Coaching in its present form is relatively
new, having emerged as a distinct profession only in the
last 10 years or so. It grew in response to a trend in which
individuals are seeking greater fulfillment in their work
and personal lives. According to best estimates, there are
nearly 20,000 people around the world who earn their living
as professional life, business, or executive coaches.
Coaching is a distinct profession with its own unique set
of skills, required training, purpose, and ethics. The International
Coach Federation is the global body that oversees the coaching
profession by establishing professional standards, encouraging
certification, providing development opportunities, and
defining and supporting ethics.
Coaching is the process of helping people reach deeper
levels of fulfillment & higher levels of success faster,
more easily, and more enjoyably than they might on their
own. The focus of the coaching may be career, business,
relationships, money, life balance, spirituality or any
area of life in which an individual is seeking change,
growth, or new discoveries.
How is coaching different
from therapy, consulting, mentoring, sports coaching, or a
supportive friend?
Coaching draws from several disciplines, including consulting,
psychotherapy, training, motivational science, athletic coaching,
and more. However, it is a distinct and independent discipline.
Coaching is not to be seen as taking the place of these other
professions, nor is it in conflict with them. In fact, coaching
often works in compliment with these fields.
Psychotherapist – Psychotherapy is primarily
for the purpose of diagnosing and healing mental illness.
The therapist deals with emotional/behavioral issues and seeks
to bring the client to normal function. Coaching, on the other
hand, is designed as a catalyst to support fully functioning
and capable individuals in making desired changes in their
work and/or personal life.
Consultant – Consulting is about solving specific
problems and providing expertise, information, direction and
advice. Coaches use well-crafted questions, as well as other
techniques, to help clients tap into their own experience,
knowledge and wisdom for answers. Once the client has identified
his/her own “answers”, coaches play a very active and ongoing
role as the client takes action and implements changes.
Mentor – A mentor is a person who serves as
a role model and an advisor, and is chosen based on his/her
direct experience in the mentee’s desired role. The role of
a mentor is to set an example, make introductions, “open doors”,
and guide the mentee. A coach may or may not have direct experience
with what the client is focusing on. A coach is an equal partner
who helps the client tap into their own wisdom and find their
own way.
Close Friend – A friend can be loving and supportive
as a sounding board and a cheerleader. Coaches are this also,
and, they bring skills, perspective and objectivity to the
relationship without emotional attachment to the client’s
choices.
Coaches work with people who are naturally whole, resourceful,
and fully capable of making changes independent of any help.
However, a professional coach possesses talents, techniques,
skills and tools that support the client in making the right
changes, with greater ease and lasting effectiveness. The
coach assists the client by helping them to :
Discover what they really want
Appreciate their own strengths and assets
Discover what holds them back
Gain different perspectives
Identify goals and develop action plans to achieve them
Gain clarity on values and life purpose
Permanently end self-defeating habits and patterns
There are as many models as there are coaches. But typically,
the coach starts the relationship with a detailed intake
session to get acquainted quickly, accelerate the relationship,
and set the intention and direction of the coaching.
Typically coach and client meet privately, one-on-one,
2 to 4 times per month for up to an hour. Meetings may
be held in person, by phone or by e-mail, although phone
is by far the most common. There may be e-mails or short
phone calls between sessions.
Group Coaching is also a popular and effective approach,
in which a coach works with more than one person simultaneously
in a group setting. Again, models, methods, foci, and
prices vary.
How long does a client typically
work with a coach?
According to the International Coach Federation survey,
the duration of a coaching relationships average around
9 months.
Some clients hire a coach to help them accomplish specific
goals or projects. Often, they’ll keep working with the
coach even after the goals have been accomplished, as
they discover the value of coaching in other areas of
life.
The cost of coaching varies according to the coach’s
experience, credentials, and area of specialty. A coach
may charge by the month, by the program, by the project,
or by the hour.
Some coaches offer sliding scales for clients who cannot
afford the full fee.
How do I find the right
coach for me or my company?
To help individuals identify coaches available for hire,
PACA, the ICF,
and other web sites have “Find a Coach” capabilities that
enable people to search for a coach based on certain criteria,
such as background, coaching specialty and/or fee range.
Because trust and openness are necessary elements for
a successful coaching experience, perhaps the most important
criterion in hiring a coach is rapport and “chemistry”
between the client and coach. Beyond this, consider the
coach’s background, experience, credentials, areas of
expertise, and fees.
Many coaches offer complimentary coaching sessions to
help determine if there is a match between the prospective
client and the coach. It is recommended to talk with two
or three coaches to get a sense of different styles and
approaches.
Peer Resources Network (www.peer.ca/coachingschools.html)
has a comprehensive list of coaching schools worldwide
with brief profiles and links to their web sites. Studying
the coaching models and emphasis of these schools can
provide insight into the kind of coach you want.
Coaching is a self-regulating profession with clearly defined
standards of competency
and ethics.
The International Coach Federation (ICF) is the premier organization
that establishes and maintains these standards, and encourages
coaches to apply for professional certification through its
own independent program.
