Debunking The Top 5 Life Coaching Myths

 

Myth #1: Professional life coaches give people advice.

 

Fact:  Inexperienced or poorly trained coaches tell their clients what to do. Good coaches do not. Good coaches, as defined by the ICF, partner “with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximise their personal and professional potential. Coaches honour the client as the expert in his or her life and work.”

 

Myth #2: Life coaching is just another form of counselling.

 

Fact: Coaching is about growth and stability rather than dysfunction and healing. Whereas therapy and counselling are primarily about the past and present, coaching is primarily about the future. A person in need of healing is not yet ready for coaching and should see a therapist instead.

 

Myth #3: All professional life coaches are basically the same.

 

Fact: Not true. Because the profession isn’t regulated, anyone can hang up a shingle as a life coach. Some “coaches” attend a weekend training session, calling themselves a life coach after just a few hours of training. Others hear the term in the media or read a book and call themselves a “professional life coach.”

You should always choose an accredited coach, accredited by a reputable, ICF-aligned training institute. The ICF is the industry standard for coaching excellence.

 

Myth #4: Professional life coaches are for people with problems.

 

Fact: While it is true that some people hire a coach because they feel stuck, most people who hire a professional life coach are high-achieving individuals seeking professional and personal growth. They simply want to go further and deeper. The reasons for hiring a coach are endless, but all clients have a common desire for growth in their lives.

 

Myth #5: Professional life coaches are expensive.

 

Fact: While the cost of coaching can quickly add up, the return on investment far outweighs the initial financial investment. While cost varies, most professional life coaches charge somewhere in the range of £70-£300 a session. 

One study commissioned by the International Coach Federation reported a median return on investment of 3.44 times their initial investment in coaching. Bottom line, coaching can produce rewards that far exceed the cost. Coaching is an investment on yourself and how do you price well-being?