What is Life Coaching and What Do Life Coaches Do? A Detailed Guide

As a life coach, you play an essential role in helping individuals overcome challenges and reach their full potential. If you’ve ever wondered what a life coach does, it’s about forming a powerful partnership where you provide strategies, accountability, and insights to help your clients create meaningful transformations in their lives.

The life coaching market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.95%, reaching an estimated value of $2.76 billion by 2029. This growth reflects a rising demand for coaching services that help individuals unlock their potential and improve their overall well-being.

One key factor contributing to the increasing popularity of life coaching is the integration of technology into your practice. According to a recent report, 53.2% of life coaching sessions were conducted virtually. This shift to online platforms enhances your ability to connect with clients.

In this blog, we’ll explore what being a life coach means, the core responsibilities of a life coach, explore how life coaching works with examples, and share how you can use technology to enhance your practice.

What is Life Coaching

As a life coach, you become a professional who partners with your clients to help them achieve personal growth, overcome obstacles, and reach their full potential. If you’re wondering, “What’s a life coach do?”, well basically it’s all about guiding individuals toward lasting change. 

Through life coaching, you clarify your client’s goals, identify challenges, and create actionable plans, empowering your clients to transform their lives.

A brief history of life coaching

Life coaching is a relatively young field, but its roots stretch across many older disciplines. These include psychology, the human potential movement, leadership training, executive coaching, management consulting, adult education, career counseling, mentoring, personal development, and self-help.

The question of ‘What is life coaching?’ has evolved. Initially, it was focused on helping clients plan their lives, but over time, it got expanded into multiple areas of life. What does a life coach do today? Coaches like you now assist with a broader spectrum of challenges, including:

• Finance
• Career
• Relationships
• Health
• Wellness

As life coaching progressed, it began to blend ideas from various psychological supporting professions, such as psychotherapy and counseling, with business development strategies and personal growth techniques. It now includes aspects of life coaching that incorporate organizational development and personal life coaching to create a well-rounded, holistic approach for clients.

The popularity of life coaching surged in the 1980s and continues to grow. Many people now ask, ‘What is a life coach for?’ The answer lies in helping individuals achieve balance and success across different areas of their lives.

Ideal approach to life coaching

In life coaching, your approach should be designed to boost self-discovery, not simply provide answers. So, what is life coaching all about? It’s about setting a stage for your clients to tap into their own potential and make informed, empowered decisions. 

Here’s a look at how you approach life coaching:

• Not about giving advice:  You don’t tell your clients what to do. Instead, you ask powerful questions to help them discover their own solutions. You help clients connect with their inner wisdom and make decisions that align with their authentic values.
  
• Providing motivation and support: Imagine you are cheering from the sidelines, you offer motivation and encouragement when clients succeed and provide support when they face challenges. Life coaching involves consistent guidance to help your clients reach from where they are to where they want to be.

Does life coaching work?

A common question among your potential clients is, ‘Does life coaching work?’ The answer is yes! It works when your clients commit to the process. Life coaching is not a magic solution, but it is an effective way to bring about change. 

By focusing on physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being, as a life coach, you help clients focus on specific areas of their lives, assisting them in overcoming those challenges, highlighting your importance.

Here are some insights about how life coaching can be successful, shared by Reddit users – 

Source

Read also: How to Become a Life Coach: Follow This 7-Step Process

TIP – As a life coach, you’ll need to complete specific training to gain the necessary skills to help your clients. Many of you can choose to get certified by a reputable organization like the International Coaching Federation (ICF). You can also pursue additional certifications or methods like Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP).

What Does a Life Coach Do: Your Roles & Responsibilities

As a life coach, your primary role is to guide clients towards achieving their personal and professional goals. Life coaching isn’t about telling clients what to do; instead, it’s about helping them find clarity and guide them to take the necessary steps to succeed. 

Whether clients are navigating career transitions, improving relationships, or seeking personal growth, you provide the structure and motivation needed to help them make lasting change.

Before we proceed, it is also important for you to be aware of How Does a Life Coach Work? Understanding the Life Coach Career.  

8 key areas where life coaches make an impact

As a life coach, you will support your clients in various key areas. Here are the most impactful areas where life coaching plays a crucial role:

1. Career transitions and professional development: 

Many clients seek life coaching when they’re going through career changes or seeking to enhance their professional skills. So, what is life coaching in this context? As a life coach, you help clients identify their strengths, set career goals, and develop actionable plans that lead to career fulfillment. 

You empower them to take the necessary steps toward achieving their professional aspirations.

2. Goal setting and personal achievement: 

One of the key functions you serve as a life coach is helping your clients set clear, actionable goals. What do you, as a life coach, do in this area? You break large ambitions into smaller, achievable steps, helping clients stay motivated and focused on their journey toward success.

