What Exactly is Coaching?
Let’s take a few moments to talk about coaching. What is it? What should you expect? Why would you want a coach?
Paul Michelman wrote in an article for the Harvard Business Review stating the following when assessing what coaching is: "The belief is that, under the right circumstances, one-on-one interaction with an objective third party can provide a focus that other forms of organizational support simply cannot."
First things first:
What is coaching? Coach, Inc. defines coaching as “A catalyzing relationship that accelerates the process of great performance; it’s about individuals and/or organizations’ identifying purpose and living out that purpose. Coaching is a journey of personal and professional discovery.”
Coaching is not therapy, advising, mentoring or teaching. Instead coaching is about building a partnership between the coach and coachee to help the coachee discover and accomplish their goals and objectives.
Know what your goals are:
You, the coachee, should have an idea of what you want to get out of this coaching engagement. You may not know exactly what your goals are, but you have to think, at least generally, about what you are striving for, so you can appropriately work with your coach through these topics.
Are you ready for coaching?
For you to discover the success you want, you need to realize you have a major role to play in this investment.
Are you willing to:
· commit to scheduled sessions?
· do the work between sessions to move you forward with your goals? This means completing actions and goals you set for yourself.
· get specific and be real about what you really want out of your coaching sessions?
Last thoughts:
A good coach keeps your conversations confidential and creates an environment of trust and openness. Look for coaches that follow the International Coach Federation (ICF) Code of Ethics.
As the coachee, be prepared for some hard work and be open to hearing a lot of feedback that might feel brutally honest. You must focus on being open and curious about the learning that can take place from this honest feedback. Remember, this coaching process is for you. Realize that being dismissive or defensive about the feedback will greatly limit your growth and the value this process can bring. After all, you are hiring a coach to be your "truth teller”…embrace that gift.
Paul Michelman wrote in an article for the Harvard Business Review stating the following when assessing what coaching is: "The belief is that, under the right circumstances, one-on-one interaction with an objective third party can provide a focus that other forms of organizational support simply cannot."
First things first:
What is coaching? Coach, Inc. defines coaching as “A catalyzing relationship that accelerates the process of great performance; it’s about individuals and/or organizations’ identifying purpose and living out that purpose. Coaching is a journey of personal and professional discovery.”
Coaching is not therapy, advising, mentoring or teaching. Instead coaching is about building a partnership between the coach and coachee to help the coachee discover and accomplish their goals and objectives.
Know what your goals are:
You, the coachee, should have an idea of what you want to get out of this coaching engagement. You may not know exactly what your goals are, but you have to think, at least generally, about what you are striving for, so you can appropriately work with your coach through these topics.
Are you ready for coaching?
For you to discover the success you want, you need to realize you have a major role to play in this investment.
Are you willing to:
· commit to scheduled sessions?
· do the work between sessions to move you forward with your goals? This means completing actions and goals you set for yourself.
· get specific and be real about what you really want out of your coaching sessions?
Last thoughts:
A good coach keeps your conversations confidential and creates an environment of trust and openness. Look for coaches that follow the International Coach Federation (ICF) Code of Ethics.
As the coachee, be prepared for some hard work and be open to hearing a lot of feedback that might feel brutally honest. You must focus on being open and curious about the learning that can take place from this honest feedback. Remember, this coaching process is for you. Realize that being dismissive or defensive about the feedback will greatly limit your growth and the value this process can bring. After all, you are hiring a coach to be your "truth teller”…embrace that gift.
