Coaching – what is it?

People reach out to me all the time with questions like What are the benefits of coaching? Can you tell me about executive coaching? Tell me about your approach to coaching? all the time.

I was looking back at my answers that I have given over time and realised it is not that straightforward. My answers have varied greatly depending on who was asking the question, my mood, and the weather. Do not get me wrong they were all correct but they were all different.

So I thought it was time to put a stake in the ground. And write a post to bring together those answers.

There are many approaches to coaching, but the overarching goal is to help you be the very best version of yourself as a leader, executive, and whole person. The focus is on your growth and advancement as you define it, a definition that usually evolves over the coaching engagement.

I think the experience feels like a blend of strategic planning, therapy, and training.

When I was in transition in my career several years ago and considering becoming a coach, I hired a coach to get support. What I uncovered quickly with my own coach was self-limiting behaviours of procrastination and indecision around choosing an institute to do my coach training with. As we worked to uncover what was behind my procrastination and indecision I became aware of an emotion that was below my consciousness…fear of failure. In just a few session we were able to work through this fear (somewhat) and I stopped procrastinating, made a decision on which training program to enroll in ..and the rest, as they say, is history!

If you’re considering coaching, here are few ways you might benefit:

1. Safe space to hear your own voice – share your thoughts and gain perspective
2. Awareness of assumptions, beliefs, and attitudes that may be holding you back
3. Clarity on your values and what you stand for, which leads to greater commitment and sense of purpose.
4. Support and confidence to commit and take action
5. Empathy and encouragement
6. Hard results – greater productivity and more effective in many areas
7. Support for improving specific skills – communication, conflict management, stakeholder management, etc.

It can be a wonderful opportunity for growth but it is not a fix for everything. If there is real commitment to the process and a willingness to get uncomfortable then anything is possible.

“I absolutely believe that people, unless coached, never reach their maximum capabilities.”
Bob Nardelli, former CEO, Home Depot

“A coach is a part advisor, part sounding board, part cheerleader, part manager and part strategist.”
The Business Journal