The way coaches do this is by asking powerful questions to raise self-awareness, to inspire you to think big and to challenge you to consider a different perspective.
Here at The Coaching Academy we always say that the first person you coach will be yourself. At the same time, we recognize that sometimes we don't challenge ourselves enough, simply not hit that bullseye question that will move us out of our comfort zone.
Some people prefer to stay in that comfort zone and some choose to work outside of it. There is no right or wrong way to do this, it all comes down to preferences. In periods of stress, uncertainty, or anxiety, that comfort zone offers a secure place for us to ride out the storm and that's important.
And it's easy to get used to the comfort zone. It's familiar, it's safe, it's predictable. But there comes a time when we need to let go of it. Growth happens outside of our comfort zone and the only way we can get there is to start challenging ourselves.
Whether you're feeling stuck, you want to work on your big goal, or you need a gentle push to help you get where you want to be, these questions will be useful to you.
1. If you are what you have, and what you have is gone, who are you?
2. How old is that story?
3. What can you do, from where you are now, with what you have, to get you closer to your goal?
4. How is it serving you to buy into this smaller version of yourself?
5. What are you prepared to sacrifice to achieve your goal?
6. What would tomorrow be like if you were to let go of this belief?
7. In what way are you resisting success?
8. What lifelong struggle are you willing to see change?
9. Have you run out of answers, or have you run out of easy answers?
Questions are the key to self-awareness and personal growth. When asked at the right time, they can be a powerful force to get you moving forward, one way or another. As coaches, it's our job to respectfully challenge our clients from time to time to reaffirm their commitment to the goal or to challenge their limiting beliefs.
It can mean the difference between stagnation and success.
Life coaching might be the path you are looking for. Find out how you could start a new career as a life coach, or add life coaching skills to your current work by attending our free 2-hour Introduction to Life Coaching webinar, which we run several times a week over Zoom.
Our programmes are all accredited by professional bodies so you know that you are receiving the highest quality training.
The Coaching Academy was established in 1999, and is now the world's largest coaching school.
In that time we have trained over 14,000 people to become life coaches.
We are accredited by the International Coach Federation and the Association for Coaching, and we're rated 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot.
