While the idea of coaching may seem best suited for entrepreneurs, business owners, and other high achieving individuals, almost anyone would benefit from working with a life coach. Every person has goals and desires and most people need encouragement, support, and guidance in order to reach those goals.

By working with a life coach, clients get the support and accountability they need as well as life changing results that they probably didn’t realize they needed in the first place.

Here are three unexpected benefits of having a life coach.

Greater Self Awareness

So much of what we think and speak on a daily basis is automatic. We are set in our ways, habits, opinions, and behaviors, and often don’t give any of it a second thought. One of the first and most powerful gleanings from working with a life coach is for clients to notice their current thought and behavior patterns. Since awareness is always a great teacher, clients can quickly assess the specific areas they may need to focus on as they begin their journey.

When a person grows deeper in their self awareness, they begin to show up differently in their jobs, relationships, and life, in general. Because they develop a heightened awareness of their thoughts and behaviors, they tend to be more thoughtful and intentional in all of their interactions, which leads to positive responses by others. It’s a win-win. Clients take pride in their ability to notice and control their thoughts, and those they engage with appreciate being met with sincerity and thoughtfulness.

To help promote greater self awareness in your clients, there are several strategies available. One of the most effective strategies is to simply ask questions.

For example, when a client expresses a thought or belief about something, you may ask, “Why do you think/believe that?” This will help your clients to slow down and think deeper about their thoughts. By making questioning a habit, your client will begin to notice patterns as well as question the validity of many of their current thoughts. Clients will have the jumpstart they need to begin a path of self discovery, which will ultimately lead to new perspectives, attitudes, beliefs, and overall self awareness.

Increased Confidence

Who doesn’t love to be confident?

When we have assurance about who we are, we radiate confidence to those around us. Unfortunately, this quality is often in low supply for most people. Thoughts of fear, doubt, and worry have crippled and prevented many people from taking advantage of life changing opportunities. When we remain in a state of low confidence, we unwittingly allow our dreams to be deferred and desires denied.

From a coaches’ perspective, this is unacceptable. A key component of the coaching process involves helping clients to embody a higher sense of self belief and worth so they can achieve whatever they truly want.

It’s important for clients to understand that deep, internal shifts cannot be rushed. The time spent in a coaching partnership provides clients with a safe space to share their innermost thoughts and beliefs. Through ongoing conversations and reflection practices, such as journaling and visualization or meditation, clients begin to build a stronger belief in their ability to create positive change.

This repeated practice will lead to a higher level of self confidence and before you know it, your clients will be taking ownership over their decisions and showing up more powerfully in their many roles in life. And since confidence breeds confidence, your clients will walk away with a new sense of self that they never dreamed possible.

So how exactly do coaches help their clients arrive at such an unexpected result? Although there are many ways to approach this, the key to successful coaching is realizing our own ability and power to plant seeds of knowledge and belief in our clients. Once they are equipped with the right tools and guidance, anything is possible.

To develop confidence in your clients, you can slow down the pacing of each session to allow proper time for acknowledgement and reflection of recent successes and achievements before moving on to the next thing. This will encourage your clients to celebrate even the smallest of victories, which will increase feelings of accomplishment and confidence.

Another strategy to employ is to encourage your clients to take uncomfortable action in between sessions. Challenge them to step out of their comfort zones and try new things. Experimenting in areas where they lack confidence is fertile ground for powerful growth.

For example, if they have been impacted by a lack of positive work relationships, they may try to place themself in a group setting, such as serving as a volunteer in their community, to develop their interpersonal skills and insight. Other practices, such as reading affirmations and positive self talk are also helpful and can be powerful tools when used correctly and consistently. Your client will walk away from their coaching experience feeling taller, stronger, and more sure of themselves than ever.

Conquering Fears

If there is one thing in life that holds people back, fear has to be at the top of the list. We fear rejection, failure, criticism, pain, change, embarrassment, and so much more. The list is quite long. Oftentimes, we’re not even aware that fear is responsible for some of our behaviors.

As coaches, we can help our clients to conquer their fear by helping them to first acknowledge and then face it. Although this may be easier said than done, it can be successfully accomplished over time.

When clients first begin working in their coaching program, they are usually dialed in on specific areas that they want to work on. The role of the coach, in every situation and context, is to dig a little deeper to uncover more about the root of the problem or issues. This provides a starting point for the coach and helps to serve as a guide.

Many times, coaches will discover that the reason for a client’s inability to reach a goal or take a certain action, is connected to a deeply rooted fear. For example, a client may have a new business that they are very excited about, however they haven’t told anybody about it. In discussing it with a coach, it is determined that they are afraid of judgment and rejection. Not only is the coach able to point this out, but now there is an opportunity to explore these fears more deeply.

Coaches can help their clients to overcome fear by helping them to face it head on. In this example, a coach may task the client with making a social media post announcing their new business. You may want to have a conversation beforehand exploring all possible responses and outcomes in order to mentally and emotionally prepare your client.

As you continue to nudge them gently but firmly to step out of their comfort zones, they will begin to break free from some of their fears. Once they see that they can overcome one fear, they will have more confidence in other areas. Slowly but surely, your clients will learn how to acknowledge their fears, step out of their comfort zones, take small actions, and ultimately overcome fears in any area of their life.

Lifelong Benefits

Clients who have worked with a life coach will almost always share with others that coaching changed their life. There is such an amazing amount of self growth that happens during these partnerships and clients frequently walk away with a whole new perspective about themselves, others, and the world they live in. When clients first sign up to work with a coach, they may not realize the extent of growth they will experience throughout the process, but they will certainly walk away with greater wisdom and insight about themselves and their unlimited potential.