Recently someone told me, "I'd like to refer you to other people, but I don't know how to describe what you do."

The official definition is: “Coaching is a creative partnership with your client aimed to design and implement specific, meaningful changes in your client’s personal and professional life.”

That gives an idea of the intention of coaching, but it’s so much more.  I try to help my client find their own answers through what they already know. I want to shift their thinking, bring them to solutions that work for them, and let them realize the strengths and abilities they bring to their lives.

Despite popular opinion, coaching is not: therapy, consulting, advice-giving, or mentoring.

So what does coaching look like when it’s happening?  

Before we meet, I ask my client to complete a questionnaire that guides them through some goal setting, as well as reflection on the barriers they face in meeting their goals.  When we meet, I start by reviewing the questionnaire. A key part of coaching is asking powerful questions. I’ll ask the client things like “Why is that meaningful to you?”  “What will be different when you achieve that?”  “How will you know if you’ve been successful?”

I may lead the client through exercises that are designed to help them see the situation from different angles, tap into their own knowledge, and let them create a compelling vision. We’ll also focus on action steps. I might help them set goals to make things happen. For example, I had a client who wanted to add volunteer work to her life. Her action steps were to contact the organization, talk to someone about possible opportunities, and eventually commit to a volunteer role. 

In that case, my client wanted me to be her accountability partner, and that approach helped her meet a goal.  If a client doesn’t meet a goal they’ve set, I might ask questions like “Why do you think that action step didn’t happen?”  “What would need to change to make that happen?”

Sometimes my client needs a thinking partner.  She has an issue or situation that seems tangled, and she needs to talk it out. Talking to an objective person can be a very powerful way to understand your own role in the situation, and that’s where change can occur.  A thinking partner can also help you make a decision, move through a change, or find closure.

Coaching requires your client to be vulnerable. How do they know you aren’t judging them?

If I’m judging you, I can’t be curious, and if I’m not curious, I won’t think of powerful questions to ask you. The process is going to break down pretty quickly if I’m judging you.

The principles of my coaching practice are:

• The client has positive intentions, no matter their actions.
• The client is ok – they don’t need to be fixed.
• Change is inevitable.
• The client has all the resources they need.
• The client will make the best choices for them.

The ideal coaching client is open to exploring options and solutions.  They are growth-oriented, curious, and they have a little (or a lot) of courage.  They can be patient with themselves and they have a positive outlook.

The things that don’t matter: their job, their education, their location, their history. None of that is important to being coached successfully.

To find out more about me, my coaching process, or how coaching could help you, contact me. I love meeting new people and talking about coaching!