What is Coaching?

The Definition of Coaching

Coaching is an ongoing partnership that helps a person succeed in life, career, and/or business.  Through the process of coaching, you choose what you would like to focus on and accomplish. You will gain self-knowledge, improve performance, and zero in on what you value and are passionate about, producing significant results.

Specifically, a coach can help you to:

  • Improve relationships with yourself and others.
  • Live a more authentic life, true to values, passions, strengths and talents. 
  • Make life-altering decisions.
  • Change careers or start a new business.
  • Get “unstuck” in some area of life.
  • Manage time better and create more balance in life.
  • Start a business or expand an existing business.
  • Find a deeper sense of purpose in life.
  • Reach goals faster and easier than normal.

An effective coach will inspire, motivate, encourage, and support you in achieving your dreams and the results you want in life.  Just like a sports coach, a life coach will challenge you to become the best that you can be.  A coach holds you accountable to reaching your full potential and living the best life you can live. 

How is Coaching Different from Counseling/Therapy?

In coaching, the focus is on setting and attaining goals.  The coach helps you take the appropriate steps towards goals, while supporting and holding you accountable along the way.  The coach helps you work on blocks that may be getting in the way of your success, provides insight and encouragement until the desired results are achieved.

In counseling/therapy, the focus is on healing pain or resolving past issues that might be preventing a person from living a good and fulfilling life.  Also, the client may be treated for disorders such as anxiety or depression.  Therapy provides counseling and direction for a client’s problems based on education and experience, while a coach, also educated, encourages the client to solve their own problems.

How Does Coaching Work?

Typically a coaching session is conducted over the phone.  The sessions are between 45 minutes to one hour, once a week.    

For best results, a three-month commitment is recommended because you will be able to see the difference that coaching can make in your life.

A coach will typically start with an evaluation of your current life conditions, set goals along with focused action plans based on what you would like to work on, and then support you along the way to success.

Please contact Stacey for a complimentary 30-minute coaching call to see if coaching is right for you.

The International Coach Federation’s (ICF) definition of coaching:

Professional Coaching is an ongoing professional relationship that helps people produce extraordinary results in their lives, careers, businesses or organizations. Through the process of coaching, clients deepen their learning, improve their performance, and enhance their quality of life.

In each meeting, the client chooses the focus of conversation, while the coach listens and contributes observations and questions. This interaction creates clarity and moves the client into action. Coaching accelerates the client’s progress by providing greater focus and awareness of choice. Coaching concentrates on where clients are now and what they are willing to do to get where they want to be in the future.   For more information on ICF, click here.