To be fancy and formal, and based on the ICF definition of coaching, coaching is:
Working together in an organized, strategic process to empower you as the client to build, then successfully implement the steps you need to reach your goal(s).
Okay, but what does that mean in the real world?
I see life and professional coaching as very similar to the type of coaching a good sports coach does: Skillfully see what is working and not working for his or her athletes, and using his or her knowledge, training, experience, and insight to help those athletes:
1. Improve in the areas that benefit their goals, and
2. Decrease things that stand between them and their goals.
That’s pretty much my job, too.
A sports coach isn’t the one out on the field / course / court / pitch scoring the points that deliver a win. And no amount of lifting or batting practice or speed drills by the coach is going to achieve a win.
Just like I won’t be building your dream business or enforcing the boundaries you set with your boss. I won’t be calling in respite care when you need a break, or taking away your work phone while you’re in the ICU hooked up to a bunch of tubes.
Those are actions you might choose to take. Or not.
But my job is to enable to you figure out what actions you need to take, and how to take them efficiently, effectively, and successfully – with less stress and time investment than if you were trying to figure it all out on your own.
I do that by:
- Listening. It’s honestly a coach’s main job! I will listen to both what you say, and what you DON’T say.
- Digging into areas that you’re unclear on.
- Gently probing into areas you need to unpack, but aren’t very comfortable with, to make sure they don’t hold you back.
- Helping you identify any blind spots and unhelpful beliefs that are in your way.
- Walking you through what it is you want to accomplish, what is currently in the way of that, and what you’ll need to have and do to move from where you’re at to where you want to be.
- Collaborating with you to build a focuses, strategic plan to accomplish your goal(s).
- Supporting you to test, troubleshoot, adapt, and implement your plan.
- Cheerleading, commiserating, and helping as you learn and test new skills, new thought patterns, and new ways of working on what matters to you.
For more details on the meaning of coaching here at MMC, also check out the Working Together page.