What does a coach do?
According to Simon Smith, MD of Southern Cross Coaching & Development & an experienced coach, there are several views of coaching. The purist coaching view is that the client has all the answers, & the coach asks the right questions at the right time & the solutions will come. However, as Simon points out through personal experience, that may be ok in Life Coaching, but is rarely useful in Professional Coaching (Business Coaching, Leadership Coaching, Executive Coaching, Emotional Intelligence Coaching, etc)!
“I’ve been coached by ‘purist coaches’ and I have to say I find it damned annoying! Whilst I understand continued questioning without giving advice is a very powerfull tool to get the client to come to their own conclusions, realisations & solutions – that is usually the best option, & ideally what all coaches strive for – there are many times when no matter how many questions a coach asks, the client simply does not have the answers or the knowledge. And in many cases, and especially in Business Coaching and Executive Coaching, a good part of what the client is paying for is the coach’s practical expertise & knowledge.”
“All my coaches at Southern Cross Coaching & Development are selected for their ability to be expert ‘purist coaches’ when appropriate, & to get the client to use their own knowledge to come to their own solutions, but they balance that with offering (with the client’s permission and when appropriate) solutions & advice – but offered in a coaching, not a telling framework.”
“When you are matched with a Southern Cross Coaching & Development coach, you get a combination of Coach, Trusted Advisor, Consultant and Mentor, depending on the situation. All my coaches are expert enough to know when it is appropriate to switch roles. So you always get great value – that’s why I offer a 100% money-back guarantee^ around our coaching.”
A good overall view of what a coach will do:
Facilitate the exploration of needs, motivations, desires, skills and thought processes to assist people in making real, lasting change.
Use powerful questioning techniques to facilitate the client’s own thought processes in order to identify solutions and actions, rather than taking a wholly directive approach.
“Use powerful questioning techniques. Support you.”
Support the client in setting appropriate goals and methods of assessing progress in relation to these goals.
Observe, actively listen, ask questions and clarify information to understand the client’s situation.
Creatively apply tools and techniques that encourage a commitment to action and the development of lasting personal growth & change.
Maintain unconditional positive regard for the client, which means that the coach is at all times supportive and non-judgemental of the client, their views, lifestyle and aspirations.
“Maintain unconditional positive regard… at all times supportive and non-judgemental”
Ensure that clients develop personal competencies and do not develop unhealthy dependencies on the coaching or mentoring relationship.
“Ensure the process promotes independency”
Occasionally offer advice, opinions or suggestions from his/her ideas and experience, but generally only with the client’s permission. Both parties understand that the client is free to accept or decline what is offered and takes the ultimate responsibility for action. The client does not relinquish the responsibility for creating and maintaining desired outcomes nor does the coach take full responsibility for them
Evaluate the outcomes of the process, using objective measures wherever possible to ensure the relationship is successful and the client is achieving their goals.
Encourage clients to continually improve competencies and to develop new developmental alliances where necessary to achieve their goals.
Manage the relationship to ensure the client receives the appropriate level of service and that programs are neither too short, nor too long.
The International Coaching Federation has outlined Core Competencies it deems are core or critical for any competent coach to demonstrate. Please click on the link http://www.icfaustralasia.com/ICFCoreCompetencies.php for more information.
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