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what is professional coaching?

International Coach Federation (ICF) www.coachfederation.org defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential, which is particularly important in today’s uncertain and complex environment. Coaches honor the client as the expert in his or her life and work and believe every client is creative, resourceful and whole. Standing on this foundation, the coach's responsibility is to:

 

  • Discover, clarify, and align with what the client wants to achieve

  • Encourage client self-discovery

  • Elicit client-generated solutions and strategies

  • Hold the client responsible and accountable

 

This process helps clients dramatically improve their outlook on work and life, while improving their leadership skills and unlocking their potential.

my view about coaching

 

Coaching is all about CHANGES from A to B or from A to A+

 

  • in a professional and confidential relationship, your coach is the facilitator supports you to reach your desired goals by:

    • asking thought-provoking questions to EXPAND your perspectives, choices, strategies, approaches and ideas

    • listening deeply

    • being your mirror and sounding board

 

  • your coach uses innovative processes in a non-judgmental and trustful space by helping you to

    • align your goals to your values and authentic wishes

    • explore creative options and find ways forward

    • make actionable plans towards your goals

    • hold you accountable for the plans

 

  • as a coachee, you are naturally creative resourceful and whole and are responsible to

    • discover, evaluate options and make decisions

    • clarify your desirable goals

    • take actions and track progress

 

Coaching is NOT therapy.  Therapy designs to heal pains, dysfunction, conflicts within individuals or in relationships by resolving difficulties arising from the past that hamper the individual's emotional functioning in the present.  Coaching, on the other hand, focuses on future and supports personal and professional growth based on self-initiated change in pursuit of specific actionable outcomes. 

 

 

Coaching is also NOT mentoring and training.   A mentor is an expert who provides wisdom and guidance based on his or her own experience.  Training also assumes a linear learning path that coincides with an established curriculum. 

 

  • Coaching works best when

    • there is a real need or wish to make change

    • with an authentic desire to accelerate personal/professional development or reaching goals

    • you are open to see, feel, test new ideas and make actions to determine whether the new way is for you

    • you are seeking more satisfaction

 

          AND a good chemistry with your Coach

what does the world talk about coaching?

 

In the ninth annual Executive Coaching Survey 2014 conducted by Sherpa Coaching www.sherpacoaching.com discussed that coaching has been firmly established in the modern organization. The perceived value and the credibility of coaching climb each year, and stand at record highs.

 

Coaching as an industry has grown significantly and this tremendous growth are driven by many reasons.  ICF elaborates the key reasons

 

  • Rapid changes are taking place in the external business environment

  • Downsizing, restructuring, mergers and other organizational changes have radically altered the "traditional employment contract”

  • Companies can no longer achieve results using traditional management approaches.

  • With the growing shortage of talented employees in certain industries, companies must commit to investing in individuals' development

  • The disparity between what managers were trained to do and what their jobs now require of them is widening due to increasing demands for competitive results

  • People are wrestling with job insecurity and increased workplace pressures to perform at higher levels than ever before.

  • Companies must develop inclusive, collaborative work environments to achieve strategic business goals and to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction

  • Individuals who have experienced the excellent results of coaching are talking to more people about it

  • People today are more open to the idea of being in charge of their own lives. Coaching helps them do just that

 

In short, coaching helps individuals and companies focus on what matters most in life and business, and so the industry continues to grow.

 

how do you select a compatible coach?

 

ICF provided insights on how to do you ensure a compatible partnership: Overall, be prepared to design the coaching partnership with the coach. For example, think of a strong partnership that you currently have in your work or life. Look at how you built that relationship and what is important to you about partnership. You will want to build those same things into a coaching relationship. Here are a few other tips:

 

  • Interview more than one coach to determine "what feels right" in terms of the chemistry.

  • Coaches are accustomed to being interviewed, and an introductory conversation of this type is usually free of charge.

  • Look for stylistic similarities and differences between the coach and you and how these might support your growth as an individual or the growth of your team.

  • Discuss your goals for coaching within the context of the coach's specialty or the coach's preferred way of working with an individual or team

  • Talk with the coach about what to do if you ever feel things are not going well; make some agreements up front on how to handle questions or problems.

 

Remember that coaching is a partnership, so be assertive about talking with the coach about any concerns.

 

For more information about coaching, please refer to Coaching FAQs of International Coach Federation.

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