You’ve had your life coaching consultation and are ready to get started. You may have never had life coaching before and wonder how to make the most of the experience.  While the coaching experience is unique to each person and situation, there are some common factors that can contribute to your coaching success.  Of these, there are three that are key to a successful life coaching journey.  

The three C’s of effective life coaching – Commitment, Clear goals, and Communication.

Commitment

The first C for effective life coaching is commitment.  As coaching is a process there are no quick fixes.  You, as the client, must be committed to the coaching process and willing to make a change.  As the saying goes, you only get out what you put in.

Before you start with coaching consider the following:

How important is it to you to achieve your goal(s)?

The goal should be important to you and, if it isn’t, it may not be the right time for coaching, or you may want to rethink the reason for the coaching.

Are you willing to commit the time for the coaching sessions?

Coaching sessions can be an hour or longer with a frequency of weekly, every other week, or monthly (as agreed between you and the coach).  It requires keeping the scheduled appointment and showing up on time and ready for the session.

Are you willing to complete coaching assignments in between sessions?

Quite often there are action items to complete between coaching sessions.  You are more likely to have success if you are willing to put in the time and effort to reach your desired outcome. Making the time to complete the action items will help you move closer to your goal.  

Clear goal(s)

The second C, having a clear goal or goals to work towards with your coach is essential. The goal(s) provides direction for each coaching session and is how you can ultimately measure coaching success.  At the beginning of the coaching process, as well as throughout, you and your coach will work together to establish your goal(s) and identify steps to help you to achieve each goal.  

Think about what you want to achieve from coaching.  Try and be as specific as possible.  What would you like to feel, think, or achieve by the end of the process?  

Some ask, “What if I don’t have a clear goal?”

You probably do, it is most likely that your goal isn’t specific yet.  For example, you may just feel stuck in life and you simply don’t want to feel stuck anymore.  That itself is a goal, even if it is wide-ranging to start.  I have many clients that start coaching with a broad goal (e.g. to get unstuck or to feel happier in life).  When the goal is broad, I will work with you to identify what is important to you through a values exercise, pinpoint areas in your life where you feel unfulfilled, and have you visualise what your ideal life situation would look like. From there we would create more specific goals along with action steps to help you reach these goals.

Communication 

The third C, communication is fundamental in coaching.  As coaching is a partnership between the client and coach, it is necessary for there to be a free flow of information and ideas. The client and the coach must have open communication throughout the entire coaching process.  

Open communication allows you, as the client, to reflect and share your thoughts and feelings in a safe environment that is free from judgement.  You are also the expert on your own life and should feel comfortable to speak up at any point to your coach about new ideas, a shift in your goals, or any concerns about the process. 

It is also important for your coach to communicate openly with you in order to ask effective questions, share observations, and to gently challenge you where you may be stuck.  Having this open dialogue allows you and your coach to discover creative solutions together to help you to progress towards your goal(s).

In summary, while there are other factors that may contribute to a successful life coaching experience, the three C’s – Commitment, Clear goals, and Communication – must exist in order to have productive coaching sessions that move you closer to your desired outcome.  

I wish you all the best on your coaching journey!