ABSTRACT
Everyone can develop a personal life and find or create a work situation imbued with creativity, innovation, and playfulness. Everyone can find relative happiness, despite the dour predictions of politicians and pundits. This chapter presents an overview of the types of coaching available and the primary schools of thought in the field. It explores what it means to be a coach-and how coaching is different from mentoring, training, and counseling. The process of life coaching is accomplished by first gaining a thorough understanding of an individual's personal traits, needs, and wants, then developing an understanding of the goal(s) or aim(s) to be achieved, and finally formulating action plans, review processes, and measurable outcomes. In sum, the primary functions of a life coach are to aid individuals in the achievement of their goals, aims, and aspirations and to help individuals, couples, and groups achieve lasting joy and synchronicity. The chapter offers the coaching discipline-presenting several coaching types, approaches, and models.