3. Relationship coaching and interpersonal skills: 

As a life coach, you help your clients improve both their personal and professional relationships. You guide them in enhancing communication, resolving conflicts, and developing emotional intelligence. 

Your life coaching sessions in this area can have a profound impact on their ability to connect with others and build stronger relationships.

4. Confidence and self-esteem building: 

A central aspect of life coaching is boosting your clients’ self-confidence. You help them develop the power to overcome self-doubt and build the courage to pursue their goals with certainty. 

Through your support, by helping create actionable plans, they gain the confidence and strength to push past barriers and achieve greater success in both their personal and professional lives.

5. Work-life balance: 

One of the most common struggles for your clients is finding a balance between their professional and personal lives. As a life coach, you will help clients develop strategies to manage their time effectively, reduce stress, and create a healthier lifestyle. Life coaching is key to helping them maintain harmony and well-being.

6. Mental health and stress management: 

Clients who come to you with stress or mental health challenges can greatly benefit from your guidance. You help them adopt effective techniques and tools such as stress-reduction techniques, mindfulness practices, and resilience-building strategies. Life coaching plays a crucial role in helping them navigate these challenges with calmness and clarity.

Read Also: The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Life Coaching Techniques in 2024 

7. Guidance and empowerment: 

As a life coach, you’re more than just a problem solver; you’re a trusted guide. You offer clarity and support as clients work through their personal challenges, enabling them to see beyond their limitations. 

You take on the role of a life coach who helps clients realize new possibilities and motivates them to take decisive action toward their aims.

5 Areas to Focus on to Attract More Clients
In this episode of Growth Dialogues, host Venkat G along with Simply.Coach co-founders Ram Gopalan and Kiran, explores how you can adapt to evolving client expectations in digital coaching by utilizing technology and understanding the potential impact of AI to stay ahead.

8. Creating actionable plans: 

A key part of “What  does a life coach do?” revolves around helping different types of clients break down large, complex goals into manageable steps. You provide your clients with a roadmap for success, helping them stay focused and organized as they work towards their desired outcomes. 

With your guidance, they remain motivated and confident throughout their journey.

Related: Life Coaching Techniques & Skills Every Coach Should Know

Identifying the Right Clients for Your Life Coaching Practice

As a life coach, it’s crucial to identify the right clients who can benefit from your expertise. By focusing on individuals who face specific challenges, you can make a meaningful impact while using your skills. 

Here’s a quick guide to identifying potential clients or individuals who need your support:

• Experiencing frequent irritability, anxiety or stress
• Lack of fulfillment in work or relationships
• Inability to break bad habits
• Lack of direction or purpose
• Seeking personal growth and self-awareness
• Career transitions or seeking professional advancements 
• Need for clarity and goal setting

5 Areas to Focus on to Attract More Clients

As a life coach, focusing on key areas will help you connect with more clients and grow your practice. Whether you’re a personal life coach or specialized in life coaching, here are five important factors that will make you more appealing to potential clients:

1. Rapport: Building trust is essential for any coaching relationship. Clients choose you based on the comfort they feel with you, so create an environment where they feel safe sharing their personal goals. Establishing a strong rapport will keep your clients engaged and committed to your coaching.

To cultivate strong client relationships and build rapport, start by utilizing effective marketing channels to gradually attract and secure your ideal clients.

A Reddit user shares insights into their story of acquiring clients and staying focused – 

Source

2. Expertise: When clients ask, ‘What is a life coach?’ or ‘What does a life coach do?’ you need to have a clear, specialized focus. Whether you specialize in career transitions, health & wellness, relationship life coaching, or personal life coach services, highlight your expertise and certifications. 

Clients will choose a coach who can provide the solutions and support they need to make real progress.

3. Impact: Demonstrate measurable results. Clients want to see progress. Help them gain clarity, set realistic goals, and track their improvements. When clients experience real change, they’re more likely to stay with you and refer others to your services.

4. Availability: Flexible scheduling and consistent sessions are key. Make yourself accessible to clients and show commitment to their progress. Regular coaching sessions and easy access will improve client retention and help you stand out in a competitive market.

5. Adapting technology: Using technology is crucial today. Offering virtual coaching sessions and using platforms that integrate scheduling and payments can expand your reach. Make it easy for clients to connect with you, no matter where they are. 

Platforms like Simply.Coach help you streamline your coaching process by providing an online digital coaching platform with a mobile app, seamless scheduling with calendar integrations, and payment & invoicing solutions, all in one place.

Listen to what coaches who are already using Simply.Coach say about the platform – Why You’ll Love Simply.Coach: Hear it From the Coaches Who Use Simply.Coach

When clients ask what to expect from a life coach, providing a tech-enabled, smooth experience will keep them coming back.

Real-World Examples of What Life Coaches Do

Here are five examples you can take inspiration from as to how you can help elevate clients from different phases, situations in life.  

