How to get the most out of your Life Coach

by Todd Alan | Dec 14, 2010

It seems as though Life Coaching is a new trend, but in fact, only the term, “Life Coach” seems to be. The most successful people in the world, past and present will all agree that the best investment that has helped their careers is partnering with a mentor who helped lay the proper foundation to walk upon.

Some refer to me as a Life, Success or Holistic Coach. Even the term Spiritual Advisor has been used. In my corporate clients I am a Sales Coach or even a Business Consultant. In any and all cases the results are the same, more clarity, greater awareness of opportunities, increased ROI, all produced in efficient time periods.

When I work with people each week, I have noticed certain patterns in those who are serious about their growth and also patterns in those who are not. I can predict 100% of the time those who will not be renewing their contracts and who will return to self sabotaging behaviors and ways of being that keep them stuck. Which, as an insight into what has one ‘give up’, the decisions to turn back are usually fear based.

As I want everyone who decides to invest in partnering with a Life Coach to get the biggest bang out of your buck and the best use of your time, I have shared the patterns of success that have worked for my clients.

1 – Keep your appointment.
Those who show up, call in on time and view the time with their coach as sacrosanct, are the ones who achieve the greatest results in the shortest time. Not dropping out your own commitment to yourself shows a level of discipline, focus and determination that is needed in any pursuit in life.

2 – Call your Coach – They do not Call you.
I have witnessed coaching relationships with other coaches where the coach calls the client. This does not work! If you have hired a coach, you obviously consider them to be your mentor. To honor the energy of the student/teacher (although we all learn from each other) the student calling the teacher/coach is the best method of keeping the appointment. If you, as the student, are not able to make the call be proactive and text or email ahead of time. If you coach is like me, his/her time is very valuable and booked down to the minute each day. Respect time and time will respect you.

3 – Have a Plan for your time.
In between appointments with your coach Life happens. to use the time that you have with your coach most efficiently it is best to have a few discussion points laid out ahead of time. Reflect on your life and find what is most ‘up’ for you at the moment. Maybe you had a rough patch in a discussion with a peer, or your boss. Maybe your home life is a bit stressed, or you feel stuck in your decision making. Perhaps your health patterns are waning and you are not sure why you cannot keep your commitments. Look at all areas of your life and find the one that has the most ‘heat’ on it. Bring it up and ask if you can have help looking at it to learn what it is calling for you to know about yourself. I guarantee that one area of awareness will penetrate all other areas of your life as well.

4 – Avoid telling the whole story.
The time with your coach is valuable and, often times expensive. The best coaches charge the most money. I know this personally because mine is $850 an hour*. This is not a social time with your coach to see how their weekend was or how the family is doing. Each minute well spent in using the coach for what he or she is best at will advance your life all that much more quickly and efficiently. If you need to get a point across for the learning point, cut to the chase, leave off the sideline stories, drama or bits and pieces.

5 – Take your own inventory before the call.
A quality of a dedicated student is one who is open to hearing what the coach perceives and is willing to grow from his or her experiences. To open up to advice, I have learned that when I take my own personal inventory, listing the areas of my life that are going well, those that are not and where I most hope to improve allows me space to learn. I also list qualities that I know I shine in, and those I would like to improve upon. When I am humble about my own short comings, I am more teachable.

6 – Take Notes and keep track of them.
I cannot tell you how many times I have been on a call when my coach has shared some poignant advice and I was without a pen and paper. Through my own awareness of needing to be prepared for each call, I now keep a notebook and document the not only the advice my coach gives, but also my ‘ahh ha’ moments and thoughts and then reflect on them from time to time to track my own progress. My students have loved this practice and share that it is very helpful to their growth as well.
7 – Focus during the call.
A connection with a Life Coach is powerful. I have taken phenomenal steps forward through the connection with my Life Coach.  There is an energy created in the moment
when you fully focus on the intent of the call, the words being spoken and the questions that are being evoked through the connection. When multiple things are going on, like checking emails, driving to work, or walking to your destination while you are on the phone with your coach, you risk the chance of missing an important moment of inspiration. My advice is to put aside all other tasks, texting, close the laptop or move to a room with no disturbances. Take the time to focus with your coach on your life and advancements you want to make.

8 – Do your homework.

I often give my clients exercises to do during the week to bring forth the learnings they are going for in their lives. My clients have shared that when they apply the homework and do as suggested, they have weekly breakthroughs.

9 – Trust the process.
I have seen people at the edge of a breakthrough in their lives whether it was shifting a belief system on self doubt and self sabotage or simply taking the steps necessary to reach that pivotal goal in business success. At the closet point of a major shift, one that will bring freedom, wonder, happiness, wealth, more health, or deep love, there is a preceding period of fear where old paradigms are being restructured.
In this place one can feel alone but it is the hand of a strong coach that supports you and reminds you of the goal. Like a coach on the field of life, your coach does not give up on you and can see just how close you are to the end zone. Trust the process with your coach and stay in the game no matter how hard it gets. Your dreams, your vision and your life is worth it.

10 – Report your progress.
In my coaching program I speak to my clients twice a week, once on Monday’s and then again on Thursday’s, which allows them one more day of the work week (Friday) to go for the gold of their goals. This structure for coaching has worked wonders and most, if not all clients have reported immense growth in all their goals and a shortened time frame for reaching them, over and above their original expectations. Another factor that they do not readily perceive as beneficial, but in hindsight see that it was their doing that made the progress come so rapidly is that I ask them to check in during the week. I say, “Today is a big day for you, call me if you need the extra boost. I am here for you.” Reach out to your coach when you need them, you will know the proper balance that has your own wings grow. When we are learning to fly, we come back to the nest to get our bearings. Simple text messages, quick phone calls, or even email works well at keeping you on track and your coach in touch with your progress. Plus you get attitude boosting comments back that have you know you have a partner with you in your pursuits.

I hope this has been of help to you in knowing how to best use your Life Coach relationship. Find one that resonates with you and one who knows how to bring out the best in you.

Next week…. “Where to find the best Life Coach for you.”

Every best wish,
Tina Marie
“The Evokateur”

Tina Marie is the President and Founder of Seer International, a corporation that is dedicated to the upleveling of humanity. Seek your highest potential. Discover the Life Coaching programs available to you at Seer International. www.seerinternational.com

Tina Marie’s programs in the Living to the Power of YES! Series have commanded the attention of corporations, organizations and high powered individuals across the globe.
Sign up to experience how you can Live to the Power of YES! in your life at www.tinamarie.com

Note from Tina Marie – “The coaching program of your choice will determine your results. I have partnered with the best in the business to gain permanent forward results for my life. I assessed the many thousands I had spent on therapy and retreats and decided for 3 years to invest my money in a mentor that can ‘hold my feet to the fire’ on what I say I want to achieve. I have, in one year, become financially free, am in my dream job, hang with celebrities, travel the world, am in perfect health, and am recognized for my genius in the world. Likewise I coach my clients in the same manner, with the same results, but at an hourly rate that is more affordable by my client base.  My office can provide a financial assessment of your goals and help monetize what your returns will be on a Life Coaching program. We only work with serious students of this work and those who expect serious return. Email Nila at holisticnila@gmail.com to obtain your free assessment if you are interested in how Life Coaching can help you get your life soaring.