaches operating worldwide

• Two-thirds of respondents to the ICF survey were female
• Coaches spend £63 million per year on professional development

So how do you know if life or business coaching is for you?

Coaching can make a valuable contribution to your personal life or career - basically any area where you wish to make vast improvements. If a person applies themselves to coaching i.e. with full commitment, managed expectations and realism, the coaching journey can literally change their lives for the better. But it is important to disitnguish between coaching and therapy.

There are obvious similarities between coaching and therapists; both are there to assist individuals and offer practical solutions, pointing them in the right direction. But coaching supports general life situations, whereas therapy focuses on one certain area and can include practices such as hypnosis. It is important to distinguish between coaching and therapy and it’s yet another reason why it’s crucial to work with a qualified coach. These professionals will be aware of their limitations and will offer best practice advice to the person making the enquiry.

For anyone interested in working with a Coach, the first step is to find a suitably qualified individual. When arranging a consultation, be honest about your expectations and how much time you can commit to this area of your life. Ideally, work with someone that has been recommended to you, though it may be apparent when speaking to prospective Coaches whether they will be suitable.

The Association for Coaching® is a leading professional body for Coaches, Training/Coaching Providers, and Sponsors of Coaching involved in:

Executive, Business, Personal, Speciality, Team Coaching, & Building Coaching Cultures. 

Louise Wightman t/a Approach The Coach is a registered coach based in Glasgow. Please contact her for a free, no-obligation consultation at louise@approachthecoach.co.uk or call 07739 345803. Her website is www.approachthecoach.co.uk.

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