To better understand self-improvement coaching and what a personal business coach does, or as they are also called, personal development business coaches, I find that a great deal of the mystery around coaching can be taken away when we understand some key terms and how they are defined.

Self-improvement does not happen by itself. All of us can improve some without a focus. We have to do that to live, let alone to survive. Yet, to live a happier, more fulfilling and peaceful life it is important to understand the definitions of key words that are central to the overall theme of self-improvement business coaching. In a way, these words provide some key tips on self-improvement.

Personal Foundation: This is a structural basis to support an individual in living an exceptional life. The personal foundation is comprised of three elements: the Who, the What, and the How. Your personal foundation will determine where and how far you can go in your self-improvement. The good news is that your personal foundation can be made stronger.

Personal Growth/Development: Personal growth and development is the overall process of evolving to fully express your purpose and values.

Self: Our “self” is who we are versus the terms we use to label ourselves. It is our distinct personality that creates our individuality. We draw upon this self as we are called upon to respond to the world.

Integrity: Integrity is a state of personal wholeness, well-being, and fulfillment—not something to achieve, but rather a statement of our being. It is a reflection of who you are in any moment and is the dynamic relationship you maintain between purpose and path. It is vigilant development, or continual adjustment, of the fit between our calling and our conduct that allows us to sustain a high level of integrity. Integrity, in my opinion, is one the key words in guiding us to a better life.

Values: Values are ideals that are personally important and meaningful for you and draw you forward. Values are inherent in each person’s makeup; we all have them. They are specific and individual, but people can share common values. For example, people often value honesty, openness, and respect in a conversation.

It is important to know your values. It is critical to know the values of those you associate with. As a personal development business coach or when I am doing personal business coaching I strongly encourage my clients to know the values of those they associate with.

An example that comes to mind was a discussion I was in where the person was having a lot of relational disruption with a group of people who were, in his opinion, important to his business. I asked him to articulate the values of the individuals in this group of people. At first, he resisted. He said, “They have good values.” Yet as he explored it and spoke about the people it became obvious they all had the same values, but they were not his. Interestingly, they were thieves of other people’s time and money.

The conclusion was that someone can tell you they have good values. Yet, without a frame of reference we cannot know if they are good or not. A group of thieves all have the same values. And they think those are good values. Always know the values of others. What tips on self-improvement can we take away from this story?

Know your values. Know the values of others. When you do, you are less likely to put yourself in situations where you are compromising your values and your principles. When you do compromise in those areas it diminishes your authenticity and your trust which leads us down a path to poorer relationships and more problems.

In self-improvement coaching, I always ask my clients to identify their values. When you know your values, your self-improvement can rise to a higher level because you will make better decisions that will honor you and your gifts and talents.

In the next post we will continue with some more definitions to bring more clarity to your self-improvement.