Life Coaching
Life Coach
A life coach encourages and counsels clients on a range of professional and personal issues. Life coaching is distinct from giving advice, consulting, counseling, mentoring and administering therapy. You would hire a coach to help you with specific professional projects, personal goals and transitions.
| Skill | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
Rephrasing | Stating back to the client what they said in different words. | Client: “I’m frustrated about my work because my boss doesn’t listen to me” Coach: “So what I’m hearing is that you’re not feeling listened to at your job and feeling upset about it?” |
Reiteration | Stating back to the client exactly what they said | Client:” I’m sad” Coach: “So it sounds like you’re feeling pretty sad” |
Paraphrasing | Repeating to the client what they said in your own words | Client: “Ugh, sometimes people are just so completely clueless!” Coach: “Sounds like you’re feeling upset because you’re disappointed in other people” |
Summarizing | Repeating back to the client in a nutshell the basics of a longer story they’ve told you | Client: “So yesterday at work my boss was telling everyone how much he hated people who have trouble with details and recently I got written up for missing details in my latest report. I felt really attacked by my boss”. Coach: “So it sounds like you felt like your boss was making a direct critique of you to the entire office” |
Affirmations | Giving the client encouragement and congratulating progress. Boosts self-confidence and shows client you’re paying attention. | Coach: “You handled that really well” |
Short Interjections | Nodding, saying “yes” or “I see” | Client: “I was really hurt by what Sally did” Coach: “Yes, I see” |
Clarifying | Clarifying when you receive conflicting information and checking with clients to ensure that your understanding is correct | Client: “I didn’t think I’d see her again so I was relieved. But we were going to go out on Saturday and I was excited to see her”. Coach: “So you weren’t sure you were going to see her again even though you had plans on Saturday?” Client: “well, I wasn’t sure she would come” Coach: “Okay, so you were excited when you saw her because you did get to see her after all” Client: “yeah, I guess I wanted to see her even though I didn’t think I did when I was angry” |
Reflecting | Mirror back expressions used by the client | Client: “I knew he would flip when she saw me with her ex” Coach: “So did he flip out?” |