What is Coaching?

Coaching, as defined by the International Coach Federation, is partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.

I believe in a transformative approach to coaching.  Transformative Coaching provides a co-created environment of safety, respect, and absolute belief in another’s inherent wholeness, resourcefulness, capability, and creativity.  Within this co-created partnership:

  • Bold curiosity and powerful questions uncover limiting beliefs, and
  • Shine the light on an unlimited field of possibilities, that
  • Generates conscious choice and lasting change.

With the Transformative Coaching Model, the belief is that all lasting change and improvement emanates from our essence out, when we understand our authenticity and act from that place, we will achieve what we set out to do.  The following image illustrates that for us.

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Many people are familiar with sports coaches or other results-based coaches.  The approach taken by professional coaches is different from those as follows:

  • Sports or results-based coaches are often seen as the expert who guides and directs behavior of individual or teams based on his or her greater experience and knowledge.  The focus is often on behaviors that are being executed poorly or incorrectly;
  • Professional coaches possess these qualities, but their experience and knowledge of the individual or team determines the direction.  The focus is on identifying opportunity for development based on individual strengths and capabilities.