It seems that everywhere you look these days there is someone who professes to be a life coach. Some are trained and some are not. So what is a life coach? It is a person who coaches you to achieve your life goals in much the same way a sports coach coaches a team and his/her players. They are on your side. That doesn't mean they support everything you do. It doesn't' mean they do it for you and it doesn't mean they hold you accountable. What's left? Guidance, encouragement, observation and a solid sounding board as you approach your goals. They ask the tough questions. They also ask more of you. They ask you to grow your dreams as you make critical life changes.

Life coaches can be quite helpful. Often they have a specialty, for instance they may specialize in corporate growth, spiritual growth, organization, peak performance, relationships or one of many other specialties. They are especially valuable if you lack support within your own network of friends and family or you are going to attempt something that nobody you know has ever tried or tried and failed. They are especially valuable when you feel yourself stuck. The number of coaching sessions can vary widely depending on the life goals you want to accomplish and your rate of progress.

The coach will want to know about your personal background. They want to know this so they can better support and understand you. They might ask you to list some of the accomplishments you have achieved in your life so far. Now, this is where I hear some people saying they haven't accomplished anything so far. That isn't correct and we all know it. If you saw a toaster in a store and purchased it that is an accomplishment. If you ever loved and the love was returned that was an accomplishment. If you have managed to secure food and shelter for a day in your life that is an accomplishment. Many people have not achieved any of the above. What the answers to this question does is let both you and the coach know that you have achieved what you set your mind to before. It really sets the stage for you doing it again.

You could ask yourself these questions in your journal if you keep one as well. That would help you coach yourself. However, having another person to talk to and help you listen to your own voice is extremely important. It is often like counseling without the focus on past trauma. The focus is instead on finding your joy and your future.

.

You may be asked to write the answers to some of these questions down in a journal before you go to the meeting or phone consultation. The neat thing about life coaching sessions is they can be done over the phone with just as much success as if you went to an office and had a meeting in person. This means your coach doesn't even have to be in the same state or country to be very helpful.

The top two questions you are probably going to be asked are, (1) "What do you want to make sure you accomplish in this lifetime?" and "(2) What major shifts/leaps/changes do you believe you need to make in the next six months in order to do that?" You know when you hear those questions and you answer them you are on the way to make positive life long changes that will increase both your joy and productivity. Most people don't stop long enough to ask themselves those two very important questions and by not asking they find themselves wallowing in a life they are living by default. It is on the answers to these questions that the rest of the interview and planning will build.

You will find that just having a life coach will encourage you to go beyond your comfort zone and further your progress in life. Your coach, if you choose the right one, will be a gentle yet challenging person in your corner and will give you that proverbial kick in the pants we all need from time to time.

How do you know that you have the right coach? The person is honest with you, honest without being brutal, encouraging without being co-dependant, and firm without being abusive. As you can see being a good life coach is a balancing act and finding the right one for you is also important. .After the initial contact do you feel enlivened or oppressed? You need to feel engaged and energized toward action and looking forward to the next contact and the assignments in between.

You will need to make time to do the assignments. This doesn't require a lot of time. Procrastination is one of the things having a life coach helps you overcome. Make the critical contact, make the phone call, write the answers to key questions. All of this can be accomplished on a lunch hour or within a few moments each week. If you don't make the time you will begin to feel guilt. You will stop looking forward to the meetings. More importantly you will remain stuck in the life you know now instead of the one you tell yourself you want.

There are a number of ways a life coach can be a benefit to anyone who is searching to find themselves. There is one way to find out if a life coach can help you and that is by interviewing life coaches. Choose one that resonates with you and seems to understand your goals is very important. Take your time and choose wisely. This is your time and your investment in you and you deserve the best. Don't forget that. You are the reason. Your happiness, your personal growth and your performance are the goals of any life coaching experience.