What is life coaching?
A question I am often asked by organisations and clients. In the first instance it could be argued that it is easier to explain what it is not. Starting with this explanation can go some way toward managing expectations and give clear boundaries to work within benefitting both the coach and the client. In short, it is not psychotherapy or counseling, or any other therapy that falls into the Mental Health support category. Though the client will show up as their whole self, emotions and all, from the perspective of the coach their role is to facilitate and guide the client towards finding their own solutions and setting intentions to make small, incremental changes towards improving overall wellbeing.
The benefits of providing life coaching as an organisation
One thing that has become apparent is that there is a significant gap in the preventative space in relation to taking care of employees. Life coaching can enhance existing wellbeing strategies complimenting the existing offer by filling the crucial gap between self-care and counselling. In short, not everyone needs a therapist, just a safe space to share and organise their thoughts. Fundamentally, that is the core benefit of life coaching. Of course it is important to mention that an individual’s wellbeing is not the sole responsibility of the employer, however, providing 1:2:1 life coaching for employees to access has huge benefits to all parties. How an individual feels about themselves both personally and professionally impacts overall wellbeing and important factors including motivation, focus and perhaps most importantly Mental Health. Employee sickness figures are high (mental health foundation) and one of the contributary factors could be the gap in preventative support.
Wellbeing services have become a significant consideration for job candidates and employees alike, impacting various aspects of the employment relationship. it’s not only an employee expectation but also a crucial factor in recruitment, retention, and overall employee satisfaction. Candidates are increasingly looking for employers who prioritize their holistic wellbeing, not just their professional development. Therefore, having comprehensive wellbeing programs including life-coaching can make an organization more attractive to top talent.
When employees feel supported in their physical, mental, and emotional health, they are more likely to stay with the company long-term. This reduces turnover costs and helps maintain institutional knowledge and productivity levels. To add to this, investing in employee wellbeing can lead to lower levels of sickness absence. When employees have access to resources and support for maintaining their health, they’re less likely to experience burnout, stress-related illnesses, or other health issues that can lead to prolonged absences.
What do the employees think?
The survey data below has been collected by clients illustrates the positive impact offering life coaching to employees can have.
Positive responses to coaching:
“I found the whole experience positive, both from a reflective perspective (looking back at the previous year) and looking forward as to what direction I see myself going in the future.
“I found the first session reassuring and encouraging, and that we also made some practical progress in a priority area. The subsequent sessions developed and built on this – but crucially also provided much-needed reality checks, rather than just encouragement of my ideas”
“Claire is passionate and kind, only seeking to help and support you through your thought process in recognising current habits and thought patterns”
“The sessions followed a pre-determined structure, they were relaxed enough to allow the conversations to flow organically into different areas of interest, before Claire would subtly pull things back onto topic”.
“Having someone to confide in outside of the organisation made me feel safe, I am grateful to my organisation for providing this amazing support”
Significant benefits:
“I experienced a positive shift in my attitude and behaviour and realised a lot of things about me and the way I think”
“I feel like a different person and am determined to carry this feeling on armed with the notes I made during my sessions with Claire”
“Just having some time to stop and breathe and put some of my thoughts into words has given me greater clarity, and set some changes in motion”
“I found that it was a very helpful process – more of a nudge, than a kick up the proverbial – and has facilitated a re-evaluation of both personal and work situations”
It’s insightful to note that my clients appreciated the external perspective provided by a professional coach outside of their organisation. This feedback underscores the importance of confidentiality and neutrality in coaching sessions. Clients may feel more at ease discussing sensitive topics and challenges knowing that they are engaging with someone who doesn’t have direct ties to their workplace. This external perspective can offer fresh insights and foster a deeper level of trust and openness in the coaching relationship.
In the feedback I collected from clients, when asked “would you recommend life-coaching to your colleagues?” 100% of clients responded “Yes
Claire Parry-Witchell
“Claire Healthy Mind Coach”
Website: https://bit.ly/ClaireHealthyMind