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What exactly is a coach?
Thats an excellent question. Here is my answer.
I define a coach as someone who facilitates and champions the clients existing strengths while helping them develop strategies to use those strengths to best effect in pursuit of the success they seek. Put another way, the fundamental question I ask myself when working with a client is What tools does this person have in her or his toolbox and how can s/he use them to best advantage given what s/he wants to achieve?
The key here is that the coach does not step in to do the clients work any more than a football coach takes the field during games. Providing outright advice and/or pitching in to do some or all of the actual word falls into the consulting camp. If the provider is helping the client identify and use tools, then chances are s/he is coaching. If the provider is actually functioning as one of the tools, then s/he is probably consulting. More than a few coaches actually provide consulting. I personally offer a blend of the two with emphasis on one or the other depending on the situation.
While coaching can be educational, transferring knowledge is not the main thrust of coaching. That knowledge transfer is called training, which is provided by trainers.
Do not confuse coaching, consulting, or training with therapy. Yes, getting past an obstacle and achieving ones goals can have powerful effects on self esteem, self actualization, etc. and one could argue that coaching therefore has therapeutic value. If youre thinking that the distinction can get fuzzy at times, then youre absolutely right.
Heres an example that may help clarify things: Say you are having difficulty allowing yourself to have down time. A therapist might explore your childhood or other events that led you to believe that you have to be busy all the time in depth. A coach might point out that youre really good at planning your time that perhaps scheduling some of that time as down time in the same way you schedule your other commitments might help you get the R&R you need. If your challenge lies in not planning your time well, then the coach might help you develop strategies for scheduling your days, which will almost invariably lead to more free time. I trust that you can see the distinction.
I agree that these definitions may seem more than a little fuzzy. They are. My recommendation is not to worry too much about the labels when seeking outside assistance. The only exception is therapy. If you feel that you need therapy or counseling of any sort, then you must always contact a properly licensed mental health professional. If you are working with a therapist and decide to hire a coach (or vice versa), then you must inform both providers.
So what does a typical coaching session look like? There are as many answers as there are coaches. My sessions involve a lot of careful listening on my part and lots of questions based on what I hear from the client. These questions are designed to stimulate the clients intellectual and creative juices for the purpose of encouraging them to create their own answers. My clients and I review their progress towards their goals from the prior week and agree on the next steps. I may offer suggestions and may sometimes proffer advice (consulting) or information (training). My joke is that coaching is like 20 questions on steroids.
Done well, coaching can be a powerful tool for effecting dramatic changes in your business and personal lives.
Thats an excellent question. Here is my answer.
I define a coach as someone who facilitates and champions the clients existing strengths while helping them develop strategies to use those strengths to best effect in pursuit of the success they seek. Put another way, the fundamental question I ask myself when working with a client is What tools does this person have in her or his toolbox and how can s/he use them to best advantage given what s/he wants to achieve?
The key here is that the coach does not step in to do the clients work any more than a football coach takes the field during games. Providing outright advice and/or pitching in to do some or all of the actual word falls into the consulting camp. If the provider is helping the client identify and use tools, then chances are s/he is coaching. If the provider is actually functioning as one of the tools, then s/he is probably consulting. More than a few coaches actually provide consulting. I personally offer a blend of the two with emphasis on one or the other depending on the situation.
While coaching can be educational, transferring knowledge is not the main thrust of coaching. That knowledge transfer is called training, which is provided by trainers.
Do not confuse coaching, consulting, or training with therapy. Yes, getting past an obstacle and achieving ones goals can have powerful effects on self esteem, self actualization, etc. and one could argue that coaching therefore has therapeutic value. If youre thinking that the distinction can get fuzzy at times, then youre absolutely right.
Heres an example that may help clarify things: Say you are having difficulty allowing yourself to have down time. A therapist might explore your childhood or other events that led you to believe that you have to be busy all the time in depth. A coach might point out that youre really good at planning your time that perhaps scheduling some of that time as down time in the same way you schedule your other commitments might help you get the R&R you need. If your challenge lies in not planning your time well, then the coach might help you develop strategies for scheduling your days, which will almost invariably lead to more free time. I trust that you can see the distinction.
I agree that these definitions may seem more than a little fuzzy. They are. My recommendation is not to worry too much about the labels when seeking outside assistance. The only exception is therapy. If you feel that you need therapy or counseling of any sort, then you must always contact a properly licensed mental health professional. If you are working with a therapist and decide to hire a coach (or vice versa), then you must inform both providers.
So what does a typical coaching session look like? There are as many answers as there are coaches. My sessions involve a lot of careful listening on my part and lots of questions based on what I hear from the client. These questions are designed to stimulate the clients intellectual and creative juices for the purpose of encouraging them to create their own answers. My clients and I review their progress towards their goals from the prior week and agree on the next steps. I may offer suggestions and may sometimes proffer advice (consulting) or information (training). My joke is that coaching is like 20 questions on steroids.
Done well, coaching can be a powerful tool for effecting dramatic changes in your business and personal lives.