[“Coach” is a new term coined in corporate setup, usually coming with some prefixes, such as life coach, corporate coach, associate coach, executive coach, relationship coach and so on so forth. While different in title, all of them are same in spirit targeting different niche markets. Here is what I have learned about Coaching so far while trekking my own journey becoming a professional coach]
My Coaching journey goes back to about 10 years ago in my hometown. A colleague and a friend of mine visited me at my cubical asking if I’m interested to participate in his first workshop on Appreciative Inquiry. Watching my friend running the workshop more happily and purposefully than ever and the impact on the participants made me interested in what he is doing. He was a technical manager at that point and I haven’t had an idea how that workshop was related to what he was doing as his day job. Then I asked and he explained how he was tired of being in a position which has nothing to do with his real passion. Being even more confused and curious as he was known as a successful manager, I asked him: “What’s your passion then?” The answer was “Coaching!” That was the first time I’ve been introduced to Coaching as a profession.
Reading a book called Becoming a Professional Life Coach was my first attempt to educate myself about Coaching, what seemed cool to me during my friend’s workshop, but didn’t end up there! I have been mesmerized by how this profession and everything about it is deeply connected with my core values. I’ve read a dozens of books, been in many workshops and coaching sessions myself since then and here I did my professional coaching certificate at IPEC, granted the Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner certificate and also completed Co-actitive Coaching trainings with Coaching Training Institute (CTI) at the same time. How I ended up here? I had an honer to be coached by two of the best coaches I know Lyssa Adkins and Deborah Preuss. These two ladies helped me to find out what really matters to me, how I want to show up in this World and what I want to invest the most on. Long sessions? Not even, I had a chance to talk to each of them for just an hour!
All been said to clarify that speaking of coaching, I neither go by the book alone, nor come from trainings only. I’m speaking about a profession which transformed my own life to be lived more meaningfully and purposefully
WHO IS A COACH?
A dedicated person who sees hidden potential and maximizes performance by listening, encouraging, developing and believing. A coach is a passionate individual who shows up to dance with you in the moment while watching you forming your future, the kind of future which is more meaningful and aligned with WHO you really are!
Coaches are strong believers that there is NOTHING WRONG with you to be fixed, you are a WHOLE and it is just a matter of finding the answers which are currently residing in you but been covered by all the external distractions, internal fears or social definitions.
WHAT IS COACHING?
have been gifted but might not be fully aware of. Coaching is partnering with another human beings to co-create an action plan to live their life much more purposefully.Coaching is holding a safe space for another individual (client/coachee) to explore all the internal resources they
WHAT IS NOT COACHING?
As “Coaching” is a relatively new term specially in corporate World, there might be some misunderstanding around it. Not every single one-on-one session can be called coaching session! Here is what is not considered as coaching:
- Mentoring an other individual on a topic of your expertise
- Advising another individual based on your knowledge or experience
- Teaching someone a new skills
- Psychological therapy
- Consulting
No need to say that we are being paid in corporates to be managers, mentors or wearing many other hats and not all the sessions can be treated as a coaching session.
HOW COACHING SESSIONS WORK?
A coaching session is a meeting of usually 1 hour which is called intentionally by the coachee and might repeat as long as the coachee is interested and can see the value of holding this space.
The coach will come to a coaching session with no agenda and at the full service of the coachee, equipped by all the tools and technics he/she knows and you will bring your open heart, your intention, your topic and your life. A coach is supposed to be an expert on these tools and technics and you are supposed to be the expert and champion of your life.
The first session usually is to design alliance. There are usually some commitments or action items coming out of the session which resonate the most with WHO you are and WHAT you are ready to gradually but steadily change your life or the situation you are.