Coaching is a partnership between a coach and an individual that supports the achievement of results, based on goals set by the individual.

The individual chooses the focus of the ‘conversation’, while the coach listens and contributes observations and questions as well as concepts and principles which can assist in generating possibilities, potential and actions. Coaching can be seen as a collaborative process in which clients discover answers for themselves through the coach’s use of questions. Through the coaching process the clarity that is needed to support the most effective actions is achieved.

Coaches are trained to listen, to observe and to customize their approach to individual client needs. They seek to elicit solutions and strategies from the client; they believe the client is naturally creative and resourceful.

Coaching presupposes that it is not the coach’s responsibility to ‘fix’ the client. The client is an expert on themselves and the skill of the coach, and their role, is in allowing the person to come up with their own solutions. This doesn’t mean that the coach brings nothing to the relationship – they have knowledge based theory, methods, exercises and questions that help the person move forwards. Nevertheless, the coach’s skills are based around processes, not solutions.

In essence, coaching has two main facets. First it is performance focused, which means it is concerned with helping individuals perform tasks to the best of their ability. Second, it is person-centred, which means that the individuals being coached are seen to have the important insights.

Coaching is:

Coaches can be directly employed by an organisation to coach or have coaching embedded in their role as a manager or Human Resources professional (internal coaches). Alternatively, they can be contracted by organisations or individuals to deliver coaching (external coaches). 

Coaches can also specialise in particular types of coaching  – some examples include:

Business Coaching

Provided to employees as a professional or personal development tool, or to small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Career Coaching

Provided to employees or individuals who are looking to make a career change, or those who are facing redeployment or are experiencing redundancy.

Executive or Leadership Coaching

Often provided to high flyers or those with the potential to be a high flyer – at CEO or board level.

Performance Coaching

Often provided to managers in order to improver performance and productivity.

Skills Coaching

Tailored to the individual and focused on the individual being able to perform specific well-defined functions effectively. Examples include public speaking, team working, interpersonal skills, and decision making.

Personal or Life Coaching

Working with individuals who want to make some form of significant change happen in their lives, Personal or Life Coaches assist their clients by offering support and challenge based on their individual context. Here a key role of the coach is assisting the client to maintain the motivation and commitment needed to achieve their goals.

Coaches can also specialise in working with particular clients – for example - in:

Relationship Coaching

Parent Coaching

Youth Coaching

Group or Team Coaching

Retirement Coaching etc.

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Author:                 © Sonia Thomas July 2008

                                Coaches Plus

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