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Life Coaching Plan for People joining College and making Career choices

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Life Coaching Plan for People joining College and making Career choices

Life coaches help individuals experiencing difficulty making certain decisions in life. In

this case, the practice plan caters to the needs of individuals intending to join College and

make decisions regarding their careers. The process will help individuals better themselves,

reduce self-doubt and improve decision making. The practice plan will integrate various

aspects, that is, the entry step, which identifies the problem and the role played by the life

coach. It also incorporates other elements like catering to the client's needs, conducting

market research, and monitoring the client's progress. The final step of the practice plan is a

client's transformation and receiving feedback after a given duration. The life coaching plan

will help people achieve their goals and improve decision-making during the process of

signing up for College and making career choices.

Entry Step

The entry step involves identifying and describing the problem requiring a life coach

plan. It also integrates the roles and responsibilities of the life coach in the entire process. In

this case, the issue involves coaching students signing up for their college education. The

process goes hand-in-hand with helping students identify the career choices that will help

them become successful in life. Cognitive challenges are some of the most significant

problems faced by students intending to join College or making career choices (Chan &

Sidhu, 2015). The challenges result from their mindsets, fear, and false reasoning from

interacting with other people. In a practical example, if a student interacts with people who

claim medicine is difficult, they will develop a similar mindset, influencing their decision

while choosing colleges and career paths. Other challenges include cultural barriers, lack of

proper understanding of different career paths and coping mechanisms.

The life coach will identify different setbacks students face when choosing colleges and

career paths in the entry step. Consequently, they will use this knowledge to create a

coaching plan. It is also essential for the life coach to identify their duties and responsibilities

to address the challenges mentioned in the previous paragraph. The overall responsibility of

the coach is to guide students confused about their college choices and career paths. The

process involves reshaping students' mindsets and behaviors, helping them in personal

growth, and assisting students to achieve personal and career goals (Davis, Huffman &

Alayan, 2018). At times, a student might have a specific career set in mind. The life coach

can also study their characters, behaviors, likes, and dislikes and help them become more

open-minded about weighing other career options. For instance, if a student's mind is set

towards becoming a nurse, they might discover more options from life coaching. The options

might align with the nursing field or be completely different career paths such as human

resources, business, or finance.

The life coach's first duty and responsibility will involve identifying the clients' goals.

Some clients might also need guidance in coming up with goals, and the life coach will also

undertake this (Davis et al., 2018). The other role will involve creating a strategy to achieve

the established goals. The life coach will remain in constant communication with the clients

and address any problems during the entire process. They will also have counseling sessions

with the students to address different issues such as mindsets and fear of choosing their career

paths. The life coach will not present a personal opinion, for example, telling students what

they should become (Davis et al., 2018). Instead, they will offer guidance to identify the

possible career paths for the students. Other roles and responsibilities include evaluating the

client's progress, providing feedback when necessary, and motivate the students when

necessary.
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Catering to clients' needs

Addressing clients' needs is not a single step and is more diverse compared to the entry

step. The needs of clients may come up at any time during the life coaching process (Davis et

al., 2018). Therefore, the coach will address such issues. The issues faced by students when

dealing with career choices may either be internal or external. Internal issues arise from the

individual, while external ones arise from other people or incidents (Gallo, 2015). For

example, a student might develop self-doubt leading to anxiety while undertaking the life

coach training. The example presents an instance of an internal issue. In another setting, a

student might panic regarding their possible career choice due to the current economy.

Therefore, the life coach will help the student deal with anxiety and self-doubt. The process

may involve talking the student down or presenting facts to help them get better.

Alternatively, the life coach might convince them about other options to reduce the impact of

external issues.

At times, addressing the issues faced by clients might seem too much for the life coach.

