Tag Archives: Coaching
New Year Resolutions Progress?
So today marks the midway point of the month. How are you doing with those slightly aged New Year Resolutions? Struggling? Feel like you have just been wasting yout time? Maybe even given up entirely?
Resolutions are like climbing mountains but having a coach to encourage can help
But wait, it’s not too late. Tomorrow is a new chance to get back on track. Every day offers you a fresh chance to start again. You haven’t failed until you give up hope. You can do it!
Need a hand? Want to stop starting over? Maybe you need a coach? We should talk.
Life coaching and Keeping New Year Resolutions
The second day of January often presents the first serious challenge to many people’s New Year Resolutions. The first temptations to have a quick smoke or slack off a trip to the gym begin to manifest and some people will find themselves giving in already. Which is why life coaching may be of assistance. 
Life coaching helps you identify what you really want from life. Often New Year Resolutions fail because they are more a case of what you think you want, rather than what you really want.
And more than simply figuring out what you want, your life coach will help you map out out what you need to achieve those goals. By drawing up a plan of action you can begin to appreciate what is required and how long it will really take to get to goal. Best of all, your life coach not only helps you adjust those plans as circumstances change, but also provides genuine encouragement every step of the way.
Interested? Drop us a line today to find out how life coaching could help you keep your New Year Resolutions and literally change your life.
Please note: Life coaching is not a get-rich-quick scheme, nor a collection of wishy-washy New Age mantras, but a proven method of goal attainment. There are no magic answers, but the returns are certainly satisfying!
The Rule of the 5 Whys
One of the aims of any life coaching session is to draw up a course of action to help reach a goal by creating several milestones in the process. As ideas are brainstormed, often a plan is formulated which can look more than a little suspect. It is at this point I suggest introducing the “Rule of the 5 Whys”. 
When trying to get a coachee to formulate their own plan of action, it is essential that their coach helps them remain realistic. The “Rule of the 5 Whys” can help focus a coachee by questioning their thought process and helping them crystallise what it is they hope to achieve simply by asking the question “Why?”. For example:
During a coaching session, Jim says that he wants to leave his job as an accounts clerk and retrain as a teacher. From what the coach knows of Jim, his attitude and temperament may not be best suited to the classroom. To get a better understanding of Jim’s decision, the coach naturally asks “Why?”
Jim goes on to explain that he believes the job prospects and benefits of being a teacher are better than his current position. “Why do you believe that?” asks the coach.
Jim elaborates, saying that he has been reading about a shortage of secondary schools and according to the publicity he has the skills required. He then goes on to admit that although he likes the idea of the job, he has never been terribly comfortable with children. “Why do you think teaching is the right career for you then?” counters the coach.
When put on the spot, Jim realises that this is not perhaps the best career move for himself. Careful questioning has helped Jim avoid a potentially disastrous decision and provides a platform for further discussion which can help Jim consider alternatives and make better plans accordingly.
The irony of the ‘Rule of 5 Whys’ is that the coach rarely has to ask all 5 questions. The coachee gains a solid understanding of their thoughts and decision making process which in turn better equips them to take action. Obviously anyone can apply the Rule of the 5 Whys themselves, but we can also fool ourselves with smart answers.
Next time you are facing an important decision, have a friend keep asking “why?” to check how sound your reasoning is.
If you would like to find out more about how life coaching can help you achieve more personally and professionally, please get in touch.
