What is Transformation all about?

The following essay will articulate the problem of change implementation, and the benefit that a life-coaching supportive role provides for business transformation, personal and spiritual development, and achieving growth and mental-health improvement. It discusses why change is sometimes necessary, how it can be achieved, and what the Life-Coach in their capacity will provide, and when other professionals should be consulted.

A Transformative Introduction.

When motivational speakers highlight human capacity, boldly proclaiming that all things are possible, for those who believe and put their minds to it, they make it sound so easy for dreams to be achieved. Sadly, there is too much buzz these days about “Transformation” without clarifying what the objective and process entails. Social media are flooded with advertising campaigns highlighting the need for Personal and Social Transformation, and business, education, leadership, and religious theories all have their own flavour and take on the topic. But in public perception, it is seldom differentiated between various approaches to change management and growth dynamics presented, and rarely is ideological differences and its appropriate application properly understood for each discipline. Whether personal, organizational, or spiritual, as method, or mode of operation. For the general public, speaking about transformation means the same thing, and that is change. Transformation is also equated with uncertainty, growth pains, and discomfort, having to break a routine, and investing effort and money, in order to become something which many have not even thought about, and considered as necessary, or vaguely possible. When opportunities then arise to participate in a transformational retreat, or to do a personal development course, the majority of people shy away quickly.

What needs to be explained?

Nobody would encourage change unless there is a need and reason. In most cases, it simply implies improvement, either in capacity, function, or results to be obtained. People and organizations that encourage improvement and change are mostly looking for better results, either in business profitability, executive or worker performance, or are desiring improvement in profitability. But as individuals, we all long for something better, less discomfort, stress and pain, and a lifestyle that ultimately will lead to a better quality of life. For a business, it may imply the implementation of different systems and structures, and further training of staff to improve their ability to deliver better results. And in order to implement these changes, consultants are normally invited to facilitate the process. From a business performance capacity, whether working with a business owner, team leader, or individual worker, the responsibility often falls on the human resources manager’s shoulder to develop personal improvement plans that facilitate individual empowerment. But they are rarely equipped with life-coaching skills, and therefore mostly delegate the responsibility to external contractors and consulting firms. When policies dictate company objectives (instead of the other way around), individual preferences and needs are mostly ignored, and individuals soon leave corporate entities in search of greener pastures. Lack of alternative approaches to receiving support and assistance in helping workers get the results they seek, they find themselves stranded, without a job, and many end up struggling, never living their dreams, or finding a purpose in life. But luckily, this is where life-coaching can make a difference.

?What is the role of the Life-Coach in facilitating Transformation?

While Life-Coaching has grown dramatically as a popular field assisting business executives, and private individuals in their personal lives and career direction over recent years, it is still relatively new in some countries like South Africa. As a modality, it provides alternative support for both mental health and business acumen, but is generally applied as a technique to facilitate personal development. Due to its association with counselling, there are still a lot of misconceptions. Even potential clients might not have a clear picture of what Life-Coaching can do for them, and often its value is negated by other professionals claiming that it is only a registered Counselling Psychologist that can resolve, and support mental health, or only an MBA consultant that is able to offer Business Coaching. A correct understanding of what e.g. transformation entails and how it can be supported indicates that a wide variety of professionals ranging from teachers, community lay-counsellors, spiritual and religious workers, social workers, and Human Resources managers etc. all have a role to play.

A Life-Coach is normally understood to be a motivational individual who works with others to offer wellness advice. This definition can be quite sketchy. A more accurate explanation of Life-Coaching would be a procedure that is used by individuals to empower their clients to address some of their most urgent, challenging or important life situations, and guide them to obtain a more empowered stance, perspective and attitude, and is different from counselling, and business consultations. The ICF defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. The process of coaching often unlocks previously untapped sources of imagination, productivity and leadership.

Personal Development and Life-Transformation.

Specifically, I want to emphasize that business performance will depend on individuals and teams, as groups of people working together to achieve a specific objective, and their capacity to function at their best. When a business structure or system is not delivering the results it is intended, maybe the business executives should rather consider the assistance of an organizational psychologist or consultant that specializes in management and operational dynamics. This is different for a visionary that needs guidance from a business and executive coach to clarify the what, who and why of their business. And often, business results start with the personal orientation, knowledge (capacity), skills, and focus of individuals. This is where personal development and life-transformation becomes the key directive. Now, we need to understand that there is a difference in skills-development, e.g. communication techniques, management approaches, critical thinking, or problem-solving abilities, which are all important in improving business performance and part of a personnel development plan, but different to personal development. When an individual is confused, unmotivated, even unwilling to think and operate in a manner that can change their lives, and resist personal transformation that can empower them to find that greener grass on the other side of the valley, it is then that life-coaching becomes imperative. In our current economic climate, many find themselves facing a crisis, and are without hope, direction, and capacity to embrace change. Life-Coaching, is a tool for personal enrichment and a solution-focused approach to people-capacity development that empowers clients to make lasting change in all areas of their lives. Transformational Coaching, further assists people to make a transition from a current limiting position, and perspective, towards a more inspired, authentic, and transpersonal experience of life.

What Life Coaching is Not.

Life-Coaching is offered as a technique, and is not a regulated expertise. The life-coach has a tool-set of different methodologies, strategies and exercises, which, when correctly applied, will assist growth, and support mental health. Although life-coaching focuses on solutions, encouraging clients to challenge distorted cognitions and change destructive patterns of behaviour, it should never be confused with therapy. Although a Life-Coach often works with similar processes, extensive deep-seated perceptual distortions, and thought patterns that affect the patients' normal functions psychologically, emotional and behavioural needs to be dealt with by a trained professional.

