Coaching is understood by people differently and it isn’t for me to say definitively what coaching is but I can say how coaching shows up for me and how I use coaching with others.
As a coach I provide an environment that supports and challenges people to consider future possibilities, which may or may not be linked to improving performance.
Coaching conversations are confidential and structured conversations with a purpose ultimately chosen by the coachee. I will use questioning, listening and reflection guidance to help individuals uncover what they want to achieve now and in the future.
What coaching is not
While coaching can be linked to performance it is not considered to be a performance management environment per se. Any focus on managing performance in any discipline would be at the request of the coachee and they would be the one managing their performance not the coach. It is also not mentoring and counselling.
Mentoring is the influence, guidance, or direction given by a mentor. A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person. Counselling is an advisory service or the provision of professional psychological help.
How can coaching help?
Coaching can help you to:
- Identify and achieve your vision /goals or create them if you are not sure what they are currently
- Take action against increasing awareness, commitment and understanding choices
- Improve learning and performance in a desired area which could be in sports, education, employment or another area of your life
- Have a greater understanding of yourself
- Evolve and see other possibilities
Coach and coachee roles
As a coach I am responsible for the following:
- Providing a confidential space so the coachee can discuss whatever they wish to do so
- Being committed and non judgemental through listening, questioning plus only providing feedback when given permission to do so by the coachee
As a coachee you would be responsible for the following:
- A commitment to the coaching process including bringing content to coaching sessions
- Planning and preparing for coaching sessions
- Developing as an individual
Interested in coaching?
If you are interested in coaching you can book a FREE discovery call to further explore coaching and evaluate if coaching is something you would like to take part in.
Graeme
