Tweet

The Coaching Phenomenon

Written by: Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

Article Overview: For years, it was the private secret of the business world. Corporate executives experienced it behind closed doors, in board rooms, and in departmental meetings. Now, the secret's out of the closet, and the public has discovered it.

The Coaching Phenomenon

For years, it was the private secret of the business world. Corporate executives experienced it behind closed doors, in board rooms, and in departmental meetings. Now, the secret's out of the closet, and the public has discovered it.
What's the secret? Personal Life Coaching.
The phenomenon of life coaching has taken the public by storm. People from all walks of life are now hiring coaches to help them meet both personal and career-related goals. Businesses, both large and small, are looking to coaches to help implement corporate vision, develop strong leaders, and build unity among the ranks. Even churches have turned to coaching as a viable and effective tool for helping their congregations fulfill their God-ordained destinies.
After September 11, 2001, a paradigm shift occurred in the consciousness of the American people. Suddenly, the rat-racers stopped in their tracks as the social and economic treadmills of money and financial gain came to a screeching halt. Things long forgotten--such as the importance of core values and personal relationships--surfaced once again like oil on water. People began questioning the meaning of their lives. They began to realize that what ultimately matters is no longer the bottom line, but the bottom of the human heart.
How to get to the bottom of the human heart became the pressing question and burning desire of many. Enter the Life Coach to offer insight and support.
What exactly is coaching? Coaching is a collaborative effort between coach and client in the process of helping the client discover and fulfill his or her life purpose. Unlike counseling that looks backward, coaching looks forward. Counselor-turned-Coach Gary R. Collins says it like this: "Coaching is not reactive looking back; it's proactive looking ahead. It is not about healing; it's about growing."
Coaching involves dialoguing and brainstorming, rather than advice-giving or therapy. It is results-oriented and focuses on setting and achieving goals.
Like a football coach or a personal trainer, the Life Coach is a strategist, offering "plays" for winning at the game of life and encouragement for overcoming the hurdles along the way. The role of the Coach is to offer the client strategies for success and a framework for accountability. Indeed, accountability is one of the key factors that make coaching so effective. As a rule, people tend to accomplish more when they have to answer to someone for their goals.
A major reason for the surge in life coaching is that traditional support systems--such as family and close friends--no longer play a significant part in our mobile society. Deborah Munson notes, "Our culture is creating individuals who are feeling increasingly isolated yet pressured to give more and be more to their employers, businesses, communities, and churches coupled with a need to create more personal time and a less stressful lifestyle. The desire to do so is there. But the wherewithal to achieve this has to come from within, and that is not always easy to access and develop on one's own. Enter the life coach." The coach fills the role of sounding board once held by a relative or a close friend. Collins points out that "support constitutes the most distinguishing feature of coaching."
A second major reason for the surge in life coaching is the increased interest in things spiritual since the 9-11 catastrophe. As a result, people are realizing their need to address the spiritual aspect of their lives, not just the material.
This is where the Christian Coach bears a significant responsibility. Much current coaching focuses on New Age philosophies that view man as the center of the universe. Such an approach invariably leads to ultimate disillusionment and failure because it is not based on absolute truth. The Christian Coach, on the contrary, focuses his or her coaching on the truth of God's Word, the only standard for a true understanding of the client's purpose in life. Armed with this understanding, the Christian Life Coach is uniquely equipped to help his or her clients catch the vision of what God desires for their lives.
Perhaps the best endorsement of the effectiveness of life coaching comes from those who have experienced it firsthand. Successful writer and now life coach herself, Marlee Huber of Washington State remarks, "I cannot adequately express the joy that I am feeling as I move forward in my mission." For Janet Alario of Colts Neck, New Jersey, coaching has been a means of regaining control of her life: "I have learned how to rearrange my life to accommodate my priorities and not remain a victim of circumstance." And in the words of businesswoman Tracy Chance of Millville, New Jersey, "being coached was like having a personal trainer for my mind."
Experiences like these prove that coaching is filling a real need at the right time. What was once a secret for the few is now a blessing for the many.
__________________________________________________________

_______________________ __________________________________
© by MaryAnn Diorio, Ph.D. All rights reserved. This article may not be published or reprinted without the written permission of the author. Doing so is a violation of copyright law and subject to legal action.

