New Year New You

There are many misconceptions around the words ‘Life Coach’, ‘Business Coach’ or ‘Personal Coach’.  The terminology can relate to different areas of one’s life. For example;

• Life Coach – will help you overcome your fears and help you to achieve your personal goals
• Business Coach – will offer guidance regarding your business, providing a strategic approach
• Personal Coach – of benefit to athletes, for example, or to help someone face certain life-based situations

The most familiar form of coaching comes from the sporting world.  We will all recognise the work of sports coaches, boxing coaches, football coaches, etc. Over the past few years, coaching has also been associated with the world of commerce, in the form of Business Coaching, or Executive Coaching. 

Coaching represents a series of conversations from one person to another. The coach is there to facilitate an open channel of communication and produce results that benefit the person being coached. 

A qualified coach can provide guidance. But their ultimate aim is to help their clients uncover solutions themselves, offering both encouragement and direction. A qualified coach will not, and must not, pass on their own personal beliefs or opinions. Instead they should ask probing questions to uncover the true feelings of their client. They will conduct an analysis of the client’s situation, whether it involves current or past events. 

The most important element that must be managed throughout the coaching relationship is to manage expectations. The coach must recognise and provide feedback to each client to ensure their expectations of the coaching journey are realistic.  For coaching to achieve maximum effect, the client must be honest and realistic, have clarity and be prepared to spend an appropriate amount of time on the coaching partnership.

Louise Wightman at Approach The Coach is a registered coach based in Glasgow.  Please contact her for a free, no-obligation consultation at louise@approachthecoach.co.uk or call 07739 345803. Her website is www.approachthecoach.co.uk.

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