Really, What is Coaching?

Have you been hearing a great deal about coaching lately?  The coaching profession has grown rapidly over the past few years with the word “coach” appearing quite a bit in the business environment as well as on television programs.

In the business environment, I have seen job responsibilities state:

·      “Coach and mentor other supervisors in troubleshooting, problem solving”

·       “Seeking a full-time Lead Talent Management Coach to implement a talent management system”

·      “Ability to mentor/coach technical and consulting staff”.

·      “Tanning Coach needed, will be assisting customers with their tanning needs”

I see the word “coach” used interchangeably with mentor, trainer, consultant, and to even work in a tanning salon.  “Coach” and “Coaching” seem to be the new buzzwords that sound current when it is used to describe job duties and getting the job done quickly.

“Coach” has also made an appearance on television.  The singing reality show, The Voice, had four experienced people in the music industry called a “voice coach”  Each “voice coach” mentored the participants and provided advice on how to sing based upon their successful experience in the music industry.  The “voice coaches” even chose the songs that the participants would sing in front of a live audience. 

So what gives?  What exactly is a coach?  Do coaches get trained?  Are there credentials for a coach? 

According to the online resource Wikipedia, “coaching” is defined as “the practice of supporting an individual, referred to as a coachee or client, through the process of achieving a specific personal or professional result.  The structure and methodologies of coaching are numerous but are predominantly facilitating in style; that is to say that the coach mainly asks questions and challenges the coachee. Coaching is differentiated from therapeutic and counseling disciplines.”

So, a coach would be a person that helps the client help themselves.  The coach believes that the client has all the answers and the coach assists in the journey of the client determining what is right for them.  There is nothing broken that needs to be fixed with the focus on today and the future. 

Coaches use tools to assist their clients with looking at today and the future such as powerful questions, life purpose, goal setting, values, and many many others.   These tools are utilized to assist the client with building awareness and responsibility. 

When there is awareness, the client has focus and clarity.  This leads to empowerment since the client can control what they are aware of.  Those things that you are unaware of will control you.

When there is responsibility, the client has commitment and accountability.  This leads to action.  The result of action is increased performance and moving towards what is ideal for you.

Having the ability to build this awareness and responsibility with clients does come with extensive training and experience.  There are many good coaching training programs available that offer various certification credentials.  I chose the Coaches Training Institute (http://www.thecoaches.com/ ) due to its rigorous program, focus on co-activity, focus on actual coaching experience, international presence, strict code of ethics, and close affiliation with the International Coach Federation (http://www.coachfederation.org/).

Coaching in the raw sense of the word is very different than training, consulting, mentoring, and advising.  It can work in conjunction with these as long as the expectations are clearly defined with the client.

If you are looking for a coach, I recommend finding a coach that has taken the time to be trained and certified with actual coaching experience.  The benefit to the client is that you will work with a coach that has been trained in coaching techniques that will move you forward at the pace you decide.  Trained coaches have learned to self manage their own agenda (i.e. opinions, judgments, ideas, concerns, etc.) and will focus only on the client setting their own agenda.

There are some that frown on coach training and certification programs saying that it is a waste of time and money.  Are these doubters really coaches or just mentors, consultants, trainers, and advisors calling themselves coaches?  All are needed, so you get to choose what is really required.

A trained and certified coach will be with you as your journey progresses so you determine what is right for you as well determine the best plan of action.  This coach will be with you when it gets tough, assist with working thru fears and doubts, hold you accountable, let you determine what is best, challenge the status quo, assist in looking at things differently, and ………I can go on and on and on.   

If you are still wondering what coaching is really all about, let me know.  I will be very happy to provide you with a little taste of the coaching experience and answer any questions.

The choice is up to you, so what are you waiting for?