Guest Patrick Sheehan discusses the surprising answer to why many life coaches couldn't find success elsewhere. The podcast explores the lack of legitimacy and credentials in MLM coaching, challenges of unemployment, and the importance of choosing a relatable coach. They also touch upon Jessie's immigration struggles and the value of having a friend who serves as a mentor.
Career coaches offer solutions for both technical and mindset problems in unemployment, teaching navigation of the job market and promoting attitude and belief changes.
Coaches establish reliability by connecting with clients on an emotional level, sharing personal stories of setbacks and identity crises, offering alternative solutions grounded in personal experience.
Deep dives
Coaches as Experts: The Diagnoses of Career Coaches
Career coaches diagnose unemployment as either a technical problem or a mindset problem. In the case of technical problems, coaches focus on teaching job seekers how to navigate the current job market, leveraging tools like LinkedIn and networking strategies. For mindset problems, coaches suggest that individuals need to change their attitude and beliefs, often incorporating practices like power poses and visualization. Coaches often critique official experts and institutions, positioning themselves as relatable individuals who have experienced personal and professional setbacks. They present a narrative of personal transformation and offer coaching services to help others find their true passion, even if their own lives are still in flux.
The Vulnerability of Unemployed Professionals
Unemployed professionals who have tied their identity closely to their work often struggle with the loss of their job. The search for a new professional identity becomes crucial, and many turn to coaching as a means of repairing their sense of self. Coaches provide a space where individuals can reframe their identity and present themselves as entrepreneurs or experts in a particular field. The pursuit of coaching also becomes a way to live vicariously through clients and find fulfillment in helping others achieve success. This transition from employee to coach offers a sense of control and purpose in uncertain times.
The Appeal of Coaches as Authentic and Relatable Figures
Coaches establish credibility by positioning themselves as relatable figures who have overcome personal adversity. They acknowledge their own failures and struggles, sharing stories of career setbacks and identity crises. By presenting themselves as ordinary individuals who have gone through transformative experiences, coaches connect with clients on an emotional level. This relatability attracts individuals who have lost trust in expert institutions and seek guidance from someone who understands their unique challenges. Coaches critique traditional experts and offer alternative solutions grounded in personal experience, presenting themselves as trusted guides and mentors.
The Role of Coaching in Reparation of Identity
Coaching plays a crucial role in helping individuals repair their sense of identity after experiencing job loss. Coaching provides a space for individuals to reframe their identity and find new professional paths, even amidst economic precarity. By embracing coaching, individuals can assert control over their career narratives, transforming from unemployed individuals to entrepreneurs or experts in their chosen fields. This reparation of identity becomes essential, often valued more than financial gains, as individuals seek to regain a sense of purpose and control over their lives.
Who becomes a life coach? Jane talks to Patrick Sheehan, a researcher who has found a surprising answer: many coaches couldn’t find success elsewhere. Why do people who can’t do teach? We also learn more about Jane’s life coach, her bona fides, and what sets her apart from the scammers.