What is Coaching?

Coaching is fundamentally about change. Positive change.

In almost every Coaching situation there is a desire to do something differently.

Traditionally, Coaching has had a very close association with Mentoring particularly in the area of Sport but in recent years it has been redefined, as a discipline in it’s own right.

A Mentor would be expected to advise, guide and teach, drawing on their own experience to lead the Mentee towards a pre-determined goal or outcome. The role of a Coach is significantly different because there is no need for the Coach to have any understanding of their clients’ occupation or life experience. In fact a Coach will never advise or impose their solutions on their clients.

The Coaching process enables the client to evaluate where they are now and gain clarity on what they would like to achieve in the future. In other words, the Coaching relationship is totally client focused. The Coach will remain entirely non-judgemental, with no agenda of their own, other than to facilitate the change that the clients have identified.

The essential features of Coaching are that it is goal specific, action orientated and a personally tailored approach to learning.

What precisely does a Coach do?

• Challenges the client to step outside their comfort zone
  
• Listens to the client unconditionally
  
• Acts as a sounding board for the client to vocalise their hopes,fears and aspirations
  
• Enables the client to identify and establish realistic goals
  
• Encourages and motivates the client to take action
• Supports the client as their awareness is heightened around the options available to them