New Insights is unique in offering a structured 13-session coaching system for its trainee coaches to use in practice coaching and – if they choose – in their professional coaching endeavours after certification.
When the system is properly followed, the coaching process takes coach and client around six months or so to complete and may be followed up with ongoing coaching if needs be.
“Six months? Is there no quick fix?” I often get asked.
“There are no short cuts to any place worth going.”
– Beverly Sills
Quick fixes only treat the symptoms
I can’t help smiling and biting my lip a little at the same time when I hear this!
It’s pretty typical of modern day society, with all of the demands and pressures that we face on a day to day basis, for people to be inclined to view time as a perpetual enemy.
Seeking out quick fixes for our issues and needs is one of the ways in which we respond to our topsy-turvy world and the increasing intrusions on our time and lives.
Sadly, quick fixes inevitably work only to treat the symptoms of the issues we face, and to provide temporary relief in meeting our needs.
Imagine someone who suffers from chronic headaches popping aspirins whenever the pain gets bad. They feel better for a short while but achieve little if anything in helping diagnose and treat the root cause.
Handing responsibility to others
Likewise, when it comes to living our lives to the fullest, many of us mistakenly believe that there is a quick fix that will help with that too.
How often do you hear: “If only I could win the lottery,” or “If only the perfect job/partner would come into my life,” or “If only the government would do X.”
Note how easily we place responsibility in the hands of others when it comes to landing the desired quick fix!
Quick fixes in life coaching
And so it is when it comes to life coaching.
Some months ago we sent out a questionnaire to a sample of New Insights certified coaches enquiring about the degree of success they had been experiencing with our coaching system and what, if any changes, they might suggest.
The results were heartwarming and full of wonderful reports about clients whose lives had been transformed through the process.
We also gained a few good ideas about how to improve the system further.
One response in particular, however, caught my eye.
This coach said he had given up on using the system as none of his clients could find time to enter into a coaching relationship for six months. According to him, clients preferred to sign up for a session now and then when they needed some ‘help and a listening ear’.
Now don’t get me wrong. I am not against the idea of occasional coaching or what some would call ad hoc ‘issues coaching’ … but I would only advocate it for clients who had already experienced the transformative effects of a full programme of coaching.
Let me explain.
Internalising beliefs, values and rules … subconsciously
We spend our formative years being educated as to what is right and wrong, acceptable and unacceptable and possible/not possible. Then we spend our adult years chasing our tails and trying to live up to the demands and expectations of our educators and the unpredictable external worlds we exist in.
In so doing, we steadily internalise a raft of different beliefs about our own capabilities and lack thereof.
We also develop a set of values, or understandings about what is most important in life and the states of being that we most aspire to experience. And we formulate rules about when we will allow ourselves to feel these states, and, more accurately, when not.
Most of all of this happens at the subconcious level. We seldom take time out to bring this into our conscious awareness and reflect on whether or not the unique toolkit of beliefs, values and rules that we have adopted, really do serve us effectively.
Furthermore, we spend even less time reflecting on our amazing personal gifts and what it is we are here on earth to do with those gifts.
The case for full programme coaching
This is where a transformative life coaching programme, such as the one we have designed at New Insights, makes all the difference.
It cuts through the superficial issues that we face and drills down to find the substance of who we are and where we want to be.
It allows us time and space to question our beliefs, values and rules and to reflect on why are we here, the unique capabilities we bring to the world and how we can use them to optimum benefit, thereby ensuring our own happiness and fulfillment.
Six months of coaching to unravel and understand a lifetime of accumulated baggage, much of which is inappropriate for what we really want from this journey called life?
Sounds like a very small – and very worthwhile – investment of time to me!
In appreciation, Bill! An important reminder about what life coaching (or any authentic and worthwhile coaching) is about. I’ve taken the liberty to repost on my Eagle Coaching -Presence, Possibility, Praxis Facebook page. Wishing you well!
Yes some clients ask for a quick fix but I always disappoint them by telling them the truth. It is not quick fix its a process. I have seen the difference in the success level of those who opt out against those who complete the 13 sessions process, Its huge and I will not advise anyone to assume there a quick fix in Life Coaching. Clients who complete the 13 sessions reaps a life time and life changing benefits
Thanks Bill
Well put Jeph. Thanks for your contribution.
After seven years of using it with clients from all walks of life, I am the biggest fan of the 13-session programme. It creates a framework to make sure we keep moving forward and the personal growth is superbly designed to take you deeper one layer at a time. One thing I have found, on occasion, is that a person is not at the right time of their life to do the long term goals and purpose sessions. In that case, we stop at Session 10.
Wonderful Tania!
Yes Tania, I agree with you. I have found that the clients return after a few years when they are ready for long-term goals.
Those of us who have successfully completed the 13 session New Insights Life Coaching journey, will, I am sure, vehemently testify to the transformational effect that it has created. The opportunity with which one is presented at each session to stop, reflect and conduct an “audit” on the various aspects of one’s life, facilitates this transformation. It is a road less travelled, but one from which neither myself, nor any of my clients, wish to disembark, or replace with a shorter route.The benefits of “the long route” are far too irresistible.
Beautifully put – thank you Karen!
I can vouch for this 13-step programme. I used it with 11 of my volunteer practice clients during my training and I witnessed incredible transformation in each one of them. It was very rewarding to see. I continue to use this programme now as a certified life coach. While 6 months may seem like a life-time in this fast paced life we live, as you say Bill, it’s an investment worth making. Thank you for reinforcing this very powerful programme through your blog, Bill.
Thank you for the endorsement Jana – I’m so pleased it is working well for you 🙂
I would like to be part of the six months training.
Hi Nomonde.
Our life coaching system (used by our trainees and coaches) involves a six month process of coaching for the clients.
Our life coach certification training is something different and is likely to take you the best part of a year or so to complete. Check out our website using the link given at the bottom of the post 🙂