What do you do if your clients need a personalized learning plan to develop new skills?

Assessing needs are very powerful for the development of a personal development plan, especially when they come from a realization or a-ha moment my coachee has had as a result of our session. I don't need to determine the way forward for my client, my coaching client needs to do that for her/himself, being triggered by some powerful questions and having a vision for her/his future. This gives so much joy, power and inner motivation to wanting to work on the personal development plan, because they know where they are going.

When clients want to develop new skills, the first question I ask is "Why," what is the job to be done? Then, is it best to learn the skill or outsource the task? Some things are good to know, other things are essential. This is especially important for people who work independently. It's so easy to get caught up in learning every little thing versus focusing on 20% that only you can do. Once we have clarity, here are a few things to consider: - What is the skill? - What is proficient? - How long does that take? - Who has mastered this skill? - Who has proven effective as a teacher? - What is the 20% that gives 80% of the result?

Assessing the needs of the client will give the life coach the impression, reason, and ability to be able to meet the client's needs easily. Clients who intend to become more productive need to have a plan that they follow. When the client's needs have been assessed, the life coach will be able to come up with the right strategies that will help the client become better.

Setting goals can be exactly as you suggest, but: KNOWING and setting the goals doesn't automatically mean, that people are actually DOING something. What I usually do with my coaching clients, is to really get into the feeling and the emotions of what it would feel like having reached the goals. Often using a powerful visualization for that. When coachees can actually feel what it feels like to have reached the goal, the goal isn't so daunting anymore all of a sudden and working towards the goal becomes joyful and exciting!

Setting goals will help the client to come up with strategies, ways, and means they can attain their learning dreams. Also, the life coach needs to help the client to set smart goals. In setting goals, the life coach needs to ensure that the goals when met, are capable of improving the client's learning process.

The resources that the client has access to, are capable of impacting them positively. The educational resources that the client can lay their hands on are important because they help to make learning and skill acquisition easier for the client. For a client to be able to meet their objectives, they have to dedicate themselves to meticulous learning, using the right educational resources.

Resources are very important, but not only on the outside. I tend to help my coaching clients to get access to their own inner resources, something they always have access to and is always available to them. It is often a change in insight and awareness that results from it and so exciting for me to observe with my clients. I just love it!

In creating structures, one should be able to put the right strategies in place that when followed, will result in progress, and improve the client's learning and skill acquisition. Structures are important to help the client break big goals into smaller achievable goals. Every goal is easily attainable if there are structures, stages, and categories in place, that will help the client to achieve his learning and skill acquisition goals.

I believe letting my coaching clients choose what is most helpful for them is key to their success. In my work i will steer to structure by asking questions like: "What is most important for you?" and "What would create the biggest impact toward your goals?" The coaching client is always in the driver`s seat and accountable for their own development. My function is to facilitate the process and create a loving and safe space for people to be themselves, no matter where they are today.

The level of support system an individual has is directly proportional to the level of progress the individual will be capable of attaining. A client goal and the quality of support the client possesses, are an inseparable pair. When a client has access to mentors, coaches, and resource persons to leverage, he will be able to achieve so much more.

Before any coaching takes place, i believe it is of utmost importance for people to be able to be and come in as themselves. Life coaching is about the life of my coaching clients. As a coach I am present and the foundation for my coaching is in creating a safe and welcoming space for my clients so they can feel they can be their true self, open, accepted and be seen and heard. Together we create a space for exploration, curiosity and creativity, This is often something that is missing in the corporate world. Often in just 1 hour we can cover so much and create so much forward moves, really get unstuck. I just love this coaching work and the direct impact I can have on my clients and witnessing their growth.