What is Coaching?

Coaching is a supportive partnership between two individuals; the coach (the person providing the coaching) and the coachee (the person receiving the coaching) and is based on mutual trust and respect. In order for personal development and performance improvement to occur, a coaching relationship must be underpinned by this trust and collaboration. A coach can equip coachees with the tools, knowledge, and opportunities they need to fully develop and be effective in their commitment to themselves, their business and their work.

What is Coaching not?

A wide range of books, people and debates will distinguish between coaching and other professions such as: teaching, consulting, therapy, training or mentoring. Rather than re-address old ground and possibly confuse, it is important to be aware that coaching is not:

•    About providing coachees with answers
•    Solving problems, without a coachee’s input
•    Directing, controlling or manipulating others according to the coach’s agenda
•    Being judgmental in advice sharing

In the context of business, corporate and executive coaching, it is not:

•    A way to re-package management skills and provide supervision, evaluation or             performance management (although it can be used to support)
•    Mentoring or consulting, although coaches will use their experience, diagnose                   situations and give opinions or advice at times

What is the process of Coaching?

An initial orientation session will typically be conducted in person, if possible. Because coaching is so flexible and is entirely focused on the coachee, follow up sessions are usually arranged over the telephone. The average coachee will speak with their coach once a week or 2 to 3 times per month. The length of each session is normally 30 – 45 minutes and email support can be provided in between sessions.

Coachees bring an agenda of items to the call or meeting. The coach supports them to solve problems and make the most of opportunities. When they are contemplating a large goal, a coach will help them design the project and provide the support and structure needed to make sure it gets done. Coaches bring out each coachee’s best by offering advice, expecting a lot, helping them strategize and celebrating their wins.

During a session, the coach and coachee may agree on assignments for the coachee, to build on what was discussed in that session or to prepare for the next session. This could include actions to progress them forward in meeting the goals they have set for themselves. Assignments are then reviewed in the next session.

What are the benefits of Coaching?

Listed below are some of the main benefits of coaching – I have not attempted to distinguish these benefits by type of coaching provided.

•    Set better goals and reach them
•    Do more than you would on your own
•    Focus yourself to produce results more quickly
•    Have insight and a fresh perspective when you are stuck or doubt yourself
•    Deal with all aspects of your life - personal, family, relationships, fun and career
•    Develop your strengths and confidence so you continue to do even better after                  coaching (rather than becoming dependent)
•    It forms a basis for planning for career advancement
•    It provides a model for personal leadership development
•    Results are measurable and sustainable

What is the role of a Coach?

==>    To support you in designing a plan of action
==>    To motivate you in making and sustaining progress towards realising your vision
==>    To encourage you to really believe that you can achieve anything
==>    To acknowledge your progress, strengths and achievements
==>    To challenge your assumptions - encourage you to make the right choices for you
==>    To be your sounding board when making choices and planning goals
==>    To help you clarify what is important to you
==>    To be your partner in achieving rapid results
==>    To offer an objective perspective
==>    To listen to what you truly need and remain focussed on achieving your goals
==>    To inspire you to achieve more than you would if you did not have your own coach
==>    To be your unconditional advocate

How is Coaching different from other professions?

Coaching is not prescriptive - the coachee decides what to focus on. The coach has no agenda to fulfill, other than what the coachee brings to the session. It is helpful to use the following to differentiate between the coaching and other relevant professions:

Consultants = subject matter expert
Teachers = impart knowledge
Therapists = sickness to health
Coach = results/action driven

All coaches will apply their professional discipline and skillset to enhance a coachee’s performance, action, creativity, momentum and transformation. This creates what we call ‘coachable moments’ in which the coach can be the catalyst for the coachee in promoting shifts in their thinking and behaviour. This ultimately enables a coachee to realize their potential, achieve fulfillment and grow.

Why does Coaching work?

Working with a coach can help an individual or a business make consistent progress toward their goals by:

• Providing accountability
• Reducing procrastination
• Expanding perspective
• Supplying objective feedback
• Being totally supportive

It has been shown that coaching is highly effective because:

• Synergy between the coach and the coachee creates momentum
• Better goals are set -- ones that naturally pull coachees toward the goal rather than goals that require the coachees to push themselves to the goal
• Coachee develops new skills, and these skills translate into more success

FAQs