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Deborah Bianca • Aug 23, 2022

HOW I DECIDED TO BECOME A LIFE COACH

Life and career changing decisions

From a young age, I’ve always known that I wanted to help people in some way. I remember graduating high school and a conversation I had with my grandfather about what to do next. At that time I had no idea what to do with the rest of my life. The only thing I knew is I wanted to be of service to people. He suggested becoming a nurse. The only problem was that I didn't like blood. He then suggested becoming a secretary and I did that for one year before dropping out. I found the accountancy part very boring and numbers were never my strong suit.


Fashion I found interesting as well and I got accepted into an art and fashion college. I merely wanted to make pretty clothes and they had me pick up leaves in autumn to create a color board. I know now how important it is to match colors but at the time it was too technical for me.


Another year had passed and I still didn’t know what I wanted to do, so I started working. I had many different jobs from cleaner to airport security in the following years. All were wonderful experiences and helped mold me into the person I am today. Now I finally know what I want to do with the rest of my life and I’ve never been happier. Come on this journey of self-discovery with me and learn how I decided to become a Life Coach.


What do I wish I knew 20 years ago?

I have no regrets…..well maybe one, but I’ve learned to accept them and learned from them. Now that I’ve reached this point in my life I wish there was someone like me or one of the other coaches back then to help guide me through a very uncertain and confusing time. The environment I grew up in was very encouraging but not in the dream big area. I was taught to “follow the herd” and conform to what society dictated. I did that mostly by going to college and working but it never felt right. Plug to check out my other blog on How To Escape The Heard.


However, I was not emotionally or mentally ready for what I am doing now. I did not have enough life experience. The main reasons for this determination didn’t exist yet. You see, I was brought up pretty sheltered yet still exposed to other cultures, nationalities, and ways of life. It was a happy childhood with some not-so-happy moments but I was very much loved and cared for by my grandparents who raised me. To this day I am convinced this attributed to me being a positive, happy, and smiley person …….95% of the time. 


How I decided to become a Life Coach.


#1
Find your inspiration

My inspiration came to me during a Mind Power training from Robin Banks. He was teaching a method on how to deal with negative thoughts. Shamelessly plugging my other blog How To Approach Negative Thoughts. At that time I was dealing with this one relentless thought that would pop up and scare me every time I thought about my future. I won’t bore you with the details but I was not amused and didn't know how to make it go away or just be quiet. Until Robin taught me how. That was a life-changing moment for me and in an instant, I felt this overwhelming urge to share this with the world. Challenge accepted! I will become a Life Coach and share this gem with those who need it. And like that the decision was made.


Your inspiration might come differently. You could be on a walk, meditating, or even in the middle of a conversation when that divine revelation finds you. Think about what you love doing and keep your eyes, ears, and mind open. It can come when you least expect it to. 

#2 Take action immediately

Once you’ve been inspired and decided on what it is that you want to do, take action. Don’t wait! Write it down, break it down into bite-sized chunks and work on it EVERY DAY. Don’t overthink it and GO! Procrastination will creep up on you and before you know it 6 months have passed leaving you nowhere near taking the starting point. 


I immediately started doing my research about the coaching business and how to become one. I wrote down everything I needed to do and created a vision board. The next week I found a course and signed up. I now have a certificate in Life Coaching and in October I start the diploma follow-up course. I also signed up for an Essential Counseling Skills course in college to get a deeper understanding of human behavior. These are the first steps and I have many more planned. I want to ensure I have the best foundation to provide top-tier coaching to my future clients. I won’t settle for anything less. 


#3 Learn to manage your fear

When you feel overwhelmed, take some time off and don’t think about it for a day or even a week. It’s okay if you need to step back for a while. I did it too and came back more driven and ready to get to it.

On the other hand, don’t avoid it. Meet it head-on. Don’t engage with it and recognize the intention behind it.  See it in a positive light and get excited about it. When you convert it into something beneficial to you, it loses its power and crippling effect enabling you to move forward more empowered and confident.


It’s okay to admit that you’re scared. When I focus on that unnerving feeling in my stomach I want to go hide under the covers. That feeling that asks me from time to time if I’m sure I can do this. Most of the time it’s a resounding YES! Other times, it’s still a resounding YES! During this journey, I have learned that fear is my friend and wants to keep me safe from harm. That is why it’s asking and making sure I am ready for the good and the bad that is to come because it can see the determination and resolve I have. This is when I reply "there is no other option for me. I have found my calling."


#4 Celebrate

It’s also important to celebrate the wins. Every little tick behind a task that propels you forward and moves you closer to your goal is a win. You should be proud of yourself for accomplishing that. Looking at the big picture can cause you to feel stressed, but when adding up all the little steps you took you’ll realize that you’ve come a long way.


I did a little dance when I finally registered my business name and when I got my business bank account. Even though I’m still far from reaching my goal, these were major milestones for me. It took me months to get this done. Various reasons made me put these off. Fear was one of them. Doing this would make it real. When the moment arrived there was a feeling of elation and relief. It was really real now. There was no turning back from this point onward. 


