Qualities Of An Effective Life Coach

A life coach is a professional who helps people achieve their goals and acts as both motivator and counsel. He or she guides by asking important questions and offering evaluation methods that help in planning and achieving set goals.

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People are reluctant to effect changes in their lives and careers, due mainly to various factors like a lack of focus, drive, and passion. A life coach helps address these prevalent problems. However, not everyone can be life coaches. An effective life coach must have the background and temperament for the job.

A key thing to remember is that life coaches are mentors, not therapists. They do not cure depression, trauma, and anxiety, nor do they do not play the role of doctors and give diagnoses. An effective coach should know if medical help is what’s needed, and should refer the mentee to medical professionals if this is what they deem necessary.

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A life coach never insists on any perspective nor does he decide on things for the mentee. His role is to help people find the answers for themselves by offering suggestions, engaging people in healthy dialogues, brainstorming, and reflection. The good coach will eventually let mentees go on their own ways when they have already been empowered with a mindset to push on and succeed.

Life coach and facilitator Patrick Lanning
has worked for two-and-a-half decades in higher education. He has been involved in various facets of educational leadership at comprehensive community colleges. For more information on Dr. Lanning and his work, visit this Linkedin profile.