The Pros and Cons of Self Coaching

The benefits of life coaching are invaluable, whether you hire a life coach or decide to self coach, if done right, the process can see you successfully achieve your goals, gain clarity, increase your self-confidence, increase your productivity and give you a better work life balance. Before you decide to self coach here are some of the Pro’s and Con’s to consider.

The Pros

Flexibility - You can focus on your self-coaching wherever and whenever suits you best, you are not restricted by someone else’s schedule, or confined to a set time period. While you should still schedule in the time, it can be out of hours or you can take it outdoors or to a spot that inspires you or do it on your commute, whatever suits you!

Empowered to Act Faster – when you are faced with an opportunity, issue or change of plan you can analyse it and act faster rather feeling you should wait to discuss it at your next appointment.

Low Cost - Coaching programmes are usually sold in blocks and paid for upfront. Coaching yourself keeps the cost down.

Personal Development – learning coaching techniques and practices, even if it is to self coach, will stand to you in many other areas of life, like management, leadership, even personal relationships.

The Cons

You Lack the Official Training – Not to contradict my last Pro, but even if you learn the techniques and practices, you do not have the professional training and hours of experience that a qualified Life Coach will have. A professional life coach is trained in questioning techniques and knows what questions to ask and when, they know when to support and when to challenge, they may offer insights that you would not see on your own.

The Risk of De-prioritising your Time - If you have prepaid for a session with a Life Coach, you are more likely to ensure the meeting is in your diary and prioritised. If you have time in your diary to focus on self coaching, there is a risk of bumping it out if something else pops up.

Lack of Accountability - If you tell someone you are going to do something then you are more likely to do it, If you tell a life coach, you are not only more likely to do it but they will hold you accountable if you do not. If you are self coaching and you are not sharing your goals and targets with anyone, you may be more comfortable letting things slide and not hold yourself accountable.

The Absence of a Great Supporter - Your life coach wants you to achieve your goal, they want you to find success and happiness and they will support you on that journey and celebrate your successes. It feels good to have that external support there.