What is coaching? How effective is it? Is it for me?
You may be pondering this whole concept of coaching and asking yourself about what it really is and what its benefits might be. Here’s a brief overview of coaching for you to think about.
What Coaching Is And Is Not
The definition of coaching that I adhere to is one that the International Coach Federation (ICF) International Coach Federation has: “coaching is partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.”
Coaching is about having someone on your side. Someone with an outside perspective to bounce ideas off, be your advocate, encourage and challenge you to reach your goals. A coach will hold you accountable and help you to ask more of yourself to accomplish what you really want more readily. And we are talking about what YOU want — not what you should want or somebody else thinks you should want. Coaching helps you to focus, clarify and take action. It is an adult to adult relationship in which I will support you in being responsible for your own life choices. This includes supporting you in disregarding any of my suggestions or requests if you choose to do so.
Coaching is not therapy although that can have a useful role to play at different times. If you are in a lot of emotional pain or caught up with past issues then you may like to consult a professional therapist. Coaching is focused on helping you take appropriate action in the present in order to create the life that you choose to live.
Coaching is not consultancy although there is certainly a place for that and there can be overlap. Consultancy is appropriate if you want someone with specialist knowledge in a particular area to provide solutions and/or to implement them for you. Coaching focuses on supporting you in generating and implementing your own solutions.
Benefits of working with a Coach
What is necessary for coaching to work? Coaching works when 1) as a client, you are willing to grow; 2) there is a gap between where you are now and where you wish to be. By taking steps to change, you are saying you wish to really thrive in your life. This might be personally, professionally or aspects of both. Whatever it is, by thoughtfully focusing on the changes you wish to make, you will discern how to implement what is needed to achieve your desired goal.
An added benefit of coaching is that you will have more energy, moving forward in living productively and free from tolerations, problems and perspectives that hinder you. What a great feeling! That’s thriving!