What is coaching

A coaching session, in its most usual form, is a conversation between 2 individuals – a client and a coach.

The topic of the conversation is a challenge that the client is facing. The client typically wants to arrive at a resolution for the challenge. The goal of the conversation is to arrive at this resolution, or at a place where the client can take a set of actions to move forward or reflect on the problem using insights gained during the coaching process. 

The job of the coach is to facilitate the client’s best thinking, that takes her/ him towards the most optimum course of action. The coach achieves this through active listening, empathy, challenging the client’s beliefs and assumptions, asking probing questions and using tools that can evoke deeper awareness in the client. Apart from the coach’s ability to bring these to bear, there are other elements inherent in the structure of the coaching session that can influence its outcome. A coaching session typically has 3 stages -

The start: This stage involves setting a goal for the session, clarifying the importance of the goal for the client, establishing what a successful session looks like and how the client expects to feel on the other side of the session. Getting the goalsetting right is key to a good session.

The middle: Once the goal is set, it is time to explore the topic in details, looking at it from different perspectives using creative questioning techniques, tools and frameworks. All of these tools and techniques help clarify the client’s current understanding of and attitude towards the situation; encourage the client to deeply examine their own thoughts, emotions and beliefs surrounding the topic; in so doing develop more clarity about their motivations and the alternatives in front of them; and help move towards the one that is most aligned with their purpose and values.

The end: A successful end is essential for a coaching session to be effective. However, a successful end is not synonymous with achieving a resolution, it is one where the client has arrived at a position of greater clarity - a deeper understanding of their situation, a more considered view of their options and a precise set of next steps.  

What makes for an effective coaching session?

An effective coaching session is one that deepens self-awareness, clarifies goals, and builds confidence in the client.

What does good coaching look like?

Given that coaching employs skills that are highly qualitative and subjective in nature, it is difficult to differentiate good coaching from bad. The client is the best judge of the quality of coaching since the proof of coaching being good or bad is in the client being able to achieve their objectives. However, if one thinks of life situations as opportunities for personal and professional growth, then one could argue that the best kind of coaching is the one that helps the client achieve maximum growth through their life and career challenges.