What is Coaching?

Coaching is a new approach to personal development. Coaches: 

• Help people set better goals and then reach those goals. 
• Help their clients to focus better so as to produce results more quickly. 
• Ask their clients to do more than they would have done on their own. 
• Provide clients with the tools, support and structure to accomplish more. 

What is the basic philosophy of coaching?

The coaching philosophy is that humans are very intelligent, adaptable and productive and we all have the potential to get what we want in life without having to pay a high personal or financial cost for it. Throughout our lives we are discovering what we really want, and we are constantly making choices about how to live. 

We can get what we want faster when we have the unconditional support of a Coach to help us discover and implement our desires.

How is coaching different from…

Training? Like some training, coaching provides a chance to reflect on your experiences and gain new insights. However there are some major differences. A Coach does not bring an agenda but follows the interests and desires of the client. Materials and information play only a minor part in coaching. Coaching relies on very high levels of trust between the coach and the client. As a result, the learning is much deeper than most training and much more personal issues can be addressed and changed. 

Another major difference is that coaching focuses on implementation more than just learning or theory. Coaching is delivered over a period of months. Learning that occurs is based on the clients’ own experiences and is immediately integrated into the clients’ real lives. The client makes changes, learns from the results and continues to learn and change step-by-step with the continuous support of the coach.

Consulting? Coaching is rather like consulting except that it tends to be much more people-oriented rather than information-oriented. A coach does not act as an expert in the client’s business. Also, a coach stays with the client to help implement the new skills, changes and goals, to make sure that they really happen.

Mentoring? Mentoring comes from a long tradition in which a mentor shares with their mentee “everything they know”. Although this is a very valuable role, the learning that results depends completely on the knowledge and experience of the mentor. With the rapid change occurring in the world and in businesses, learning from our seniors is no longer enough. People need to discover new ways of doing things in a world where so much is new. Rather than teaching, as a mentor would, a coach is trained to support others in their own discovery. In fact studies have shown that vast relevant knowledge on the part of a coach can often limit how well they can support a coachee, as they assume they know the best way of doing things, rather than playing in the field of possibilities. What can be learned with the support of a coach is unlimited.

Therapy? Coaching is not therapy. Coaches don’t delve deeply into past problems or work on deeply held internal barriers. Coaching is not for people with psychological problems such as depression or extreme stress. Coaching is for people who are already successful who want to create extraordinary results. 

Sports? Like sports coaching, professional coaching provides encouragement, support and guidance from a coach with a broader perspective of the ‘game’. Professional coaches also use goal-setting and performance assessments to improve results. Coaches focus on strengthening their clients’ skills, but not usually on helping them beat the other team in a win/lose scenario. Coaches look for win/win solutions.

Best friend? A best friend is wonderful to have. But your best friend is not always the best person to work with you on developing the most important aspects of your work and life. A coach is always working for the client and maintains that perspective. A coach is also experienced in drawing out the best in people, while letting them make their own decisions as suits them best. In contrast, a friend will expect you to reciprocate in supporting them; a friend may have a perspective very similar to yours; a friend may not want you to change too much and a friend may not push you the way your coach can. 

What happens when you hire a coach?

• You take yourself more seriously. 
• You take more effective and focused actions immediately. 
• You stop putting up with what is dragging you down. 
• You create momentum so that it’s easier to get results. 
• You set better goals that are more exactly what you want. 

Where does the coach focus with an average client?

Coaches focus where their clients need them the most. Their discussions often include:

• Helping the client set goals based on individual personal values 
• Helping the client understand their current situation and current results more clearly 
• Developing strategies to move towards personal or business goals 
• Helping the client to strengthen their personal foundation so that they have fewer problems and more energy 

Does the coach work on personal goals or business/professional goals?

Both, actually. The line between personal and business life is very blurred, especially in a fast-paced competitive city like Hong Kong. The coach is trained to work with all aspects of you and to handle issues holistically.

What happens during a coaching session?

What happens is up to you and your coach to design and sometimes you just play it by ear. Typically the client will choose a current problem or opportunity to focus on during the session. 

The coach will first of all listen really well to the client’s explanation of the situation. Most people find that speaking with someone who listens well brings out their best and helps them to get clarity. 

Next, the coach will ask some questions to find different perspectives and help the client discover the sources of the issue. Together they uncover insights into the whole situation, the symptoms and possible solutions. 

As necessary, the coach will share their own perspectives and suggestions, and offer encouragement, reassurance, support or challenge. The whole process is generally light and positive. By the end of the session you will likely have crafted a strategy or decided upon a course of action.

Why does coaching work?

• The coach provides a different perspective to help the client understand themselves and their situation more clearly. 
• The client sets better goals based on what they want rather than what they “should” do. These goals naturally pull the client toward the goal instead of requiring the client to push themselves to the goal. 
• The client develops new skills, and these skills translate into more success.