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Carl Maswoswa-Youth Interactive Writer

Coaching has evolved to become one of the most sort for professions be it in sports, life, and career related fields. 

This article will focus more on the role played by a life coach, as l had a meeting with a group of friends telling them what l do part-time, they could not ascertain whether it was true.

 You a life coach, what do you mean, isn’t this some daylight scam.

 There are so many misconceptions about life coaching I want to shed some light on. 

Being a Life Coach for nearly three years, the general populace regard coaches as a means to an end where in actual fact there are merely catalysts in propelling you to where you want to be. 

When I finished my life coaching classes no one told me l would face problems so strong, enough to destroy my career, reputation and name. 

Thinking we live in an ideal society where everyone knows coaching and its benefits, just like a fresh graduate straight out of university thinking he or she will easily find a job seems a fallacy. 

A “Life Coach” is a type of wellness professional who helps people make progress in their lives in order to attain greater fulfillment. Life Coaches aid their clients in improving their relationships, careers, and day-to-day lives.

Sorting out friends and clients

Social media interactions make life coaching complicated. 

In as much as there is nothing wrong in getting clients from friends or Facebook. 

The instance of drawing the line becomes an issue if a friend becomes a coaching client.

Introducing or establishing a delineation is stress on its own. 

I faced an incident where a client developed feelings for me during the coaching engagement. 

I had to stop the coaching completely not saying coaches are not human who do not have feelings. 

My mentor said, let not your area of purpose become your hunting ground. 

It distorts the whole purpose of life coaching as it thrives on reputation. 

As Benjamin Zulu says just because you were the torch bearer for someone to get salvation does not mean you should take advantage of their emotional state. Thus it poses problems for coaches.

Life Coaches seek to create an impact rather than make money from it

The primary role of coaching is to impact and change lives, and whilst at it,the coach should  enjoy the benefits that come with it.

There is nothing wrong in building a booming coaching business however emphasis should not be placed on the monetary part. 

However coaching should be structured in way that puts  the client needs first. 

As John Wooden says, “a good Coach can change a game, a great coach can change a life” Life Coaches have the greatest treasures on earth that is the human life in their hands, they have the potential to make client boom or destroy a life thus priority should be always be placed on the life of the client.

Probono Coaching

At International Coaching and Mentoring Foundation, one of our mantra is EVERYONE NEEDS A LIFE COACH be it someone is who is homeless, incarcerated, unemployed, wealthy without imputing the cost factor into our services every time. A Life Coach should dedicate his or her time to the underprivileged citizens of the society to measure his or her effectiveness and efficiency without getting paid.

A Life Coach does not know it all

People may become Coaches simply because of their skill in working with people but might know some areas since they would have chosen an area of specialization. 

A Life Coach might need professional development in those areas. As Jim Palmer puts it, the law of attraction isn’t the only personal growth principle known to mankind. You will be surprised how little many coaches know when it comes to fields such as psychology, linguistics, neuroscience, philosophy or even website development.

The Coaching Myth

You do not have to live a perfect life, drive a sports car and have properties all over the country whilst that may give you an edge, statistics bring out people who had nothing still were good Coaches. 

If you have seen Moneyball, Any Given Sunday, Facing The Giants or Uncle Drew you can relate anyone is capable of making a difference. Being You stands out. 

The absence of material things does not mean you cannot pursue your inner drive to make an impact saving lives. 

It is up to you to decide which personal development path you want to take.

Life Coaches do not give out stipends to their struggling clients

We are living in unprecedented times, where most of the things we are facing needs money. 

The role of coaching is to empower the client and foster independence in thinking, goal setting or project startups. A Coach responsibility is to give the client strategies to assist them in empowering themselves.

Next time you engage with a Coach remember these!!!