Being an impactful life coach, like any other coach, necessitates the development of certain traits. Essentially, it is a combination of some noteworthy that distinguishes a good coach from the herd. And while there are no set pre-requisites or checklists to tick your way into, some fundamental qualities can go a long way in rendering a person capable and competent enough in life coaching.
If you’re keen on finding an effective life coach, here are a few characteristics to look for:
Strategic: When you set out to find a good life coach, you’re essentially looking for someone who has more insight and preferably experience to sail through the different adversities life can throw up. It could be anything ranging from indecisiveness about what you want to do with your life, finding more meaning and purpose, or simply how to achieve your goals. A successful life coach will be able to cut through the haze and assist you in identifying and defining the significant goals that will help you live a more fulfilled and aligned life. And they can only be able to successfully do this by assisting you in determining a series of strategic, actionable plans that will help you achieve your objectives over a specific period. Therefore, one of the most essential qualities a good life coach should have is the ability to filter out the odds and offer strategic tools and plans to meet your goals.
Understanding: To be able to chalk out a plan, move in any direction, a life coach should, first of all, have the skills and interest in understanding you. And not superficially, but thoroughly. Generally, coaches that are good at what they do take the time to learn about their novice’s communication thought process, strengths, weaknesses, learning curves, organisational, and working styles. This, in turn, assures that while working with them, you will reach your full potential because you are being heard and understood.
Good Listener: Perhaps one of the most crucial skills for a successful life coach is the ability to listen without any judgment or biases. Their goal is to assist you in approaching your specific issue from many angles; therefore, they must have a thorough grasp of the various elements at play. Active listening is the practice of truly listening to what someone is saying without making assumptions, planning what you’re going to say next, or interrupting them. Therefore when looking for a coach, look for someone who will give you as much time as you need to talk without interrupting you.
Non-judgmental: Many people in the world have opposing viewpoints to your own. However, in their vision of the world, these viewpoints may be correct. When a good coach enters into a client session, they should leave their preconceptions at the door. Instead, they must be able to walk the extra mile to ensure that you feel safe and secure enough to open up and express your innate thoughts.
Top-Notch Communication Skills: The art and craft of life coaching are not limited to being a good listener alone but an even better communicator. An effective coach must be able to communicate effectively on a variety of levels, including body language, terminology, and more. An impactful life coach can push you to do things you wouldn’t normally do purely on the basis of how they communicate with you.
Finally, a life coach should be able to perceive all of your limitations and expand the horizon of your possibilities. Therefore it is crucial to have someone who believes in you and cheers you on every step of the way.
