Coaching is a new approach to
personal development. Coaches:
- Help
people set better goals and then reach those goals. -
Help their clients to focus better so as to produce results more
quickly. - Ask their clients to do more than they
would have done on their own. - Provide clients
with the tools, support and structure to accomplish more.
What is the basic philosophy of coaching?
The
coaching philosophy is that humans are very intelligent, adaptable and
productive and we all have the potential to get what we want in life without
having to pay a high personal or financial cost for it. Throughout our lives we
are discovering what we really want, and we are constantly making choices about
how to live.
We can get what we want faster when
we have the unconditional support of a Coach to help us discover and implement
our desires.
How is coaching different from…
Training? Like some training, coaching
provides a chance to reflect on your experiences and gain new insights. However
there are some major differences. A Coach does not bring an agenda but follows
the interests and desires of the client. Materials and information play only a
minor part in coaching. Coaching relies on very high levels of trust between
the coach and the client. As a result, the learning is much deeper than most
training and much more personal issues can be addressed and changed.
Another major difference is that coaching focuses on
implementation more than just learning or theory. Coaching is delivered over a
period of months. Learning that occurs is based on the clients' own experiences
and is immediately integrated into the clients' real lives. The client makes
changes, learns from the results and continues to learn and change step-by-step
with the continuous support of the coach.
Consulting?
Coaching is rather like consulting except that it tends to be much more
people-oriented rather than information-oriented. A coach does not act as an
expert in the client's business. Also, a coach stays with the client to help
implement the new skills, changes and goals, to make sure that they really happen.
Mentoring? Mentoring comes from a long
tradition in which a mentor shares with their mentee “everything they
know”. Although this is a very valuable role, the learning that results
depends completely on the knowledge and experience of the mentor. With the
rapid change occurring in the world and in businesses, learning from our
seniors is no longer enough. People need to discover new ways of doing things
in a world where so much is new. Rather than teaching, as a mentor would, a
coach is trained to support others in their own discovery. In fact studies have
shown that vast relevant knowledge on the part of a coach can often limit how
well they can support a coachee, as they assume they know the best way of doing
things, rather than playing in the field of possibilities. What can be learned
with the support of a coach is unlimited.
Therapy?
Coaching is not therapy. Coaches don't delve deeply into past
problems or work on deeply held internal barriers. Coaching is not for people
with psychological problems such as depression or extreme stress. Coaching is
for people who are already successful who want to create extraordinary
results.
Sports? Like sports
coaching, professional coaching provides encouragement, support and guidance
from a coach with a broader perspective of the 'game'. Professional coaches
also use goal-setting and performance assessments to improve results. Coaches
focus on strengthening their clients' skills, but not usually on helping them
beat the other team in a win/lose scenario. Coaches look for win/win solutions.
Best friend? A best friend is wonderful
to have. But your best friend is not always the best person to work with you on
developing the most important aspects of your work and life. A coach is always
working for the client and maintains that perspective. A coach is also
experienced in drawing out the best in people, while letting them make their
own decisions as suits them best. In contrast, a friend will
expect you to reciprocate in supporting them; a friend may have a perspective
very similar to yours; a friend may not want you to change
too much and a friend may not push you the way your coach
can.
What happens when you hire a coach?
- You take yourself more seriously.
- You take more effective and focused actions immediately.
- You stop putting up with what is dragging you down.
- You create momentum so that it's easier to get results.
-
You set better goals that are more exactly what you
want.
Where does the coach focus with
an average client?
Coaches focus where their clients need
them the most. Their discussions often include:
- Helping
the client set goals based on individual personal values -
Helping the client understand their current situation and current results more
clearly - Developing strategies to move towards
personal or business goals - Helping the client to
strengthen their personal foundation so that they have fewer problems and more
energy
Does the coach work on
personal goals or business/professional goals?
Both,
actually. The line between personal and business life is very blurred,
especially in a fast-paced competitive city like Hong Kong.
The coach is trained to work with all aspects of you and to handle issues holistically.
What happens during a coaching session?
What happens is up to you and your coach to design and
sometimes you just play it by ear. Typically the client will choose a current
problem or opportunity to focus on during the session.
The coach will first of all listen really well to the
client's explanation of the situation. Most people find that speaking with
someone who listens well brings out their best and helps them to get
clarity.
Next, the coach will ask some questions
to find different perspectives and help the client discover the sources of the
issue. Together they uncover insights into the whole situation, the symptoms
and possible solutions.
As necessary, the coach
will share their own perspectives and suggestions, and offer encouragement,
reassurance, support or challenge. The whole process is generally light and
positive. By the end of the session you will likely have crafted a strategy or
decided upon a course of action.
Why does coaching
work?
- The coach provides a different
perspective to help the client understand themselves and their situation more
clearly. - The client sets better goals based on
what they want rather than what they “should” do. These goals
naturally pull the client toward the goal instead of requiring the client to
push themselves to the goal. - The client develops
new skills, and these skills translate into more success.
What does the coach provide to the client? click
here
What are the benefits of coaching? click here
