Coaching interventions can create positive change throughout life, ensuring good decisions are made at pivotal moments and that individuals with a purpose can achieve their end goals.-By Ingrid Johnson

Life coaching is known for the collaborative and client-centered approach to personal development and growth it takes throughout an individual’s life journey. Yet while some may think of life coaching as a temporarily valuable investment, or a “nice to have” at certain stages, the reality is that life coaching can support the unlocking of inner potential at every phase of life. While those going it alone can suffer in times of change and stress, life coaches help people navigate significant life transitions or prepare for them in advance. Transition periods differ for each person and include significant events like choosing a career, career changes, starting a new relationship or family, retirement planning, finding purpose in life or motivation for change, and aging with purpose. Some life coaches specialize in a particular life area, while others focus on the life journey. What all knowledgeable and expert coaches have in common is a genuine desire to be a positive collaborator who helps clients meet challenges by giving feedback for thoughtful decision-making and improvement.

What Life Coaching is Not!

Recognizing what life coaching does not involve can help the coach and client get started on the right foot. Above all, life coaching is not therapy or counseling. While therapy or counseling focuses on addressing past traumas, psychological issues, or diagnosable mental health conditions, life coaching is primarily future-oriented and goal-focused.

Life coaching is also not consulting or mentoring. Consulting involves providing expert advice or solutions based on the consultant's expertise. Mentoring involves someone with more experience guiding and advising a less experienced person. In contrast, life coaching is a collaborative process based on feedback. The coach supports the client in discovering their own insights, solutions, and strategies for personal growth and development.

Life coaching is also not a quick-fix solution or a substitute for personal responsibility. While life coaches provide support, guidance, and tools, the client is ultimately responsible for taking action and making changes in their own life. Life coaching requires commitment, effort, and a willingness to engage in self-discovery and growth.

Empowering People Through Life’s Important Transitions

Sometimes, it is easy to fear making the wrong decision, have self-doubt, or be uncertain about one’s purpose. These negative thoughts can impede career progress, discourage commitments, and lead to poor planning. There are also situations in which people have unrealistic expectations, leading to avoidable disappointment and bitterness.

A life coach helps clarify goals in various life areas, identify problems, develop strategies to overcome hurdles or manage stress, and support building a positive self-image. The coach does not make decisions, like whether the client should pursue career advancement, retire, or start a business.

Louisa Zhou is a life coach who focuses on helping entrepreneurs find inspiration to build a business, transitioning from employee to business owner. She writes, “73% of those who hire a coach report that it has helped them improve their work performance, communication skills, interpersonal skills, relationships, work/life balance, and wellness.”

(Really) Ready for Retirement?

One-on-one life coaching is a practical approach to helping people better understand themselves and their responses to life events. A UK study on retired coaching interviewed six retired participants on their coaching experiences. Three pre-retirement themes emerged: planning, decision-making, and unexpected events. Three post-retirement themes were finding balance, identifying, and aging. The study author found that retirees had selected multiple coaches to address their transition needs. Pre-retirement, the retirees feared having insufficient income post-retirement.

For example, one-on-one coaching was used to “explore options on how-to-retire like a tapered exit.” Coaches served as sounding boards to clarify decision-making, offered non-judgmental empathy as their clients expressed a range of emotions, and used feedback to help them identify what could be controlled and what could not. Post-retirement, coaches helped clients identify needs through self-awareness exercises, perceived imbalances, and feelings of loss of identity.

A life coach can help retirement age people clarify their goals and values, build resilience to coming life challenges, and develop clarity on values and goals. Retirement planning for enjoying a good life after leaving employment is just as important as financial planning. The life coach can help clients identify their true interests and what brings meaning and purpose to life. People who are used to a work routine must learn how to establish new routines, maintain social connections, and stay engaged. Preparing emotionally for retirement is crucial to maintaining identity.

A life coach may even help clients find clarity on when to retire. The number of retirement age persons employed in the EU-27 increased from 12% to 20% from 2004-2019. EU Member States have increased their state pension age to keep people in the workforce. Knowing when it is the right time to retire is crucial to happiness, but it is a difficult decision in many situations. Aging is not an easy process, and life coaches can help individuals set goals for aging. Younger people can make physical and mental well-being maintenance a lifetime goal and older people can pursue a healthy body, social connections, and lifelong learning. Life coaches support individuals in adapting to the changes that come with aging, including changes in health, mobility, and relationships. They provide strategies for coping with challenges and staying resilient and assist individuals in finding meaning and fulfillment in later life by exploring new interests, hobbies, and passions. They help clients identify ways to continue growing, learning, and contributing to their communities.

Managing Life Stages with a Life Coach

Ultimately, the best time to hire a life coach is when a person feels ready and committed to making positive changes in their life. Whether seeking support during a challenging time, striving for personal growth, or simply wanting to optimize your life and reach full potential, a life coach can provide valuable guidance, support, and accountability along the way. Asking for help is often a first step in taking control of life’s transitions with courage, and ensuring that passing through these transitional moments is done in a way that supports life-long goals and dreams.