ICF defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential, which is particularly important in today’s uncertain and complex environment. Coaches honor the client as the expert in his or her life and work and believe every client is creative, resourceful and …read more.

To determine whether you or your company could benefit from coaching, start by summarizing what you would expect to accomplish in coaching. When an individual or business has a fairly clear idea of the desired outcome, a coaching partnership can be a useful tool for developing a strategy for how to achieve that outcome with …read more.

Professional coaching focuses on setting goals, creating outcomes and managing personal change. Sometimes it’s helpful to understand coaching by distinguishing it from other personal or organizational support professions. Therapy: Therapy deals with healing pain, dysfunction and conflict within an individual or in relationships. The focus is often on resolving difficulties arising from the past that …read more.

An individual or team might choose to work with a coach for many reasons, including but not limited to the following: Something urgent, compelling or exciting is at stake (a challenge, stretch goal or opportunity) A gap exists in knowledge, skills, confidence or resources A desire to accelerate results A lack of clarity with choices …read more.

Coaching has grown significantly for many reasons, among them: Rapid changes are taking place in the external business environment. Downsizing, restructuring, mergers and other organizational changes have radically altered the “traditional employment contract.” Companies can no longer achieve results using traditional management approaches. With the growing shortage of talented employees in certain industries, companies must …read more.

Coaching typically begins with a personal interview (either face-to-face or by teleconference call) to assess the individual’s or business’ current opportunities and challenges, define the scope of the relationship, identify priorities for action and establish specific desired outcomes. Subsequent coaching sessions may be conducted in person or over the telephone, with each session lasting a …read more.

The length of a coaching partnership varies depending on the individual’s or team’s needs and preferences. For certain types of focused coaching, three to six months of working may work. For other types of coaching, people may find it beneficial to work with a coach for a longer period. Factors that may impact the length …read more.

Overall, be prepared to design the coaching partnership with the coach. For example, think of a strong partnership that you currently have in your work or life. Look at how you built that relationship and what is important to you about partnership. You will want to build those same things into a coaching relationship. Here …read more.

The coach: Provides objective assessment and observations that foster the individual’s or team’s self-awareness and awareness of others Listens closely to fully understand the individual’s or team’s circumstances Acts as a sounding board in exploring possibilities and implementing thoughtful planning and decision making Champions opportunities and potential, encouraging stretch and challenge commensurate with personal strengths …read more.