1. Empowering career transitions

Client: A 44-year-old man who had been a successful entrepreneur for 30 years. Following a difficult divorce and gaining sole custody of his two young children, he faced emotional and financial challenges that affected both his personal life and business.​

Coaching intervention assisted him in setting goals across various life areas, including family, business, finances, health, spirituality, and relationships. Through coaching, he gained new perspectives and developed a vision for a better life.​

Outcome: Over a year, he accomplished all his goals, sold his long-standing business, and became a real estate investor. This transition led to improved financial stability, a more flexible work schedule, and a renewed sense of purpose. He also remarried, enhancing his personal happiness.

2. Achieving work-life balance

Client: A 49-year-old woman who founded a button company that grew significantly over 12 years. She found herself working 14-hour days, seven days a week, leading to burnout and a desire for change.​

Coaching intervention helped her rediscover her vision for the business and herself, enabling her to work on the business rather than in it. She learned to trust her team, delegate tasks, and focus on her role as CEO.​

Outcome: She reduced her workday to under eight hours, took long weekends off, and expanded revenues and profits. Her personal growth led to winning a business competition, further validating her transformation.

3. Enhancing personal relationships

Client: A 46-year-old woman facing an empty nest as her children grew independent. She sought a career that aligned with her personal goals and allowed for a more balanced life.​

Coaching intervention guided her in identifying her priorities and boundaries, helping her transition from a demanding job to one that better suited her lifestyle and aspirations.​

Outcome: She achieved a healthier work-life balance, reduced stress, and had more time for personal pursuits. This change positively impacted her overall well-being and relationships.

4. Building confidence and self-esteem

Client: A 37-year-old woman struggling with low self-esteem due to a challenging work environment and personal health issues. She felt overwhelmed and disconnected from her goals.​

Coaching intervention helped her identify her natural talents and strengths, which boosted her confidence. She also learned to set boundaries and prioritize her well-being.​

Outcome: She improved her sales performance, ranking among the top in her company, and achieved a better work-life balance, allowing time for personal interests and family.

5. Navigating career and personal life transitions

Client: A 57-year-old woman who became widowed unexpectedly, leading to feelings of loss and uncertainty about her future. She sought to redefine her purpose and find new passions.​

Coaching intervention facilitated her exploration of personal interests and talents, guiding her to pursue a passion for designing period costumes. They developed a plan to turn this interest into a viable career.​

Outcome: She successfully launched a costume design business, finding fulfillment and financial success. This new venture enriched her life, providing purpose and joy in her later years.

Elevating Your Life Coaching Practice with Simply.Coach

As a life coach, managing your practice efficiently is key to offering exceptional service and growing your business. Simply.Coach is the perfect tool for a life coach like you, providing an all-in-one platform that simplifies administrative tasks and helps you focus on what matters most—your clients. 

Here are the core features Simply.Coach offers for effective life coaching:

• Automated scheduling & reminders: Never miss an appointment again. With life coaching technology, your calendar syncs automatically, sending reminders to you through nudges and your clients so everyone stays on track.
  
• Client workspace & management: Easily manage your clients with personal dashboards, set action plans, track their progress, and provide resources that fit their individual needs. Simply.Coach helps you maintain seamless communication with your clients and provides them with a custom client workspace as well.
  
• Integrated invoicing & payment solutions: Say goodbye to invoicing headaches. Accept payments easily through Simply.Coach, offering a simple way to handle all financial transactions, so you can focus on tracking and helping clients achieve success.
  
• Customizable coaching programs: Tailor your services based on each client’s needs. With life coaching tools, you can create personalized coaching programs with automated workflows, ensuring a smooth and consistent coaching experience.
  
• Mobile app & client access: Manage your life coaching practice on-the-go with the Simply.Coach mobile app. Clients also have access to their sessions, progress, session notes and payments from their devices, making your coaching process even more flexible.
  
• Built-in resources & templates: Simply.Coach provides you with pre-built resources and templates, helping you save time and deliver more value to your clients. Whether you’re working as a personal life coach or guiding clients through complex transitions, this platform has everything you need.

With Simply.Coach, whether you’re just starting as a life coach or looking to scale your established practice, you can operate with efficiency and professionalism. Simply.Coach offers such a powerhouse of features at an affordable pricing plan that starts at only $9/month.

Learn more about Simply.Coach with these detailed videos –  Introduction to Simply.Coach Simply.Coach | The Enterprise-grade Coaching Management Platform

Becoming a life coach requires more than just passion and expertise; it requires the right approach to help clients succeed and also grow your practice. The life coaching industry is expanding rapidly, and using technology allows you to provide a seamless client experience while enhancing your own productivity. 

Ready to start or take your life coaching practice to the next level? Simply.Coach provides the tools you need to focus on your clients’ success. Schedule a demo or sign up for a free 14-day trial today and experience how Simply.Coach can help you elevate your coaching practice!