Ready for Change: A Life Coach's Key Strategies for an Intake Meeting

A life coach will need to arrange for an intake session with a client. For the first meeting, it may be attended by additional parties. The key strategies for the meeting will include checking the client's readiness for change, setting ground rules for the program. Additionally, there is also a need to allow the client to set goals and outcomes for the program.

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Expressing and exuding confidence in the client's self-initiative to try and solve a problem is key in coaching. Coaching entails improving a situation from where it was to a better place. The client will need to set goals which they will work to achieve throughout the coaching journey (David, 2016). With proper motivation, the client will put in their effort in the coaching process (Heathfield, 2019). Particularly, the first session will entail a clear definition of what the client expects to achieve. A skill that the coach will need is good listening skills. Awareness that they 55are being listened to makes the client honest about what their thoughts are. Therefore, exuding confidence that the client will achieve their goals will assist in giving a good start to the coaching journey.

A second critical strategy for the first meeting is the definition of confidentiality and code of conduct. Honesty is a prerequisite for a successful coaching journey. A client has to express where they are at a point in the journey, without fear of reproach or embarrassment (Heathfield, 2019). For the first session, it is important to give assurance of secrecy concerning issues that will be shared with the coach. Additionally, it is important to set out rules to guide the coaching process; this will include actions to take when the client deviates from set targets. A skill the coach will need to possess is professionalism; this will avoid lackluster in the listing of targets. The life coach will need to avoid tendencies to be a therapist.

A life coach will need to define a time frame for the coaching program and also for individual sessions. A key resource that is scarce in the coaching process is time. The client should be aware of the importance of keeping time to the program as well as to the coach. An important strategy is to allow the client to acknowledge time-bound targets and goals in the first session. To set practical guidelines, the life coach will need to be time conscious. The coach will need to have estimates of how long the program should take and how to ensure the goals of the client will be met in time.

A client's readiness to pursue change is critical in determining the success of a coaching program. During the intake session, it is upon the coach to check the client's readiness to change (Cynkar, A., & Schwartz, D. (2007). One strategy to check the client's enthusiasm is to ask questions that target the issue to be worked on (David, 2016). The life coach will need to be a critical thinker; this will assist in determining the mental strength and readiness of the client to pursue change. The client needs to express that they are willing to withstand challenges and obstacles that will arise as the coaching program is being implemented.

References

Cynkar, A., & Schwartz, D. (2007). Facing your first clients. GradPSYCH, 9. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2007/09/clients

Clay, R. A. (2017). Coping with challenging clients. Monitor on Psychology, 48(7), 55. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/07-08/challenging-client

David, S. (2016). Beyond Goals: Effective Strategies for Coaching and Mentoring. Routledge.

Heathfield, S. M. (2019). Use 6 Steps to Coach Employees to Help Improve their Work Performance. Retrieved from the balance careers:

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/use-coaching-to-improve-employee-performance-1918083