Some clients may call their coach frequently without, even outside office hours. For instance,

a client might contact their life coach whenever they experience a panic or anxiety attack. It

is common for life coaches to develop an attitude against such clients (Gallo, 2015). Rather

than developing attitudes, the life coach will figure out ways to manage these clients. For

example, helping clients find ways to manage their anxiety attacks and not call the life coach

every time it happens. Life coaches should be open to taking different perspectives and

approaches to manage clients (Gallo, 2015). The life coaching plan entails different ways to

address clients' issues and help them achieve the best possible outcomes from the process.
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The plan includes different possible scenarios of issues faced by clients during the

process. It is essential to identify some problems faced by people undertaking life coaching

and how to address them. The first issue is cognitive challenges, which arise from mindsets,

false reasoning, and fear of joining certain colleges and choosing particular career paths. The

life coach may initiate safe remediation techniques to help clients deal with cognitive

challenges (Medalia & Revheim, 2021). In a practical example, a student might perceive that

engineering is challenging, and it is better to deal with "easier" careers. However, a life coach

can see the potential of engineering in the client. The coach will implement a remediation

technique by taking the client to a junkyard and allowing them to work on a vehicle. This

might help the student understand their potential and change their mindset about engineering

being challenging. The aim entire life coaching process aims to give the clients practical

rather than theoretical experience.

Market Research

Market research is an essential part of the life coaching process. Life coaching is a

market sector like any other, for example, beauty, finance, or electronics. Since it is a market

sector, it involves competitors and some businesses successful than others. Some examples of

successful life coaching companies are the Elite Coaching Group and the Worldwide

Coaching team. A life coach should keep up with different coaching practices and even

borrow some ideas to ensure customer satisfaction. Some applications, such as Qualtrics,

offer guidance for life coach market research (Qualtrics, 2021). Conducting market research

can also help the life coach understand which mistakes to avoid when dealing with

customers. In a practical example, most people in the world are currently sensitive about

misgendering. Misgendering might make a life coach lose a client. This is just an example of
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ongoing trends that may affect different businesses that require constant interactions with

people.

Conducting market research will benefit the life coaching process in various ways. First,

it helps the life coach become conversant with current market trends (Zuzaku, 2015). Some

trends in the life coaching sector include; increased reliance on reviews and measurable

results, focusing on psychological factors in clients, and the increased need for human

interactions (Martin, 2020). Companies that adopt these strategies have a high number of

clients. Different studies encourage businesses to own websites. In life coaching, an

individual can get in touch with their coach through the business website. Leaving a review

about their experience might drive more people to seek guidance from the life coach. The

instance of measurable results involves evidence that the coaching process works (Martin,

2020). For example, if a client's anxiety attacks reduced from twenty to eight weekly due to

the coaching process, it can be a measure of success.

Market research will also involve identifying the areas of improvement to make the life

coaching process better and more efficient. In 2021, a life coach should provide alternatives

to the client rather than in-person meetings due to Covid-19. If a life coach does not have an

alternative to meet clients online, it indicates an area of improvement. Some life coaching

companies use adaptive approaches to deal with customer's problems. The process involves

changing the environment as opposed to the individual (Medalia & Revheim, 2021). In a

practical example, the Covid-19 crisis requires individuals to adapt to the current living

situations. Most institutions shut down, and people had to adapt to the changes instituted by

the government. In this life coaching plan, some individuals cannot adapt to handling

everything online, for example, meeting with the coach. Therefore, the life coach will create

an environment safe for a physical meeting rather than forcing the client to meet online.
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Overall, market research increases the flexibility of a life coach, helping them serve clients

better.

Monitoring the Client

Clients usually respond differently to coaching plans and processes. The life coaching

plan will integrate different methods to monitor clients’ progress and response to the

program. If the response is negative, the life coach can look for new ways to handle the

client. Alternatively, they can wait to see if the results will change and become positive.