Conclusion

Remember that the road ahead is going to be bumpy but are you ready and willing to get on that ride? You can decide to stay in your comfort zone or to utilize the gift that was sent to you. It doesn’t have to be big or life-changing. Even if it’s deciding to move up the corporate ladder, move houses, or even countries. What’s important is that you make a plan and take the necessary steps to get to where you want to be.


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Coaching is a powerful tool for employees, employers, and the workplace as a whole. When used effectively, coaching can help employees grow into their full potential and make more effective decisions. It can also help employers retain their best talent and increase overall workplace productivity. But not everyone understands how workplace coaching works or why it's important—and that makes it a challenge to implement this practice successfully. In this article, I'll explore some of the most important benefits of employee coaching while also addressing common challenges associated with this practice. Coaching, in its simplest form, is like having a personal trainer for your personal and professional life. Think of it like this: instead of teaching you the best gym exercises, a coach guides you through the maze of life and workplace challenges. They're there to help you hone your skills, set clear goals, and navigate those limiting beliefs, tricky office politics or career roadblocks. In today's ever-changing workplace, where adaptability and continuous learning are the name of the game, having a coach is more vital than ever. They offer that extra layer of support, ensuring you not only stay on top of your game but also evolve and grow with the times. And the best part? When employees feel supported through coaching, they're happier, more engaged, and perform better—making it a win-win for everyone involved. So, in essence, coaching isn’t just a fancy corporate term; it's a tool to make work feel a bit more like play and a lot more productive. The Link Between Coaching and Performance. Coaching is a great way to improve performance in any area of life. It can help you perform better at work, but it's also a tool for self-improvement and personal growth. For example, coaching can help you develop new skills or learn how to be more effective on the job by providing regular feedback and guidance in skill development. This will help clarify job roles and expectations, as well as increase motivation and boost confidence in employees when they're supported properly. Benefits of Coaching to Employees. Coaching can be a powerful tool for employee engagement, retention, and performance. Increased productivity: Coaching increases productivity by helping employees learn new skills and develop their confidence at work. It also helps them become more self-aware so they can recognize when they need help or support from others in order to perform their best. Reduced turnover: When employees feel valued, they are more likely to stay with an organization longer than those who don't get coaching support from managers or mentors. Coaching provides tailored training for each individual employee based on their needs; this tailored approach helps build trust between the coach/mentor and mentee/apprentice so both parties feel like they are being heard during coaching sessions (or mentoring sessions). This leads directly into increased job satisfaction among those who receive regular coaching sessions versus those who do not receive any type of development opportunities during employment at all! Benefits to Employers? The benefits to employers are clear: Well-coached employees often work more efficiently, which can lead to better work-life balance and more engaged employees. Coaching helps improve communication and collaboration among teams, fostering a culture where people feel they have access to their leaders and are heard when they have ideas or concerns. This is especially important in today's workplace, where many employees are working remotely or across multiple locations due to the nature of their jobs. Different Types of Coaching. There are many types of coaching, each with its own focus and approach. Some examples include: Performance Coaching: Focuses on improving an employee's job performance. The coach can help the employee identify goals, develop action plans and provide support as they work towards those goals. This type of coaching typically takes place one-on-one or in small groups at regular intervals over time (e.g., weekly). Skills Coaching: Concentrates on developing a specific skill set (such as public speaking) so that employees become more effective at performing their jobs well or reaching new career goals within their organization. Skills coaches may offer guidance in areas such as time management or effective communication skills; they may also provide feedback after observing how an employee performs during training opportunities like workshops or conferences where these skills might be put into practice outside the office environment. Tips for Implementing Effective Coaching. Coaching is a two-way street. To get the most out of your coaching experience, it's important that the company selects the right coach the right coach for their employees. The organization should ensure that the coach understands its values and goals before hiring them. Next, set up regular feedback sessions between the employee and the manager so they can provide continuous feedback throughout the year rather than just annual reviews. This will help ensure that both parties stay on track with their objectives while also keeping communication lines open at all times throughout the process--which ultimately leads us into our third point: creating safe environments where employees feel comfortable expressing themselves without fear of retaliation from upper management or peers in other departments (or even within their own). Next comes setting clear objectives for each session so everyone involved knows what needs improvement as well as how much time will be spent achieving those improvements (remember: "quality over quantity"!). Finally, measure results after each meeting using metrics like increased productivity levels due to better work habits acquired through coaching sessions; decreased turnover rates due "better fit" between employee personalities/work styles vs job requirements; etcetera... Challenges in Coaching. Coaching is a continuous process and not a one time event. Coaching can be applied to any situation where there is an individual or team that needs to improve performance, increase productivity and/or maximize their potential. The benefits of coaching include: Improved performance Increased motivation Better communication skills However, there are also some challenges with implementing coaching programs in an organization. These include: resistance to change; time constraints and costs associated with hiring coaches (or training existing employees) I hope you've gained a better understanding of the benefits of workplace coaching and how it can be implemented in an organization. Keep in mind that it will require time and effort from both parties involved-employees and managers alike. But with the right support from senior leadership, coaching can be a great way to improve employee performance while also improving morale at work!
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