Coaching seems
to vary in definition, it has a wide span of arenas it’s used in, there are
many different styles of training and development for coaching, and how it is
applied. Through my years of experience, I have often asked ‘what is coaching,
really?’
If we
reference to the definition in Wikipedia it is described as: Coaching is a training or development process via which an
individual is supported while achieving a specific personal or professional
competence result or goal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coaching.
It goes on to identify categories of coaching including executive coaching,
personal coaching, career coaching, financial coaching, and sports coaching to
mention a few.
Coaching as described by the International Coach
Federation is: Coaching is partnering
with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to
maximize their personal and professional potential http://www.coachfederation.org/ethics/
.
In my
experience and training with the Adler International Learning – School of
Professional Coaching http://www.adlerlearning.com/
, they describe coaching to be about facilitating
change that will lead to desired results; facilitating movement from a current state
to a more desirable future state. The goals for change fall into three key
areas including performance, learning, and fulfillment. The coach works with
the client to facilitate change through awareness, choice and trust in self.
The coach also can assist the coachee in increasing awareness, expand their
choices, and build self-trust over time. This is done through conversation,
relationship, and process.
I have also
trained with Access Consciousness http://www.accessconsciousness.com/
which offers pragmatic tools to change
things in your life that you haven’t been able to change until now. This is
another style of coaching that applies the power of being in the question and
open to change, as change is constant.
A few coaching
questions for you to ponder are: What makes you feel alive and excited? What
inner gifts and talents do you have within that still need to be applied? What are
your values? What surroundings bring out the best in you? And what style of
coaching will assist you in reaching your ultimate potential?
One key is to
identify what style of coaching is best suited for you to reach your targets,
achieve your goals and get the best return on investment.
What’s your
definition of and experience with coaching?
Follow me on
the next blog to explore this ever expansive topic.
By Angela MacDonald
Adler Trained Coach
Human Resources Manager (in training)
For more information about Angela MacDonald visit www.thecentretoreallylive.com
