Getting The Most Out Of Your Life Coaching Program

I stopped by The Total Life Success Forum today checking out what's been happening lately. I've been busy with my own goals and haven't been participating much. I was reminded how supportive other people can be on our life journeys. Check out the forum and join in.

It's great for getting over those stubborn plateaus that we sometimes allow to hold us in place. Here is an article by the Forum Founder, Mark Farmer on Getting The Most Out Of Your Coaching Program

5 Quick Steps for Speeding Up the Results of Your Coaching!

#1. Don't just "do the homework"... Do the homework aiming for extra-credit.

If the week's homework was to "be soulfish", don't just try one thing that week to put your soul first. Aim for 7 times (1 a day)... or 10... or 21 (3 a day!)

Whatever the homework is, you can do it three ways -- not at all (you keep getting what you keep getting), begrudgingly (often a self-fulfilling prophecy "I'll try this... but nothing is really going to change...") or going for extra credit ("Let's see exactly what will change if I do this and how fast things will change.")

Aim for extra-credit on every homework assignment.

#2. Email back the homework results early.

Even if the homework is to do X for the week... you can email me back after a couple of days of doing X, letting me know what the results have been and how you're feeling.

The earlier you complete your homework assignment or provide feedback on how you've whole-heartedly dived into it, the earlier I'm able to respond.

I generally try to get back to clients w/in 24 hours and always try to include useful feedback.

By Emailing me early in the week you can easily get in another 2-3 "sessions" each week via Email.

#3. Come to each session with something specific you want to be coached on.

I generally prepare loose plans for each client I work with and rarely don't have anything to suggest that we could use a session for. BUT... coaching works best when... we use real life.

That is, coaching works best when the CLIENT is driving what they're seeking coaching on each session AND using a real-life example of something that came up that week related either to the main themes we've been working on OR something that takes priority.

Come to each session having planned out what *you* need coaching on and with what result you'd like to get to in that session.

#4. Ask for tangible results.

Despite the fact that coaching is always going on when we talk, even if it's occurring under the surface, "back ending" (the primary way I like to work on causes, not simply the symptoms that may be most noticeable) or in my leaving open space...

Many, many, many clients feel best, especially initially (before much trust between coach and client) when there's something tangible they're working toward.

If tangible results will help you know that coaching is "working", then by all means, ask for tangible results.

We can isolate specific, tangible goals to work on (that also draw us forward on the back-end items), we can put in place tangible way-markers for some of the more "directional" or intangible goals or we can simply discuss how in-tangible actions might actually result in tangible results.

But putting in place measurable goals often lets clients know they ARE changing their life.

#5. Surround yourself with a community of do-ers

Anytime you begin to change your life, others around you will begin to get uncomfortable. Frankly... they liked you and were used to you... the way you were.

It's hard enough to make radical changes in your life on your own, much less when others are overtly or subvertly encouraging you to return to your "old" self or just stay stuck.

Beyond your coach, surround yourself with others who ARE comfortable in supporting your profound life changes. If you're not able to find people around you, then consider joining a virtual community such as http://TotalLifeSuccess.com to support your life's success.

You've begun coaching because you're ready for change. Your life coaching is an investment in yourself and you can ensure that you're milking out every ounce of value in it by doing what YOU can.

Take the above 5 steps and you'll not only get every ouce of value out of your coaching you can, you'll rocket yourself light-years forward in your progress.

Mark Farmer
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