Related Articles
  Secrets to Filling your Coaching Practice
  So what differentiates a Life Coach from a Business Coach from an Executive Coach?
  8 Things that can lead you to start a Coaching Business
  Sales Team Transformation thru Coaching
  Sales Coaching - The Big Differentiator

Article Tags: artists, business, church growth, coaching, discipleship, executive coaching, pastors, personal growth, writers



Related Forum Posts
Re: need pricing help please - here's my opinion that was derived from the person I heard it from (Russell Brunson) I view internet Marketing products as a Ladder. At the bottom of the Ladder is ebooks and at the top is One on One Coaching. so the ladder would look like this starting from the Top ($$$) to Bottom($) One-to-One Coaching ($$$$$$) Workshops ($$$$$) Teleseminars ($$$$) Video($$$) Audio ($$) ebooks ($) I agree with this methodology mainly because of the convenience factor and value from the customers point of view.
Re: need pricing help please - [quote="jvprosperity":t4htv1h6]here's my opinion that was derived from the person I heard it from (Russell Brunson) I view internet Marketing products as a Ladder. At the bottom of the Ladder is ebooks and at the top is One on One Coaching. so the ladder would look like this starting from the Top ($$$) to Bottom($) One-to-One Coaching ($$$$$$) Workshops ($$$$$) Teleseminars ($$$$) Video($$$) Audio ($$) ebooks ($) I agree with this methodology mainly because of the convenience factor and value from the customers point of view.[/quote:t4htv1h6] I also agree with this methodology, but sometimes some ebooks sell more in 2 digits. My 26 pages report sell for $9.77
Re: Business Women Peer Mentoring Spotlight - That is a great idea, David. This is what I had in mind for the Women's section, but it makes sense to post in on the main site. Of course, I'm waiting for some women to step up to the plate and share how they could use some support on taking the next step with their business! If you are a Business Woman reading this, I invite you to consider that this is not displaying weakness in any form. Peer mentoring and Coaching is incredibly valuable. You get to bounce your ideas off others, hear perspectives from outside your own box, and feel the power of others cheering you on. To me, it's wisdom to use all of our available resources to move towards business success. That's why I have my own Coach and my own Mentor Coaching Group. I also offer that to my clients. These are services one usually has to pay for and you could enjoy some of it free right here! So who wants to start? Can you tell I'm excited about the possibilities for you even before you begin? Warmly, Tami
Re: Business Women Peer Mentoring Spotlight - Hi Everyone, Gosh, I REALLY appreciate your concrete feedback. This was far more than I expected and I'm glad you said what you thought straight out. Each of you have shared something of value and I want to take some more time to think and really go over what each of you have said. However, I can see there are some things I need to change right away. What an interesting point about a NEW program perhaps making people think they are guinea pigs! This is NOT what I want to convey! It's funny how we can see some things so clearly in others while not always seeing it for ourselves! I must admit there are a few things I've been meaning to change (like my bio which is very outdated). Obviously, these things need to be higher on my priority list. You caught me like the plumber who puts his clients first and doesn't get around to fixing his own tap! As far as my target market, I do feel quite strongly about working with Women Leaders and doing Leadership Coaching with them. It's non-negotiable in my books. In my Executive Coaching training, the terms "Leaders" and "Executives" are interchangable. To me, an Executive is a Leader and so is the Business Woman or Entrepreneur who is CEO of her own business. I love working with decision makers! What I did learn is that I need to avoid opening up the Leadership term beyond what I described above. I'm also wondering if there is a misunderstanding with the general public as to what Leadership Coaching really is. Leadership Coaching is all about developing your leadership skills, both as a people manager and in more effectively running and growing the business. There is ALWAYS room for growth in some way. As well, sometimes, we just need a sounding board to clarify what our next BEST step is. In fact, if a woman thinks she has nothing to work on, then we aren't a good Client/Coach fit anyway. How can she grow if she doesn't see the value of expressing ALL of the great ability within her? How can her company grow if she doesn't see the value of strategic planning for the next best level? Thanks again to you all! I will go back to my website and really question whether I am conveying the right message. I got more than I bargained for in this Spotlight... you generously offered way more than I was asking. I think we could be on to something great for the Forum. Now it's time to let someone else have the spotlight. It would be great if everyone took a turn! In gratitude, Tami
What are you doing to grow your business Ladies? - Hi Ladies, I thought it might be great for us women to share what we are doing lately to develop our business(es). I have now signed a lease on a new commercial space where my husband and I plan to open a Sport's Consignment and Cappuccino Bar. We're an active tourist destination and we also want to give back to our local community by offering discounted quality equipment. I'm doing lots of research and planning right now. For my Coaching Business, I have signed up for a new coaching mentorship program by one of USA's top Executive Coach trainers, Drayton Boylston. He's sure to challenge me, offer continued professional development and keep me on track as I grow my Coaching business. I'm quite excited about the opportunity since you have to be invited to even participate in this group. What are you doing lately or what are you planning in order to develop your business? I'm hoping we can all encourage each other to keep our businesses growing. Warm regards, Tami


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Selling with Humor (and a Sorry Butt)

Bootstrapping Your Start Up Business.

Five keys to business success

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.