However, if the response is positive, it means the coach’s methods work. The coach may

modify the process for more positive results or opt to continue with the same processes. The

life coach will also talk to the client to determine their preferred coaching process. For

instance, the client’s and the life coach’s meetings may occur once a week. A client may

prefer more regular meetings with the life coach for positive results. Alternatively, the most

suitable method may require meeting the client less regularly.

The life coaching plan will integrate different methods to monitor the client's progress.

The most common and essential way to monitor a person's progress is through

communication and feedback (Hatchett, 2017). The process involves asking a client how they

are doing and taking note of their feedback. The plan will also monitor customer's progress

through measurement (Hatchett, 2017). As mentioned earlier, measurable outcomes are some

of the current trends in the life coaching market.

Both the client and the life coach can conduct the measuring process. For example, some

life coaching plans involve attaining a certain set of goals. The client does not have to

accomplish the goals at the same time. In this case, the goals may involve the client writing

down at least five possible career paths before deciding. If the client does not come up with

the list, the life coach can measure it negatively. If the list has three options, the coach can
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determine the process as fifty percent successful. If the client writes down all the five

possible career paths, the life coach measures the process as successful. Another method to

monitor a customer's progress is by asking them to fill in questionnaires (Hatchett, 2017).

The feedback on the questionnaires will determine whether the process has negative or

positive results.

Monitoring a client's progress is important due to various factors. First, it will help

determine how long the life process may take (Bernstorm & Svare, 2017). In the case of

students intending to join College, the process takes place for a limited time. Monitoring the

client's progress will determine their readiness when the application time comes. It is also

important because it helps a life coach seek alternatives for better results (Bernstorm &

Svare, 2017). If the client does not respond positively to the current process, the life coach

will have to institute new methods to handle them and get better results. Coaching students

signing up for college education requires faster results, hence the need for monitoring

progress.

Communication

The communication aspect of the life coach plan involves identifying the most suitable

ways to interact with the client. People prefer different modes of communication, especially

in the current times where technology is highly developed. The process differs from

monitoring because it will involve various communication aspects. For instance, the client

can raise any concerns to the life coach and vice versa. Both parties will also offer feedback

regarding the entire process and ways to improve it. Organizational processes cannot succeed

or build good reputations without proper communication (Markovic & Salamzadeh, 2018).

The life coach may advise the client regarding certain aspects, such as changing something to
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increase the possibility of success. The client can also provide feedback regarding the entire

process.

Communication is a key factor for the success of a life coaching process. It helps the

client communicate their feelings about the process (Markovic & Salamzadeh, 2018). In a

practical example, a life coach may suggest the client try self-help techniques whenever they

experience an anxiety attack when they think about their careers or joining College.

However, the client might not be comfortable with this and would prefer to talk to the life

coach whenever it happens. The client can tell the life coach their feelings about self-help

techniques and preferred way to manage anxiety through communication. Consequently, both

parties will come up with a suitable method for the client to manage these attacks.

Communication is also important because it helps interpret ideas and messages properly

(Markovic & Salamzadeh, 2018). If a client needs clarity, they can call the life coach for

more guidance.

The life coaching process will integrate proper communication methods and channels to

guide clients in career choices and college plans. Between 2020 and 2021, it is challenging

for life coaches to meet their clients personally due to Covid-19. Therefore, the coaching plan

will seek alternatives to manage this since talking to clients via phone is not enough. The life

coach can schedule Zoom meetings, Skype, and Whatsapp calls to increase the feeling of

human contact. Alternatively, the process will accommodate clients who prefer in-person

meetings while integrating safety precautions. Some clients also get scared of talking to their

life coaches (Davis et al., 2018). The life coach can make these clients more comfortable by

reassuring them and maintaining open communication channels. As a result, it will be easier

for the client to talk about their concerns regarding which College to choose and which career

path to follow. It will also help the clients make their decisions faster and more comfortably

and air any concerns and doubts to the life coach.

