An Introduction to Coaching

Surely the ultimate challenge for every individual is to reach his or her full potential, personally and professionally.
However, we often suffer cycles of frustration, disappointment, lethargy or procrastination which leads to an increasing acceptance of limitations in our lives and work. Coaching can help diminish unhelpful beliefs and negative feelings and assist you to redirect your future in order to achieve a fulfilling, balanced and successful personal and work life.

What is Coaching?

Coaching is a discussion-based form of support which empowers you to decide, plan and ‘make happen’ what it is you want. It is an ongoing partnership designed to help and inspire you to maximise your personal and/or professional potential through a series of thought-provoking and exploratory sessions; a powerful means of bridging the gap between where you are now and where you want to be – in any area of your life: career, relationships, finances, health, family, etc.

     Coaching is the art of bringing out the extra-ordinary in people

Coaching is Not:

• Counselling or psychotherapy
• Revisiting or analysing past experiences
• About telling you what you want to hear
• A quick fix to solve immediate problems
• An advice or guidance service

What Makes Coaching Different?

The key differences between coaching and other forms of support are:

	Coaches are not and do not claim to be the expert in the situations presented
	You are the best person to judge what’s right for you. Your coach will not give you advice or tell you what to do.

	Coaching is about you taking action
	Coaching is not just about talking; your coach will want and expect you to take action. Don’t worry if you don’t know what action to take – all will become clear during your coaching sessions! If you are not willing to make changes to improve your situation, perhaps coaching isn’t right for you at this time.

	Coaching is a way to improve behavioural performance
	Coaching does not seek to resolve underlying psychological issues. Coaching is simply about taking action in order to bring about change in a given situation.

	The client sets the agenda
	The coach does not set the focus of sessions; the client does. It’s your session and your coach’s job is to follow you, not lead you.

The Coaching Session

Coaching sessions can take place either face-to-face or over the telephone and usually last between 30 and 60 minutes. A series of sessions enables you to build focus and momentum, fuelling your desire to continue with your plans after each session. However some people want to ‘taste’ a session before they commit to further appointments and so one-off sessions can also be arranged.

Role of the Coach

Coaching is a partnership between the coach and the client. The coach’s role is to ensure each session focuses entirely on your agenda and goals, and to ensure you get maximum benefits from the discoveries you make about yourself and the actions you decide upon. It’s your session and your coach’s job is to follow you, not lead you.

“No coach has ever won a game by what he knows;
it's what his players know that counts.”
Paul Bryant (American Football College)

Some ways in which your coach may work with you:
By:

	Asking powerful and sometimes insightful questions to:
	encourage and increase your self-perception broaden your thinking help you learn more about your options help you find your own solutions to those things which are holding you back

Challenging your actions (with your permission) if we feel you are overlooking your skills or denying yourself valuable opportunities

Encouraging you to challenge limiting self-perceptions or beliefs you may have about yourself, others or a situation

Providing you with helpful tools and insights to aid your actions

Offering relevant, honest and non-judgemental feedback to provide you with further opportunities for development

Noticing things you haven’t seen or heard yourself, and offering these for your consideration

Reflecting on the progress you’ve made so far, so you can appreciate how far you’ve come and make best use of the discoveries

Being totally non-judgmental and completely supportive in the choices you make to achieve what’s right and best for you

Keeping you on track whilst checking your are sill aiming towards your goals - or whether the goals are changing as time goes on

Who Uses a Coach?

Anyone who can identify a gap between where they see themselves now and where they feel they’d like to be, and who is willing and committed to making changes in their life:

	Private Individuals
	who want to make the right decisions in order to move forward in either their career or personal life.

	Corporate executives, managers and employees
	who endure an ever increasing stressful and demanding workplace.

	Entrepreneurs and Business Owners
	who want to realise their dreams and ambitions in the commercial world.

	Athletes and Artistic Performers
	who need to achieve challenging goals in their chosen field.