COACHING PHILOSOPHY

What is coaching?

Coaching is an interactive process that helps individuals and organizations to develop faster and obtain more satisfying results. Coaches work in many areas of life such as business, career, finances, health and interpersonal relationships. Thanks to coaching, clients can learn how to set specific goals, take action, make better decisions and use their own natural strengths and talents.

The International Coach Federation’s philosophy is based on the belief that each individual already has the answer to his challenges and the coaching process offers a regular downtime and a safe environment in order to help individuals take time to explore this and work towards the goals that they want to reach.

The difference between a certified coach and a mentor is that a coach is trained to help individuals move forward and find solutions, actions and decisions that will come from themselves. The coach does not have to be an expert in the client’s area of expertise. The coach becomes a tool and a catalyser but is not the one who finds solutions for the person who is being coached. This does not mean that the coach cannot share his knowledge and ideas with the clients but this is only a small part of the coaching process.

Prelude to Coaching

The client is the one who decides on the content of the coaching sessions. The coach listens, makes comments, and asks questions, shares concepts and principles that will lead to new perspectives, possibilities and directions to take. This clarification is at the very heart of the coaching process. The most efficient actions are found through clarity. Coaching accelerates the client’s progress by offering more clarity and focus and greater awareness of possibilities which in turn helps make better choices. Coaching sheds light on what is happening right now, at this very moment and what must happen in the future in order to obtain the desired results. Results depend on the client’s intentions, level of commitment, choices and determination to move forward between the coaching sessions as well as the willingness to make use of what the coach has to offer and teach.

Role and responsibility of the coach

Certified coaches are trained to listen, observe and adapt their approach to the client’s needs in order to find the proper solutions and strategies. They believe that their client is naturally creative and full of resources and that a coach’s job is to help support the client in order to encourage the use of skills, resources and creativity that are already there. The coach gives feedback and an objective point of view, but it is the client who is responsible for taking action in order to produce the desired results. The coaching relationship is one of partnership and collaboration.

A certified professional coach is...

• Your partner in reaching your goals
• Your validation when you make decisions
• Your motivation when it is time to take difficult action
• Your unconditional support in difficult situations and hard times
• Your assistant for your own personal development
• Your Devil’s advocate for what slows you down in the development of your communication and relationship skills
• Your co-creator when you are starting a new and exciting project
• Your beacon and guide through the storms
• Your warning signal in case you are unable to hear your own…
• Your partner in obtaining what you most desire.