More and more professionals today are tired of the frenzied, highly demanding age we live in and the constant pressures brought about by the wish to succeed, be financially secure, fit and healthy, sociable, a good wife and parent.
Career women, in particular, have to cope with the sometimes very emotional challenge of juggling family and work demands trying to maintain a work-life balance, which if not achieved can be extremely detrimental to their physical, mental and emotional health. There is a decreasing acceptance of an all-absorbing job; people are interested in a higher quality of life. Life where you have more time for yourself and your relationships, with more energy to invest in emotional, physical and spiritual well-being
As reported by the British Journal of Administrative Management, coaching "takes a holistic view of the individual," ensuring that work, corporate values, personal needs and career-development are made to work in synergy and not against each other.
However, what started as a corporate client service has now become a valuable tool for any individual wanting to improve their life. It is quite feasible to imagine that having a personal coach will become an accepted norm.
Borne out of the competitive pressures of today's economy, as well as the struggle to find balance in the frantic pace of modern life, personal life coaching is now rapidly attracting devotees worldwide. CEOs, entrepreneurs, professionals, people in career transition and many others grappling with life issues are all turning to this new tool to guide them through life's difficulties and help raise them above the "fog" to the clear heights of peace and self-satisfaction.
Whilst Coaching supports all aspects of life, its ultimate aim is to achieve harmony and balance within the individual. For career women this means establishing a work-life balance that satisfies all the levels of emotional and professional needs. It's about working to live, not living to work.
Work-life balance is a self-defined, self-determined state of well-being that a person can reach, or can set as a goal, that allows them to manage effectively multiple responsibilities at work, at home, and in their community; it supports physical, emotional, family, and community health, and does so without grief, stress or negative impact. For those striving to enjoy this type of life, coaching is an indispensable tool.
Women at work can recognise when they are suffering from an imbalance. Symptoms such as constantly being tired, feeling like you're running uphill all the time and getting nowhere, feeling like you have no choices, no control; when life seems to be happening to you instead of you feeling that you're managing it; when you can think of more things that aren't getting done than are; when you see more negative in your life than positive.
Coaching is a powerful, collaborative relationship between the coach and a willing individual, which helps that individual through the process of discovery, goal setting and strategic action-planning to help realise an extraordinary result. It is also a body of knowledge, a technology and a style of relating that focuses on the development of that person's potential.
Most people spend considerable time planning their annual holiday but how much time is spent planning a far more crucial journey, one you don't get a chance to revisit if things don't work out the way you hope? How much time do you spend mapping out where you want to go in life?
Just as Olympic sports men and women rely on their talent, determination and coach to give them the best chance of reaching Gold, your Coach can make you a medallist in life.
In the security of this collaborative alliance with your coach you will reach clarity of purpose, identify goals and develop a plan of action. You will establish an understanding of what is really important to you in life, take charge and realise your priorities. Put simply, coaching is about helping you to create and work towards the grandest version of the greatest personal vision you have; to achieve success - success being the continuous realisation of a worthy goal or ideal.
Gerard O' Donovan is the founder of Noble Manhattan coaching Ltd, one of Europe's longest established coach training companies. He is also CEO of the European Coaching Institute, one of the world wide governing bodies from the profession of coaching. Gerard is one of the most highly sought-after executive coaches in Europe.
Contact Gerard at gerard@noble-manhattan.com. To know more about Gerard coaching expertise, visit noble-manhattan.com. Gerard shares his rich coaching experience freely with you, which can be accessed at coaching-reports.com.