The Wheel of Life is a popular tool for exploring the main aspects of your life. This is usually used at the beginning of the coaching process. It can often enable the client to pinpoint exactly what is not as it should be and gives them the opportunity to explore what is really important to them. It can act as a guide to framing a series of coaching sessions if there are several areas on which the client wants to work.

From a self-coaching perspective, this is a good tool as it also represents a written record of where you are at a particular point. Redoing the Wheel over a period of time and then comparing the result to previous Wheels, highlights the areas where you are making progress and can help you to focus on those that may require more attention.

There are several free automated Wheels available for you to try on the Internet:

• Mind Tools Interactive Wheel of Life
• Interactive Wheel of Life Demo
• Wheel of Life - Mini Application with goal setting and tracking (30 day trial)

NOTE: Please make sure you have full Internet Security (Firewall and up-to-date Virus Checker) before you download programs. We have tried and tested all free and trial software but cannot vouch for it being virus-free.

Alternatively you can draw your own Wheel as follows:

1. Draw a circle in the centre of a large piece of paper and divide it into eight pieces. You can divide into smaller sections as you need.
2. Consider the whole of your life and what areas are important for you. Label each of the sections with these areas.
3. Now consider these areas and how satisfied you are with them at the moment.
4. With the centre of the circle being 0 and the rim 10 score each area by drawing a line across the segment.
5. Draw a second circle outside the first, extending the dividing lines.
6. For each segment write a description of what a 10 would be like, what the outcomes would be.
7. Draw a third circle outside the other two.
8. Now write why you want these outcomes, what is the purpose of achieving a 10?
9. Draw a final circle
10. For each of the areas that score seven or under think about what action you can take to take you one step closer to your ideal ten.
11. Review the wheel and add anything else that comes to mind.