"Professional
coaching is an ongoing professional relationship that helps people
produce extraordinary results in their lives, careers, businesses or
organizations. Through the process of coaching, clients deepen their
learning, improve their performance, and enhance their quality of life.
Coaching accelerates the client's progress by providing greater focus
and awareness of choice."
- International Coach Federation
The Benefits of Coaching
Among the many benefits of coaching, people in coaching relationships may expect to:
- adopt fresh perspectives on personal and professional opportunities and challenges;
- make better choices and decisions;
- improve interpersonal relationships;
- increase personal effectiveness, becoming more productive and more fulfilled with life and work; and
- set and achieve more personally relevant goals.
| The Difference Between Coaching & Other Professional Services |
| Therapy /Counseling |
Coaching |
| Focuses on difficulties arising from the past. |
Focuses on the future and moving forward. |
| Deals with healing pain, dysfunction and conflict. |
Supports growth and development based on individual-initiated change. |
| Emphasis on improving overall psychological functioning. |
Emphasis on action, accountability and follow-through. |
| Consulting |
Coaching |
| Hired as a subject matter expert. |
Believes the individual is the expert in his/her own life, coach is expert in helping people realize their potential. |
| Diagnoses problems, prescribes and sometimes implements solutions. |
Provides support, approaches and frameworks for individual to generate own solution. |
| Training |
Coaching |
| Curriculum is pre-determined and set by trainer. |
No set curriculum, agenda set by client with guidance from coach. |
| Linear approach. |
Non-linear approach |
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The Role of the Coach and the Individual
Among other things, in a coaching relationship, the coach:
- provides objective assessments and observations;
- acts as a sounding board in support of possibilities, planning and decision-making;
- assists in revealing fresh perspectives and illuminating new possibilities;
- encourages challenge and stretch; and
- maintains professional boundaries and adheres to professional code of ethics.
the individual:
- creates the coaching agenda based on personally meaningful goals and aspirations;
- assumes full responsibility for personal results, decisions and actions; and
- takes action that is aligned with personal goals and aspirations.
Things To Work On With a Coach
Coaches
work with clients on all matters of life, including business/career,
health, relationships, and finances. The list of things to work on with
a coach develops and changes along with the individual. Some ideas are:
- achieving more life balance;
- making a change or advancement in career or profession;
- becoming a stronger leader;
- improving personal relationships;
- finding a life partner;
- dealing with family challenges;
- lifestyle changes (improving physical fitness, losing weight, stopping smoking);
- becoming a better negotiator;
- becoming a bigger or more magnanimous person;
- taking more initiative in personal or business life;
- starting new projects;
- finishing old projects;
- better time management and/or increasing productivity;
- simplifying life; and
- experiencing more fulfillment, joy and satisfaction in life.
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