About Coaching
What is Coaching?
Good coaching is both a warm hug and a firm kick in the rear end. The “warm hug” is the aspect of coaching that enables individuals to feel supported and heard in a profound way. The “hug” facilitates individuals discovering their own unique answers and solutions. The “firm kick” is the aspect of coaching that supports individuals in being accountable to the goals they set out to achieve. It also challenges individuals’ assumptions and enables individuals to hear and see themselves from a different vantage point.
In essence, coaching is about being in a supportive conversation for individuals to gain insight, explore new possibilities, and create positive and desired results.
How would you Distinguish Coaching from Therapy?
Coaching looks to view individuals from a standpoint of healthy, whole and able. Distinct from therapy, coaching spends little energy on personal history and past. Coaching focuses on individual’s potential and paths and experiments toward realizing potential. In contrast to therapy, most coaching engagements begin with specific goals in mind. (Of course, these aims can and often do evolve once the client engagement begins, which is natural and encouraged as part of the discovery process.) In contrast to many types of therapy, a coach may offer an assignment or suggestion for the client to consider.
When is Coaching most Valuable?
Coaching is most valuable to individuals when they are committed to the creation of something new in their lives. Whether an individual wants to explore a new career path, get a promotion, find balance between motherhood and career aspirations, improve relationships and/or gain more confidence, coaching can support individuals to move along the path with greater clarity and better results.
