Why Coaching
“Often people attempt to live their lives backwards to try to have more things or more money in order to do more of what they want so that they will be happy. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are then do what you really need to do in order to have what you want.”– Margaret Young
Coaching’s Evolution
Coaching came about in North American and Europe several decades ago; and it is now a familiar subject on every continent, and the numbers continue to grow exponentially. It is as if there is an unmet need in the world, and that need is hungry for what coaching offers. This demand is fueled by change. Change is a way of life and it’s accelerating. Coaching’s growth is not only geographic. It is becoming more and more diverse, with coaching specializations in a wide variety of demographic and interest related niches.
The coaching process entails context, discovery, possibilities, action, and expansion.
- Context is simply identifying up front what you (the client) want and need from the coaching relationship and contracting with me (the coach) for this outcome. Strict confidentiality and ethical standards as dictated by the ICF help form the safe container for this context.
- Discovery is where it begins; it is the client’s self-learning, opening to vulnerability and seeing possibilities. Typically, assessments open the door toward discovery.
- Possibilities are pathways, perspectives the client may want to explore, or try on or experience as change, development and growth continue.
- Action is a choice the client makes – to commit – to a new direction. An important part of this is accountability for action – which the client holds for themselves while the coach supports them in this journey.
- Expansion is a natural continuation of the coaching process. As learning growth and change continue, the process becomes integral to the client’s ongoing development.
What is coaching and how does it work?
You’re curious about coaching and how it can help you or your organization. That’s good. You’ve come to the right place to learn more. The international accrediting body for Professional Coaches, The International Coach 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”
Essentially, coaching is a relationship. The client and coach both bring power to this relationship. The client brings the power of desire and motivation. The coach brings the power of commitment, skills and understanding of human change; and it’s the coaching relationship that EMPOWERS the client toward living an authentic fulfilling life.