Coaching Is Not…
One of the very first things we are taught at MasterMyLife (MML), where I obtained my coaching certification, is that coaching is not mentoring, is not therapy and is not training.
Coaching: In partnership with a certified coach, an assignment that typically aims at creating behavioural and performance change. It is designed as a collaboration, to help the client find their own solutions through a process of self-discovery, typically carried out via one on one conversation, and can include various tools such as visualisation and breath work. No advice is given in this approach.
Training: Transfer of knowledge in a specific context, delivered by a subject matter expert with the objective of acquiring specific knowledge or skills. Learning is based on pre-determined learning curriculum, and the approach is usually a directive, top-down one.
Therapy / Counselling: Carried out by a qualified mental health professional, with the ability to diagnose disorders and behavioural issues, helping a client delve deeper into their past to understand and learn to deal with blocks, traumas etc. Advice and guidance are part of this approach.
Mentoring: Delivered by someone who is in a more senior position in the same field of expertise and who can accompany and advise on their mentee’s professional journey including technical decisions and know-how. Advice is given in this approach.
Coaching Is…
In the meantime, here are some things that coaching IS that I would like to share:
It is work. And it can be hard work for a lot of us. Knowing yourself better can get messy, unpleasant, and taxing before it gets rewarding. And working to change yourself can be highly challenging when you are tackling entrenched habits and beliefs. It is not for the faint-hearted and often giving up feels like an easier option.
- But don’t be afraid, it is ALSO the secret gateway to building a cohesive future – It can touch upon a wide range of seemingly unconnected aspects of your life and help you find the common threads that will help you determine your next steps.
- It is a roadmap and a way of taking control. Done right, it can allow you to live your life with mindfulness and teach you to be deliberate in your choices.
- It can be a relief – The right coach can make you feel seen and will help to remind you of the power you hold to design your future.
- It is a learning curve. Coaching, I have found, is one of those things that gives back as much as you put in. One of the things all of my clients have in common, and that I derive the most inspiration from, is the ability to keep challenging themselves and accept the unexpected as part of the journey.
- It will help you be more in touch with the values that define your life and underpin your big decisions. Working with the right coach can help you break out of an undesirable pattern, prioritise, as well as bring wonderful clarity to your path.
Coaching Could be…
So now you maybe have an idea of what it takes to enter the process.. but it does occur to me to also showcase how diverse and profound even one session can be, by sharing below, three quotes from three wildly different clients.
1. “I don’t want to compromise on my life..I need to be there for myself” How that session started:
“I need to improve my self-awareness and boundaries”
2. “I now know to remind myself –
Don’t act out of fear, happiness is the key” How that session started: “I have been challenged this week”
3. “Action precedes motivation”
How that session started: “I need to improve my online presence”
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