I believe coaching is forming a relationship with a client to set goals and identify a plan of action for moving forward to achieve those goals. The client already has the tools needed for this, it is the job of the coach to unlock the toolbox and facilitate an environment where the client is in a peak state to use the tools in the most effective way.

I would tell someone who asked me what coaching is that:

“Coaching is working together with a client to identify goals they wish to achieve, motivating the client to take action in achieving these goals and measuring results so they know when the goals have been achieved.” (Lee Benning)

I would also tell them that:

“Coaching is not therapy, counselling, consulting or mentoring. Coaches do not act as advisers or focus on past events”. (Lee Benning)

My belief is that coaching differs from other disciplines in a variety of ways. Some of the main differences between coaching and therapy, counselling, consulting and mentoring are:

• Coaches do not need to be experts in their field - the client is the expert on what will work well for them

• Coaches do not offer advice - coaches listen and ask the questions that help the client come up with the answers. Clients are more likely to achieve goals when they suggest them and “own them”.

• Coaches do not focus on past experiences, a coach focuses on the future - because the client has not succeeded in achieving their goals in the past it does not mean they can never achieve them.

Some coaches choose a niche to focus on and below are some examples of coach niches:

• Confidence Coach - Helping clients to change their limiting beliefs to live a more fulfilling life

• Motivation Coach - Helping clients to realise what is stopping them from taking action to achieve their goals

• Success Coach - Helping clients realise the tools available to them to assist in achieving their goals and how to make best use of them

• Peak Performance Coach - Helping clients identify ways they can get themselves into a peak state to be at their most efective in achieving goals in their lives.

I would love to hear any comments from people on this blog. It doesn’t matter if you are a coach or not as all feedback can be helpful to me