What is Coaching?
So JJ, what is this coaching lark of which you speak?
Good question. I don’t discuss this very often.
Let’s start by looking at the various ways coaching authorities describe Coaching:
an … ongoing relationship which focuses on clients taking action toward the realization of their visions, goals and desires.
– Personal and Professional Coaching Association.
Coaching involves holding out a possibility in front of others whilst coaching them to move to the next level with relentless compassion.
– Robert Hargrove.
Coaching is a collaborative process that amplifies and accelerates self-discovery, promotes clarity, creativity and choice, and helps people achieve – and often exceed – their goals more quickly and more efficiently than they would without the partnership of a coach.
– The Academy for Coach Training.
Effective coaching challenges limiting assumptions embedded in our viewpoints about self and others in a way different than teaching or training… coaching is a unique form of dialogue that expands an individual’s capacity to transform his or her limiting beliefs.
– William Stockton.
So what does this mean in the real world?
Well coaching is really a dialogue between the coach and client with the goal of helping the client lead a happier, more awesome life.
This is achieved by:
- increasing the client’s level of self-awareness
- setting goals which will add to the client’s quality of life
- achieving those goals.
Simple, right?
So what does the coach contribute in this process?
Clarity - The coach asks questions to help the client build up a clear picture of what they really want.
Ideas - The coach may lead the client in exploring options they may not have considered before
Accountability - The coach will hold the client accountable for their actions. The coach may give the client homework to complete between sessions.
Brainstorming and Collaboration - The coach acts as a non-judgmental sounding board for new ideas. She creates a creative and supportive brainstorming environment.
Support – The coach provides encouragement for new ideas and supports the client in their decisions.
Challenge - The coach may challenge the client to expand their comfort zone, break old habits and pursue new beneficial directions in their life.
Validation - The coach may provide validation, support and encouragement.
Direction – The coach helps the client to gain perspective in times of overwhelm or confusion. She may also voice her opinion or give advice if it is necessary to move the conversation forward.
This last point, about advice, is a controversial one. Many well-respected coaches and coaching academies will disagree with me on this, stating that coaching should be entirely non-directive.
My view is that clients will often get overwhelmed and confused. And when we get overwhelmed our minds and bodies can shut down and ideas can appear out of our reach. Figuring it out becomes very difficult for someone experiencing overwhelm. In my opinion a suggestion or piece of advice can work wonders to give the client the support, structure and confidence they need to move forwards.
Now, if you are observant you’ll notice that I do not describe myself as a coach, but rather as a mentor (or sometimes as a consultant, if I’m feeling a bit fancy.)
My clients are coaches, consultants, home business owners, small business owners or managers within larger corporations. My work with my clients is directive.
I work within a framework similar to the one I’m sharing with you on this blog here and I give specific advice and guidance – lots of it. I am an expert in this area, and I would be doing my clients a disservice if I did not.
To avoid confusion within the industry I do not use the term coach to describe what I do, even though I like it!
Coach JJ just sounds cool.
Don’t you think? 
JJ Jalopy.
Comment by Las Vegas Baby Boomer Dating Expert
30 September 2009
Hey Hey Coach JJ,
Yes, indeed, I do think Coach JJ sounds cool.
The only way I can describe and create the metaphor image of what I do is I think of Rocky’s coach in the original Rocky. I will encourage you and wet nurse you and kick your butt and nudge you and nudge you to help you to get to YOUR next level all the while of holding up and image of what YOU can become to be YOUR best YOU.
I’m scrappy like Coach Mickey played by Burgess Meredith.
Mickey: OK, I’m gonna tell ya! You had the talent to become a good fighter, but instead of that, you become a legbreaker to some cheap, second rate loanshark!
Rocky: It’s a living.
Mickey: IT’S A WASTE OF LIFE!
Don’t waste your life
strive to become what you were meant to be and die in its pursuit.
that is the only life worth living. AB
Happy Dating and Relationships,
April Braswell
Single Baby Boomer Dating Success Expert
Comment by Pam Schulz
30 September 2009
Awesome post JJ – You’ve clarified well all of the important facets of coaching. Really great read!
Pam
Expert Houston Retirement Planning & Wealth Management Services
Pam Schulz´s last blog ..An Interesting Fact
Comment by John Ho
1 October 2009
JJ,
Great advice as usual!
An interesting observation: Mentors or coaches can help their clients to archieve what the coaches themselves cannot do !
John Ho
Numerology Expert Helps Understanding Personality for Better Influence & Persuasion
John Ho´s last blog .."Numerology Expert Says Artistic, Wordy, Nagging, Finicky & Picky for Those Born on 30th September"
Comment by Steve Chambers
1 October 2009
JJ:
Very awesome article on what a coach is. My definition of the difference between a mentor and a coach is payment. We pay a coach; we don’t pay a mentor.
I am a huge fan of coaching for specific periods of time. Depending on what we want to do we need to find a good coach to get us there.
Steve Chambers, B2B Sale Trainer
Comment by Lynn Lane
1 October 2009
JJ,
The coach is always there to push you to be your best and to help work on your strengths.
Thanks for the training, I can always use it.
Lynn Lane
Success Strategies For Life
Lynn Lane´s last blog ..A Ship In The Harbor Is Safe.
Comment by Anthony Lemme
1 October 2009
Great article. Many people don’t quite understand what a coach is and is not. Coaches aren’t therapists or people who tell us what to do or do our work for us.
Like Steve, I am all for coaching in specific spurts with an appropriate person. We all need a good kick in the pants once in a while.
Anthony
http://www.anthonylemme.com
Anthony Lemme´s last blog ..Mahamudra with Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche in Columbus
Comment by Lisa McLellan
1 October 2009
“Setting goals which will add to the client’s quality of life.” This is very important. I’m so glad you pointed it out.
Lisa McLellan
Child Care Expert,
Babysitting Services, Babysitting Tips, Babysitters, Nannies
Comment by Darryl Pace
1 October 2009
JJ,
Do you coach individuals in a traditional “life coach” or “success coach” capacity, or are you specifically a coach for coaches that do that type of thing?
Health, Fitness for Working People — Darryl Pace
Comment by Cheap Budget Wedding Planning
2 October 2009
Hey hey Mr. JJ,
thank for investing your time to define some ideas about coaching!
Happy Relationships,
April Braswell
Your Wedding Planning on a Budget
Comment by JJ Jalopy
4 October 2009
@Darryl – Good question. I don’t really do life coaching or success coaching. These days I concentrate on entrepreneurship, marketing and business. I find that this actually a fantastic means of self development in itself.