what is coaching?
Coaching is a partnership providing the
structure, support and focus to enable individuals to
identify, clarify and achieve their business and personal
goals.
Executive coaching services are well
established in the USA. The roots of executive coaching come
from sports performance coaching, particularly from tennis
and athletics and have been transplanted into the business
arena to help deliver improved results. No serious athlete or
performer of today would expect to progress very far without
a coach. Personal Trainers look after your body and coaching
takes a similar role for your mind. Your Coach is there at
your side to support, stretch, challenge and encourage.
Coaching is so effective because you agree
with your Coach to commit to take action on things you keep
putting off, things you never get round to or tough things
which are hard to face on your own.
The Centre for Creative Leadership defines
Executive coaching as:
- keeping to the client's agenda personal or
business
- coaching for development, career or new role
- for skills, attitude, behaviour, for meetings,
negotiation,
delegation, presentation
- coaching for performance, effectiveness in current
role
Coaching shares similarities with, but is
distinct from:
Mentoring
A mentor is usually someone experienced in the industry who
provides advice and guidance.
Counselling
A counsellor works with a client to resolve issues from
their past.
Consultancy
Consultants diagnose problems and offer solutions and may
support the client to implement changes.
Training
Training imparts specific skills & knowledge.
A coach is an objective aid to facilitate
problem solving.
Coaching offers process support rather than focusing on
content.
Having a coach provides structure &
rigour to the client's thinking. By drawing on the client's
thinking you search your own experience & come up with
your own options.
Coaching is a de-stresser, by downloading
things in a safe, confidential environment, you get to the
nub of the issue & start to resolve it.