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The Power of Coaching

Forbes cited it as the second fastest growing profession in the country, Fortune 1000 companies have used it to transform their organizations, and testimonials from around the world keep pouring in about the power of professional coaching. Yet with all this, relatively few people even know what coaching really is. In fact, it is estimated that only about 15% of the general population has heard about professional coaching, and less even is aware of its true identity and power.

This article will help you understand what professional coaching is, what it isn’t, who does it, and more. First let’s clear up a myth. Coaching, as we think of it today, is not that new. People have been doing variations of it for decades. It is, however, only recently that coaching has turned into a profession that is governed by a board; with guidelines, standards of conduct, and a code of ethics and that is why the profession is taking off as it is.

What is coaching?

Coaching is a very unique profession. It utilizes the best of therapy, consulting, mentoring, and even friendship, to create a unique client-helper relationship. This relationship is a powerful alliance—a partnership of sorts—to help clients manage their lives, create more fulfillment, and live their dreams.

This is very different from traditional helping modes, where people want to get themselves or their businesses “fixed.” Coaching focuses on solutions, not problems, to help move people and organizations from good to great.

IPEC (The Institute for Professional Empowerment Coaching) defines coaching as a process that helps people tap into their inner purpose and passion and connect that with outer goals and tasks, to achieve extraordinary results. These results range from improved self-esteem and relationships to the successful running of a Fortune 500 company. It is almost impossible to describe the remarkable, and sometimes miraculous results that come from the coaching relationship. Maybe the old Mikey adage is best, “Try it, you’ll like it!”

What isn’t coaching?

Most people who call themselves coaches are usually consultants or therapists, and although coaching has its basis in both, it is very, very different. The main difference between consultants and coaches is that a consultant promotes himself or herself as the expert in certain aspects of life, and the coach accepts that the client is the expert and has within him/her the answer to any situation he/she may face. Also coaches stick with clients to implement plans of action, while consultants usually do not participate in this type of relationship and leave clients to implement the plan of action on his/her own.

The therapist’s typical functions are to help clients fix problems, overcome issues, and sometimes manage mental illness. Coaches do not work with mental illness nor spend much time on client issues or problems. In fact, Certified Empowerment Coaches (the designation received from training with IPEC) do not see anything as a problem, only a situation or opportunity. Coaches focus on solutions. They do not dwell on the client’s past nor try to analyze behavior. Coaching’s focus isn’t so much on “why,” but “how,” to achieve powerful results.

Who does professional coaching?

Worldwide, there are an estimated 50,000 people calling themselves coaches, while the International Coach Federation (coaching’s one and only governing board) reports only 6,000 members. This is important to know because most so-called coaches are not trained professionals. Below are the most important points in determining a professional coach.

1) CERTIFICATION: Certification is very important, because true coaching is a profession that requires very specific skills, conduct standards, and a foundation of training, which is only taught in qualified schools. Regardless of what some may try to tell you, life experience and other types of experience or training are not enough. Would you hire a surgeon who didn’t have formal training?

2) REFERENCES: An effective coach will have happy and satisfied clients who, after contracting the services of the coach, have made significant changes in their lives. Note: when asking for references make sure the people have actually been coached by the coach. Some people give references of friends or people that they have worked with in some unrelated manner.

3) A GOOD MATCH: An effective coach for one person may not be a good match for another. To find a good match, it’s best to speak directly with your potential coach and ask for a sample session. You’ll want to be sure you feel comfortable enough to work with your coach on a regular basis.

What will coaching training do for me?

Besides receiving an accredited certification and the backbone for a fulfilling career, coaching training is life transformational. As you become a professional coach, you gain self-awareness and realization, improve all your relationships, become more conscious, and develop a life-long support team and family.

To summarize, coaching is a very unique profession that takes the best from many other professions to create a powerful alliance that transforms lives. Coaching enlightens the world—one person at a time!