About Coaching
What is Coaching?
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as: “Partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.” Another excellent definition of coaching is by the Institute for Life Coach Training. They define coaching as “a professional relationship that helps people produce extraordinary results in their lives, careers, businesses or organizations, helping them to bridge the gap between where they are now and where they want to be.”
Coaching is series of actions where the client gets tailored support in a confidential and objective space to assist them in achieving specific goals. Through a method of introspection and self-reflection, the coach helps clear a path for success. The coaching process gives the client a new perspective and focus. Coaching helps client’s implement personal and professional change by providing support and keeping them focused on attaining their goals.
According to the ICF Global Coaching Client Study, coaching works. The study shows most clients reported improved work performance, better business management, more efficient time management, increased team effectiveness, and more growth and opportunities.
The same study found that coaching clients noted greater self-confidence, enhanced relationships, more effective communication skills, better work-and-life balance, and an improvement in wellness.​
Why work with a Coach?
Reasons to work with a
coach might include:
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Something urgent, compelling, or exciting is at stake- a challenge, stretch goal, or opportunity
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A gap exists in knowledge, skills, confidence, or resources
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A desire to accelerate results
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A lack of clarity with choices to be made
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Success has started to become problematic
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A motivation to work purposefully towards a promotion
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Work and life are out of balance, creating unwanted consequences
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Core strengths need to be identified, along with how best to leverage them
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Desire to gain a competitive advantage in your industry or team
Leadership
Coaching
delivers results.
Benefits from leadership
coaching may include:
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Gaining an objective resource/partner to act as a sounding board for ideas and challenges.
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Amplifying your strengths, values, and purpose.
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Learning about the most effective ways to reach your goals.
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Developing a vision with buy in from stakeholders.
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Achieving superior levels of performance for yourself and your team.
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Managing relationships and leadership styles to increase and sustain personal and professional success.
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Leveraging strategic thinking and influence to serve your goals.
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Maximizing team strengths and creating a culture where things get done.
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Developing greater positivity, wellbeing and balance in work and life.
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Shifting your focus and gaining a growth mindset.
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Developing more effective interpersonal communication skills.
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Resolving challenges that impede your performance.
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Strengthening your tactical and strategic decision-making skills.
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Enhancing leadership competencies.
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Cultivating innovation and productivity.
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Increasing confidence and direction needed to exceed your set goals.
Who is a candidate for Leadership Coaching?
Professionals at all levels can benefit from coaching.
You do not have to be an experienced leader to gain
from leadership coaching. From accomplished executives to newcomers to the leadership path, coaching can help
with something that is specific to your role, be that a recent appointment or a position that you have held for years.
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Organizational and corporate leaders, emerging leaders, or managers with proven leadership performance.
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Entrepreneurs
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Nonprofit Executive directors, development directors, aspiring professional staff, and board members.
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We offer customized coaching packages to support clients during the various stages of the leadership journey.
Differences between Coaching and other types of professional services
Coaching vs. Counseling
Coaching focuses on where the client is presently and where they are headed, with a goal of helping gain clarity about vision and eliminate obstacles to success. While coaching is forward-focused, counseling tends to deal with healing wounds from the past. Counseling primarily focuses on the past to make sense of the present. Coaching primarily focuses on the future moving from the present to create an action plan to get to a desired new state.
Coaching focuses on helping you walk your unique path to success. The client is responsible for their own the results because of coaching. Coaching helps the client discover the action steps needed to achieve outcomes and identify what they may need to do differently. A consultant takes responsibility for a specific project, acting as a specialist, providing specific deliverables and knowledge.
Coaching focuses on the development of people in general. Coaches do not tell clients what to do, but rather help them uncover the answers that lie within them. A mentor focuses on imparting their wisdom to an individual by taking an active interest in their professional development by guiding them down a similar career path.