What is coaching?

Coaching is walking alongside clients as they navigate the often imperfect journey through careers and lives. It focuses on actions and behavioural changes.

The ICF’s definition of coaching is:

partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.

A coach is trained in asking questions and sharing observations to accompany the client on their chosen goals or areas of focus. Coaching helps clients acquire new perspectives and increases their awareness of the resources available to them on the path to achieving their desired results.

Coaching sessions aim to provide a safe and supportive environment where clients feel seen, heard, and encouraged. Space is created for thinking and those ‘lightbulb moments’ for clients to reach a deeper understanding on where they are, where they want to be and what they need to do to get there.

Coaching vs Mentoring

Mentoring involves a more experienced person sharing their experience so the client can learn how to do something.

With coaching, the coach believes you’re the expert in your own life and rarely makes recommendations based on their experience or expertise.

Coaching vs Counselling

Counselling or psychotherapy tends to focus on understanding, resolving, and healing emotional trauma and pain carried through from the past.

Coaching is future facing, and focused on behaviour change. It ‘glances’ backwards where it will be useful in helping someone move forwards.