Life Coaching Stats

To those who insist that coaching results can’t be proven, the following information from CBS News might be of interest.

“Successful organizations see coaching as something much more than a perk. Done right, professional coaching can drive sales, employee engagement, creativity, workplace satisfaction, and bottom line results. Wellness programs have been shown to provide approximately a 300% return on investment (ROI). In other words, companies who spend $1 in a wellness program (i.e. exercise clubs, personal trainers, smoking cessation workshops) earn $3 as a result of decreased turnover, fewer sick days, reduced health insurance costs, etc. It’s no wonder wellness programs have experienced such tremendous growth — it makes financial sense.”

According to the Harvard Business Review, “Forty years ago, no one talked about executive coaching. Twenty years ago, coaching was mainly directed at talented but abrasive executives who were likely to be fired if something didn’t change. Today, coaching is a popular and potent solution for ensuring top performance from an organization’s most critical talent. Almost half the coaches surveyed in this study reported that they are hired primarily to work with executives on the positive side of coaching—developing high-potential talent and facilitating a transition in or up. Another 26% said that they are most often called in to act as a sounding board on organizational dynamics or strategic matters. Relatively few coaches said that organizations most often hire them to address a derailing behavior.”

In addition, according to CBS News, “Coaching is good for anyone who is motivated to create a better life.”

Gone is the stigma of days gone by linking coaching to therapy. Now coaching is actually seen as a perk and in some circles—including the corporate world—coaching is looked upon as a status symbol.

The same CBS News article goes on to state, “Companies across the board are similarly opting for coaching to help their high-potential executives perform in larger, rapidly-changing roles in a globalized world.”

The article continues, “More and more companies are recognizing the powerful benefits of providing coaching to rank and file employees. For example, online shoe and clothing company Zappos.com, known for their outstanding commitment to creating a culture of unparalleled customer service, has a full-time goals coach who works with any employee—not just management—on helping them create better lives.”

The CBS News article sums it up by adding, “Good coaching focuses on an individual’s strengths and aims to help the client achieve what they want more of in life and at work. The goal? To help the client identify and achieve their greater goals and to help them live a better life. A good coach isn’t there to “fix” anyone, but to help the client navigate toward a more engaged and compelling future.”

Another thing to keep in mind is the investment you will make once you’ve identified the right coach. According to the Harvard Business Review, coaches can run anywhere from about $200 per hour to $3,500 per hour, although the median hourly cost of coaching is $500. The Harvard Business Review states, “Most often you can expect to pay about $500 an hour—the cost of a top psychiatrist in Manhattan.”

Top 10 Reasons for Having a Life Coach

Here are the Top 10 Reasons You Need a Life Coach!

1. Goals: You will set far better and more realistic goals that motivate you. Many people have never created a Goal Setting Strategy, which is why most people when asked `what do you want?’ they can only respond with “I know what I don’t want”. A coach is an expert in helping you to identify and set realistic and achievable goals that you really want. Choosing the right goals for you is an art; a coach will help you clarify your personal values, so that you have something really solid on which to develop your goals. Value-based goals are naturally motivating.

2. Accomplishments: Your goals, tasks and projects will be accomplished more quickly. Working with a coach can save time; you will learn how to be far more effective, efficient and productive in everything that you do in all aspects in your life. The Coach has the tools and techniques to share with their clients so that things get done in half the time.

3. Clarity: You’ll make fewer mistakes. Working with a Coach enables you to gain clarity on any situation, enabling you to make the right choice and decision for you to move forward in your life. A coach generally will not, unless asked, be directive. With your coach you will work on your ideal life, you will be encouraged to visualize your future so you are in no doubt which path to take that is right for you.

4. Focused: You’ll move forward in your professional and personal life. By working with a coach you will see where you are right now, work out where you want to be and create the necessary steps to grow to reach your goals. It is not always about getting to the top of your profession or moving up the ladder (although it can be) sometimes people just want to be happy and acknowledge that this is also ok. By working out what you do want, and not what you don’t want, you will be able to focus on the positive and enjoy the process.

5. Happiness: You will be able to reduce the number of problems in your life. Most people will agree that happiness plays a major part in their lives. To create happiness you need to reduce the number of problems you have and be able to handle any that you will encounter. Life is too short and problems are too expensive; working with a Coach, your happiness will increase and problems decrease.

6. Finances: You are more likely to make more money. Your coaches will help you to leverage your ability to make money, i.e., getting a raise, choosing a better career, starting a business, improving profitability, adding more value to your customers, proper pricing, productivity and other value adds. Sure, Coaching is personal, but it almost always includes a strong financial aspect.

7. Stress: You will have a lot less stress in your life. Coaches know how to help you to reduce stress, integrate all aspects of your life, simplify or downshift, and re-orientate around what makes you the happiest. What good is increased productivity and profitability if you are too stresses to enjoy it?

8. Effective: You will be much more effective and influential with everyone in your life. Communication makes life. A good Coach is an expert communicator and works with you on how to come across better, relate well with others, listen aggressively, influence, Coach, motivate and support others.

9. Wiser Decisions: Once you hire a good life coach you start learning to trust your inner wisdom and intuition. You will actually start to think differently! It is as if you retrain your brain to appreciate the good and find the positive in your life. This allows you to look for solutions not problems. You will learn new ways to think and perceive your life and relationships. You will gain a wider perspective. You will receive unbiased, non-judgmental support and guidance. You will learn to stop self-sabotage, self-doubt and overcome restrictive beliefs.

10. Life: You’ll have a better life, not just a better lifestyle. The term `Quality of Life’ has become overused in the past few years, but the trend of people seeking to create a much better life for themselves is accelerating. In fact, people are re-examining what they had assumed that a good life was (married, 2.3 kids, nice car, secure job, church on Sundays, 3 weeks of vacation a year) and are now creating their own life, often breaking the rules and flying in the face of conventional wisdom in the process. Coaches understand the designing your life process and have already made many of the design changes in their life, which you are just now beginning to make.

What’s Meaningful To You?

What inspires you? What moves you? What makes you smile? Laugh? What fills you with so much love that you weep?  What fills you with wonder? What makes you feel like a carefree kid? What gives you a sense of freedom? What makes your heart beat faster? What takes your breath away? What makes you feel grateful? What is your dream? Your BIG dream…you know the one I am talking about – the one you won’t even say out loud, because it’s too big. What if you gave yourself permission to have it all? What if you took two minutes right now to imagine it? Go ahead…