A glass half full (or coaching for perspective)

I recently received an email from a coaching client who was facing a dilemma and feeling down.

She had been spending a great deal of time and energy on trying to build her own business but owing to the credit crunch, work was not coming her way to any great extent. She decided to put her dream on hold and take paid work doing telemarketing to keep the wolf from the door.

She found a fantastic position with a very up-beat company and was enjoying her new role and the companionship of her new colleagues. Then, one week into the job she received a call from a customer of her own business offering her a very lucrative contract. The irony of the situation hit her hard and she wrote asking why fate hadn’t given her a helping hand by producing the opportunity earlier, before she had decided on the marketing work. She felt she was dogged by rotten luck and was worrying over the dilemma of whether to stay with the telemarketing or leave and go after the contract.

So, why had fate played her such a hand? The answer to her question is obvious. Because she had taken control of her situation and taken a positive step to find work she had attracted other positive outcomes simply by becoming positive herself. She had been open and receptive to opportunity and it had found her. I once wrote “ You will find that by simply creating change, movement and positive action in one small aspect of your life, you can trigger a "snowball effect" of momentum and possibility that carries over into other areas".

This is exactly what had happened to my client, and because it was supposed to - not because its sod's law, or irony, or a nasty little gremlin having a laugh!! The only "difficulty" presented was that of choice and I suggested she could adopt the perspective that whatever her choice it would not be a wrong decision but merely a choice of path A or path B".

I know the answer lies in the perspective of viewing choice, whenever it comes, as a blessing rather than a curse.

After considering my response, my client then felt empowered to make a positive choice. Having made her decision from a happier perspective she was delighted with the outcome and finds she has no regrets whatsoever. It was her suggestion that I share her experience with others on my Blog.

Choosing a reliable and suitable Life Coach

Anyone who is thinking about using a Life Coach should spend some time doing a little research in order to find the right one. Here are some tips that I have put together that should help to simplify your search:

• The very best way of finding a good Life Coach is the same as finding a good plumber or electrician - ask your friends, neighbours or colleagues to recommend someone. Get the benefit of someone else's experience whether good or bad as personal recommendations are like gold dust.
• If you are searching the internet look out for the word on the street via blog sites or Twitter to see what Coaches are saying and who is saying what about the Coaches!
• Always check out the credentials of any Coach. Find out if they have studied and qualified through a reputable establishment and what experience they have had.
• Recent testimonials are a useful guide but if you are at all unsure ask if you can speak to a recently satisfied customer to get their perspective at first hand.
• Check that your Coach has current membership of a Professional Body such as the Association for Coaching. Any professional body will require practising Coaches to keep their professional development and industry knowledge up to date, and will have a strict Code of Ethics and Practice which members must adhere to. This is likely to include having the correct insurances.
• Find out the range of coaching methods and options that are available. Is the Coach able to offer sessions at a time that is practicable?
• It is also important to check out what packages are on offer and exactly what you will get for the fee. Does the Coach offer support in between sessions by email or provide a written review that you can reflect upon at your leisure?
• Does the Coach offer a free taster session so you can try out Coaching, or offer an informal "getting to know you" meeting where you can both decide if you would like to work together?
• Finally, beware of building up a dependancy upon any Coach. Make sure the Coach will review the relationship and your progress on a regular basis and don't commit to a never ending stream of sessions. You must both be clear where progress is being made and if you feel that the Coaching is not working for you a reputable Coach will be only too pleased to offer alternatives.

If you want to know more about Life Coaching, see www.blueskylife.co.uk