What is Coaching?

When you hear the word “Coach,” what comes to your mind? You may have ideas about working with an expert who is going to tell you what you need to do. Or, you may be absolutely opposed to being told what you need to do. So, let me say this, coaching is a partnership between two people. You are the expert on you and I am the expert on drawing out your wisdom and insights, and helping you discover how to use that information to reach your goals.

You Be You

How many people do you have in your life, that will or can sit in unbiased, non-judgment, and help you clarify your goals? Someone who can remind you of your strengths? The coaching space is non-judgemental, transparent, and builds your confidence. Forging a relationship based on trust and safety. Conversations that are thoughtful and lead to awareness, before actions. This is the power of coaching.

Coaching Methodology

Coaching draws on your wisdom by deeply listening to your words, your actions, and then asking you to name your awareness. My coaching practice incorporates the International Coach Federation’s (ICF) core competencies. I hold myself to a clear code of ethics. And, I also get my own coaching. I am a believer.

Developmental Coaching is core to Personal and Executive Coaching

Here is a short video that shows the father of coaching, Sir John Whitmore, using the coaching methodology to demonstrate the difference between personal and professional Development Coaching (DC) and the instructional Consultant/Sports Coach. He and a Golfing Coach, both work with two individuals who are interested in learning golf. The Golfing Coach (GC) dives right into direction. Hold the golf club like this, spread your legs, keep that arm straight, twist at the waist, etc.

Demonstrating development coaching, Sir John begins by using inquiry, having his student take a few swings and then stopped to have her notice what she was noticing. He would ask her how it felt, or what she wanted to try next, she would say, I want to swing more smoothly, then he would say, “good, try swinging more smoothly.” He wanted his client to teach him what was working. She was smiling and hitting the ball consistently by the end of the “coaching session,” while the highly directed student, looked stressed and didn’t look like he was having fun.

Coaching individuals from this developmental perspective acknowledge that there is a deep belief in the idea that you are the expert on yourself. You are whole, capable, resourceful and creative. That the role of the coach is to support you to bring out your insights and wisdom. Coaching at its core is the understanding that we are partners in a co-creative journey of bold curiosity.

Let’s Start with 7 Reasons Why Coaching?

1. Feeling Stuck – You’ve been circling the drain on some key concerns.
2. Confidence – You have a long list of desires for your life, and you’re not sure why you can’t just “do it.”
3. Burned Out – At the end of the day, you realize you have prioritized yourself last.
4. Lost – You’re on a path, and you don’t feel happy with your direction.
5. Negative Narrative – The gremlins start muttering and talk over all your dreams.
6. Fuzzy Focus – You’re filled with ideas, passions, and interests, and can’t find your focus.
7. Fear of Failure – There is a story you’re repeating about making mistakes, wasting time, wasting money, wasting whatever, and it stops you in your tracks. So, you talk about your ideas, but you are not taking action towards manifesting these dreams.

You are engaging another set of ears, listening to help you develop awareness, insights, and accountability. The ultimate goal is your success. 

• Awareness: Learn about yourself, understand what keeps you running in circles in certain areas of your life, and how to use your strengths to impact change.
• Inquiry: Allowing you to get curious about what is really important.
• Radical Curiosity: Fearlessly dig in and explore your inner critic, your negative narratives, and work on tools to manage anxiety and fear.
• Support: Champions new ways of thinking, new behaviors, and actions.
• Promote Action: Develop the mindset for development and innovation in your life and career.
• Accountability: A powerful tool for getting unstuck.
• Clear Goals: Clarity and agreement around what your focus is going to be.
• Empowerment: You are the expert on who you are and what you want.

Questions to Consider for Next Steps

On an on-going basis, coaching supports your clarity and intentionality around your goals. Sometimes we need some AIRSPACE to clearly determine what we want, set a plan, gather our tools and to begin taking the steps.

What do you want to manifest in your life?
What are you ready to let go of, so you can move forward and meet your dreams?

Coaching Sets a Foundation for Sustainable Change
What are you waiting for? Find out if coaching is for you today.