Coaching is best encapsulated in the following explanation:

“Imagine a relationship where the focus is totally on you, on what you want in your life, and on what will help you achieve it. Imagine a relationship in your life with a person who is sometimes even more committed to what you want in your life than you are. Imagine what it would be like if someone knew your values and life purpose and was holding you true to them – someone who would hold the flag at the top of the hill, encourage you to press on, someone to celebrate your victories and help you learn from your setbacks”.

Co-Active Coaching – Davis Black Publishing

Therapy v/s Coaching

One of the main distinctions is that Therapy works on your past experiences and focuses on the diagnosis of ‘the what’ and ‘how’ of the past.

Coaching, on the other hand, is distinct in orienting its process towards the future, moving forward and taking action towards a life-fulfilling experience.

Consulting v/s Coaching

A consultant is an expert in the field for which his services are engaged. He advises, provides solutions and directs the client in ways that would help the latter ride over the issue. Once the problem is solved, the consultant leaves.

Coaching is an inside-out process. Here, the client is the expert! The coach uses questioning techniques to facilitate the client’s own thought process, in order to identify solutions and actions rather than taking a wholly directive approach. Coaches are not in the ‘helping’ business. They clarify and challenge the client’s belief structure.

Mentoring v/s Coaching

A mentor is an expert, older and more experienced than the client and hence, is accessible and reliable as a resource for the wisdom, advice and guidance sought.

A coach is-

• A partner, friend, supporter and cheerleader.
• He maintains unconditional positive regard for the client, which means that the coach is at all times supportive and non-judgemental of the client’s views, lifestyle and aspirations.
• He ensures that client develops personal competencies and not unhealthy dependencies on the coaching or mentoring relationship.
• He or she evaluates the outcome of the process, using objective measures wherever possible to ensure the relationship is successful and the client achieves the set paradigms and goals.

It would thus be appropriate to summarize COACHING using the following quote-

“A Coach is your partner in achieving your personal goals, your champion during a turnaround, your trainer in communication and life skills, your sounding board when making choices, your motivator when strong actions are called for, your unconditional support when you take a hit, your mentor in personal development, your co-designer when developing an extraordinary project, your beacon during stormy times, your wake-up call if you don’t hear your own, and most importantly: your partner in living the life you know you’re ready for, personally and professionally.”

Thomas Leonard – founder of Coach U

COACHING ONLY EMPOWERS!