What is Coaching?

220217 Module 1 Key Idea: Coaching is a Journey, and the Coach a travelling partner to your Coachee.

WHO AM I?
A couple of hours before the first Coaching class, I was excitedly imagining what the experience would be like.

I anticipated that we would have to introduce ourselves, so I rehearsed what I wanted to say. First impressions are

important as you’ll never get a second chance. I wanted to make a good impression, and I also wanted to give my

fellow cohorts the opportunity to know me. So, what do I say? What do I want others to know about me? 

Who am I, really? And that’s the Big Question in life, isn’t it? I’m convinced everyone asks this of themselves at

some point of their lives, but few ever truly discover their answer. There is a deep void from within begging to be

filled with the satisfaction of knowing one’s purpose. It is my belief that Coaching is a vehicle that helps us shape

and form an answer, and the Coach is the travel partner that comes alongside on this journey we call life.

DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES OF COACHING
So anyways, back to the class, and I gave a great introduction (that’s my narrative, anyway, and let’s just leave it

as that. Lol.), and then we got started with the basics of “What is Coaching?” The following are some perspectives

to Coaching:

#1. A Beautiful Dance - Our role is to be the dance partner to the Coachee, dancing to their goals & dreams, and letting them take the lead.

#2. Walking to the Edge of the Cliff - Coaching is about Taking Risks. It’s about building rapport with your Coachee, so that they can trust and be

willing to journey to the edge of a conversation with you.

#3. A Road to Discovery - Coaching is like a Road Trip. You’re on a leisurely drive and taking in the beautiful scenery along the way.

It’s not just about the destination, but the treasures picked up along the way.

#4. Holding Up a Mirror - The Coachee is not supposed to see the Coach, but a Reflection of themselves. The Coach does not present his

own thoughts or ideas, but helps to reflect a different angle (perspective) the Coachee hasn’t seen before.

#5. Making A Shift - Like a Gear Shift in driving, Coaching helps the Coachee to make shifts in their narratives.

#6. Space. Endless Possibilities - We are coaching a Person, not an industry or profession. A Coach believes that the Possibilities of the Coachee is

Endless and limited only by what’s within them.

#7. Celebration - Milestones play a part in the conditioning of our lives, and are seldom acknowledged, let alone celebrated.

You could be the only one celebrating the Coachee’s Breakthroughs and Milestones.

BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP
While it’s good to have an idea of what coaching is, it was great to see what different perspectives Coaching can be

to different individuals at different stages of their journey. Ultimately, it’s about Building a Relationship between the Coach and the Coachee. And my take away from the class is that Coaches need to be mindful that… 

The Coachees ARE 1) Creative; 2) Resourceful; and 3) Whole.
They are NOT 1) In need of fixing; 2. Problematic; or 3) In need of our help.
They have their answers from within themselves.

Synchronously (like a dance), as Coaches, we are…
1) Curious – persistently asking the right questions.
2) Intuitive – actively listening to the Coachees. 
3) Brave – learn your own boundaries on when you challenge & when to wait.

So much to learn, so much to do, but most importantly, so much to BEcome. Great first class and a great start to my quest of becoming a Coach! Who am I? I’m a budding coach!