< Go Back You already have the answers that are right for you Posted: Jun 10, 2020I was recently looking back through past client files and was reminded how many clients initially assume that my job is to simply sit there and tell them what they should do to overcome the issues that have brought them to life coaching. Our sessions roughly follow the same pattern... once we have clarified their situation and the issues to be resolved they invariably say "What's the answer Ralph? What should I do?"
In turn, I always answer along the lines of "Only you know that. I know what I would do but I'm not you and the answers that are right for me won't necessarily be the right answers for you. But don't despair! You do have the answers that are right for you, they're just buried deep inside you. And fortunately, I have the right questions that will help you discover those right answers!"
In many ways this sums up what successful coaching is all about. There's a vast difference between simply telling someone what to do, and helping them decide what to do for themselves. When clients come up with their own answers they are much more likely to take action and see things through to successful conclusions.
So maybe next time you're facing a problem, instead of asking someone to tell you what to do, try challenging yourself to come up with ten different answers and decide which ones to act on. Or maybe ask for some help from a life coach!