Clients may be seeking help to create a clear plan of action for establishing a work-life balance, more successful relationships, or a career transition. Life-Coaching helps people to gain clarity on their goals and is a method by which the Life-Coach and client together generate next steps that can be followed to achieve a life they desire. The sessions provide an accountability framework, wherein motivation is offered, and corrections can be made under their guidance. Life-Coaches may have their own story about overcoming problems to lead a healthier life, or e.g. achieve business success, but Life-Coaches are not consultants and therapists, unless appropriately qualified and practicing in that capacity.

?A good Life-Coach will not tell clients what to do, or prescribe specific courses of action based on their own opinion. Instead, the coach-client relationship is about empowering the client to create goals that will move them forward, with the coach acting as a guide, motivator and facilitator to achieve these. A life coach is also not necessarily a mentor. Mentors typically use their own life or career experiences, as personal consultants, to provide knowledge, or to advise clients on a course of action, and provide examples and instruction on the application of their acumen. The role of the Life-Coach is not to determine if a client’s choices are right or wrong, good or bad, but to utilize the wisdom and guidance from their own personal experiences, to assist clients in gaining broader or alternative perspectives on possible solutions, and is not to teach and instruct.

Benefits of working with a Life-Coach for Transformation.

The benefit of expert guidance to help you determine and reach your goals or discover a more purposeful life path, cannot be ignored. An attentive Life-Coach often identifies cognitive distortions, e.g. filtering and generalizations, and by bringing these to the attention of their client as reality check, will indeed eliminate disempowering thoughts, feelings and behaviour. There are several other invaluable and often unacknowledged benefits to Life-Coaching. Here are some of the most significant:

During times of transition and change, we can feel overwhelmed, unfulfilled at work, or unhappy in relationships? Feeling lonely and lost often leads people to function less optimally at work, being overwhelmed with concerns about their future, or relations at home. Life-Coaching can help you clarify your values so that you can set meaningful perimeters for yourself, and create plans for the future that are most suitable for you. A Life-Coach can help you solve real-life challenges, whether it’s stress, lack of purpose, or how to feel more joy. You will learn strategies as they share practical, actionable steps that can resolve issues, and present you with methods that can improve your life experience. What most people gain from coaching, is acquiring techniques to tackle negative thoughts and emotions, turning challenges into stepping stones for growth, and a mindset that helps improve mental and emotional wellness. Through the coaching process, you will engage in activities that help you discover your passions and learn methods to pursue purpose in life, unlocking innovation and creative potentials, leading to personal and professional growth. The process can break the grip of dangerous emotions like letting fear and low self-esteem hold you back, can diminish limiting beliefs, address self-destructive habits, and clarify direction for decisions, better time-management, and help maintain focus during major transitions. These are just a few of the issues covered while working with a Life-Coach. When you feel frustrated with your life, Life-Coaches help you to discover the real you, and achieve your goals.

?Overall, clients that enlisted a Life-Coach, in time, obtained greater life satisfaction. While friends and family can provide compassion and advice, and listen to your utter frustration with life’s challenges, improving your life and achieving success takes work, dedication and time. A Life-Coach not only helps you set goals, formulate action plans and helps you to implement the steps needed to move forward, they also provide consistent support and motivation as you make progress.

In Summation.

Choosing to work with a life coach is not a major decision, once you realize that the world’s most wildly successful people, celebrities, entrepreneurs and world leaders, all enlist one. So if you’re asking yourself, “Do I need a life coach?,” the question should rather be first about who you want to be, and what you want to achieve. The problem is that our small-mindedness inhibits decisions for our greater good. We want cheap, quick, fast-attaining results, with as little effort and financial outlay as possible. But tangible results start with the inner alignment of heart and mind, enthusing our actions with solutions that are sustainable, long-lasting and lead to fulfilling life-changing results. Transformation is about no-return. It's the moment when the caterpillar loses its shell, its old identity and substance, and allows the process to metamorphose it into a glorious butterfly, different in function and form. A shift is called for and in order to enjoy the results you seek, it will require you to take a different approach, and it may necessitate a new outlook, method, venue, and mind-set. And the first step is the realization that if you are not yet where you want to be, maybe you need some help. If we are prepared to invest in gadgets to enjoy the benefits that luxury tech provides, then we need to be willing to invest more. In order to get the inner aptitude needed to manifest our ideals, we also need to invest in developing that capacity. If you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get what you’ve always got, something or nothing. So ask yourself whether you are at that place where you want and need to be in life, and if not, then consider what is the missing component? What secret ingredient do great achievers have which makes them succeed? Your Life-Coach will help you unravel this mystery and help you to develop the attitude, aptitude, ability and strategy needed to move forward in life.

About the author.

Dr Martin Brits (#metalifecoach ), based in Pinetown (KZN, South Africa), provides Transformational Coaching and Transpersonal Counselling through a Client Centred Transformative approach utilizing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Integration of Spiritual Transpersonal Fundamentals. Dr Brits offer Inter-disciplinary high calibre consulting services, and facilitates accelerated Higher Education to private individuals and Leaders in Organizations, in affiliation with various International Institutions. More info on the services offered can be found at: https://metalifecoaching.co.za .