What is Coaching?
Official International Coaching Federation Definition:
Coaching is an interactive process that helps individuals and organizations to develop more rapidly and produce more satisfying results.
Coaches work with clients in all areas including business, career, finances
health and relationships. As a result of coaching, clients set better goals, take more action, make better decisions, and more fully use their natural strengths. Professional coaches are trained to listen and observe, to customise their approach to the individual client's needs, and to elicit solutions and strategies from the client.
They believe that the client is naturally creative and resourceful and that the coach's job is to provide support to enhance the skills, resources, and creativity that the client already has. While the coach provides feedback and an objective perspective, the client is responsible for taking the steps to produce the results he or she desires.
People hire a coach when they are starting a new business, making a career transition, re-evaluating their life choices, or simply feeling ready for a personal or professional breakthrough.
More about coaching ...
Life coaching is like having a personal trainer for your mind.
Your coach will help you:
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Identify and build on strengths.
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Acknowledge weakness and focus on what's working in your life.
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Help you establish compelling goals.
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Inspire you to achieve more by raising your expectations of what's possible.
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Empower you with practical and philosophical techniques and tools.
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Motivate you to sustain your focus and steer you towards ultimate success.
Most importantly it is all about YOU!
How is coaching different from counselling or consulting ?
Coaching is not therapy or counseling, which deals with past events and how they relate to your thoughts and feelings in the present. Coaching focuses on the present and future and is action-oriented towards moving you forward in the direction you choose.
Coaching is not consulting or mentoring in that the coach is not an expert or specialist in your life and therefore does not give you solutions for problems but rather works with you in drawing on your own knowledge and wisdom to find the solutions that work for you.
The coach does not have the answers but has the questions that allow you to find your own answers.
Who works with a coach?
People of all ages and walks of life find coaching beneficial.
Professionals, business owners, parents, entrepreneurs and people who desire change or are in transition are some of the people who work with a coach.
Coaching enables clients to gain balance, fulfillment, happiness and the success they deserve. Regardless of their profession or personal circumstances, all our clients are successful, resourceful and intelligent individuals that are aiming to get more out of life.
What is needed for coaching to be successful?
For coaching to be successful:
The client realizes that a gap exists between where they are in life and where they want to be. The client is prepared to learn, grow and take action to help close the gap.
If you recognize those two factors in yourself then you are ready to work with a coach who will help you develop the right strategies and plan of action to achieve your goals.