Transformational Process and Client Feedback

Transformational process and customer feedback will be the final steps of the life

coaching plan. In general, transformation entails increasing efficiency effectiveness and

implementing a sustainable process, and providing clients with output (Schalock, Verdugo &

Loon, 2017). In this life coaching plan, the transformational process involves guiding clients

signing up for College and having trouble making career choices. The life coaching plan will

also incorporate customer feedback. This is different from feedback in the communication

segment because it happens after clients complete the life coaching process.

The essence of the process is not to change clients. Instead, it helps them make decisions

more comfortably and adapt to the things going on in their lives. In a practical example, a

client might have a passion for following a medical career because they do not feel good or

confident enough about themselves. They may also have the mentality that it is impossible to

get their degrees in the field. Therefore, the process will help change these people's mindset

and increase their self-belief. In another case, an individual might experience difficulty

choosing which College to join or career path to follow. The life coach will not make a

decision for these individuals. Instead, they will help manage their ability to make a decision.

The most a life coach can do regarding careers is help a client identify possible career paths.

The coach will not tell the client which career path to follow. At the end of the life coaching

process, the client should be able to choose a college and make a decision regarding their

career paths, indicating that the process is a success.

Various factors will indicate the transformational process is a success. First, customers'

confidence regarding career choices and which College to sign up for will increase.

Transformation seeks to provide output to the client and increase value (Schalock et al.,
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2017). In this case, a client's increased confidence depicts value. The second indication is

customers overcoming various obstacles (Schalock et al., 2017). The most common obstacles

identified in students intending to join College and make career choices in this life coaching

plan are negative mindsets, which lead to fear. Therefore, the expected outcome is for clients

to change their mindsets and overcome their fears regarding college and career choices.

Lastly, the client's ability to make decisions should increase because they are more confident

and have overcome their setbacks.

Feedback from the client is an essential part of the life coaching process. The

communication segment identifies feedback that occurs during the entire life coaching

process. However, receiving feedback from the client after completing the process is also

important (Gallo, 2015). The client may offer feedback a month, six months, or a year after

completing the life coaching process. For example, a client might hire a life coach due to

their inability to make choices about their career. After completing the process, the client will

have more confidence to make a decision. Later on, they will choose a career path and call or

visit the life coach a year later to provide information about their progress. The example

explains a scenario whereby client feedback occurs a year after completing the life coaching

process. A client can also provide recommendations to the life coach on areas of

improvement.

In conclusion, the life coaching plan aims to help students intending to sign up for

College and make decisions regarding their careers. The program will incorporate various

aspects to ensure the clients achieve their goals. For instance, the life coach will maintain an

open communication network with the customers to ensure they are comfortable talking

about their fears and what they intend to achieve. The coach can also help the clients come up

with more conclusive personal goals. The program aims not to make a decision for the clients

by telling them which colleges to choose or which career paths to follow. Instead, it is to
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boost their confidence, help them overcome various obstacles, change the negative mindset

and make decisions regarding college and career paths.

References

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Felt Trust, Motivation and Mastery. Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies 7(4).

Chan, Y.F. & Sidhu, G.K. (2015). Investigating challenges faced by Students in Higher

education. Procedia- Social and Behavioral sciences.

Davis, E.M., Huffman, L. & Alayan, A.J. (2018). The impact of Life Coaching on

Undergraduate Students: A Multiyear Analysis of Coaching outcomes. Positive

Psychology REFRAME Project.

Gallo, A. (2015). Overcoming the toughest common Coaching challenges. Harvard Business

Review.

Hatchett, G.T. (2017). Monitoring the counseling relationship and Client progress as

alternatives to Prescriptive empirically supported Therapies. Journal of Mental Health

Counseling 39(2).

Markovic, M.R. & Salamzadeh, A. (2018). The Importance of Communication in Business

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and Entrepreneurship at Belgrade, Serbia.

Martin, A. (2020). Welcome to Research on trends in Coaching 2007-2020. International

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https://www.qualtrics.com/

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