“I helped a man climb a mountain and found that I too had reached the top”
Bob Proctor
What is coaching?
The field of coaching is booming. Many are calling themselves Coach but who are untrained, poorly trained, or not staying true to pure coaching philosophies. Many people mistakenly think a coach will teach them what to do or give them solutions to their problems. This is not the role of a Coach.
It's important to know what a coach is, and what they are not, to be sure you’re signing on for service you need, and you'll be getting the greatest value for your hard earned money.
Here are some terms below, and they are all different:
- Coach
- Consultant
- Mentor
- Teacher
- Counsellor
A consultant provides a solution to a problem. A mentor guides someone along a similar path. A teacher shares knowledge. A counsellor helps the person heal psychological wounds.
So, what does a Coach do?
The power of transformative conversation can be traced back to great philosophers like Plato, Aristotle and Socrates. In essence, coaching provides a space and relational system to think, process, and create. Through having space held, being powerfully questioned, and evoking new awarenesses, the coaching setting creates change in the person.
Though coaching is not explicitly intended to heal the person, I have found the coaching setting to be inherently healing. Coaching is firmly rooted in the present, and acts to generate momentum to the future. However, I have found that when one's present perspective changes, pain from the past can be softened.
Thomas Leonard stated “Coaching doesn’t make sick people well… it helps healthy people become extra-ordinary.”
That is not to say that coaching is only for healthy people. I believe the self-awareness journey is about knowing where you are, what your needs are, and seeking the appropriate systems and modalities of support.
I have found counselling immensely helpful in my past. I have found teachers and mentorships necessary for my growth. When I cannot find solutions myself based on my expertise, I seek the help of consultants. And yet, coaching is what now allows me to generate forward momentum.
None of these relationships operate in a vacuum. I believe that at different times in our lives, we need relationships, partnerships, therapists, teachers, mentors, consultants, and coaches to help us realize our greatest potential.
In my practice, I am Coach. I cannot teach you how to live your life, or heal your wounds, or tell you the best solution to your problem. That is not what I am here to do as Coach.
What I can do is hold a space of unconditional acceptance. Within a safe and trusting environment, I can hold a mirror in front of you and shine light on your dark spots. The beauty of the coaching space is that you are not alone in your exploration.
If you invite me in, I will be there.
Keep shining,
Jennifer
