The End of the road with your life coach

photo by tonywl

Earlier, I shared the insights of 2 coaches to discuss the considerations when choosing a life coach. Equally important is the decision to break from coaching, much like a fledging preparing to leave the nest.

Intuition and your coaching momentum guides your decision.  Per Susan,

When you feel ready to push yourself into better and better living and feel you don’t need it anymore.  I have on occasion graduated clients if I feel they are not moving forward anymore and they would get more benefit having to figure things out on their own.

Lynda reminds clients to stay outcome oriented.

At its best, coaching is a dynamic, collaborative partnership that supports the client to set and achieve goals, recognize and overcome obstacles to success, and acquire new tools and skill sets that are portable and transferable.  While coaching is a process, it’s a process that should produce measurable outcomes that both coach and client can see.

So it’s time to move on when:

• You’ve accomplished the goals you set out to achieve
• You decide that coaching isn’t the right modality for you at this time
• You feel you’ve gotten all you

Courtney seconds the above opinions. You’re ready for a break from a coach,

When your goals are achieved. When you feel complete. When the relationship is not fruitful. If you are not doing your homework, something is up that needs to be discussed. . . You have to [come] to coaching wanting something. If you don’t know what you want, that’s the first thing I hope [your] coach will ask!

In my experience with therapy and coaching, at some point you hit a plateau. Despite ongoing effort, I just can’t seem to move forward any further with that individual. Maybe it’s because I get too comfortable with the hired party so their nudging is less effective. Or I’ve found that they hold certain paradigms dear that I just can’t embrace, and, after incorporating into my life the strategies and exercises that worked for me and disregarding ones that don’t, it’s time to find someone with a new set of tools I can rummage through.  Sometimes, breaking up is hard to do, but it may just be the next step in your process.

One final note on the coaching experience from Courtney:

You should like your coach. And you should feel that you are making clear progress toward your desired outcomes together. A strong coach will design an alliance with you, hold your agenda (not theirs) and will make it clear that you can end the coaching relationship at any time that it’s not working. As a coach, my clients come to me to help them get clear on their values, vision and goals. Then we forward the action together and build in accountability. Most of the progress happens in between the calls. The client is the one who does the work. The coach guides, helps deepen the learning and holds the agenda.

I again extend my thanks to our illustrious coaches.

If you have any questions about hiring or firing a life coach, please post them below; I’ll see to it that one of my guest coaches replies.

Lynda Levy is a psychologist and life coach dedicated to helping women achieve their professional potential based in the Los Angeles area.  Though her website is under construction, she can be reached via email.

Courtney Macavinta is an award-winning and nationally recognized journalist, coach, speaker, and author. As a coach, she works primarily with women and teen girls.

Susan Marque is a food and life coach that uses nutrition to help her clients achieve their life goals; she’s also based in the Los Angeles area.  She previously stopped by my blog to discuss office nutrition dos and don’ts.

Disclaimer: I have never been a paying client of the above coaches, though I did serve as a test client during Courtney’s training.

No related posts.