ICF defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. Coaches honor the client as the expert in his or her own life and work, and believe every client is creative, resourceful and whole. Standing on this foundation, the coach's responsibility is to:
Discover, clarify, and align with what the client wants to achieve
Encourage client self-discovery
Elicit client-generated solutions and strategies
Hold the client responsible and accountable
Professional coaching focuses on setting goals, creating outcomes, and managing personal change.
Professional coaching is NOT therapy or counseling. If a client requires services other than coaching, he/she is encouraged to obtain the appropriate professional services, and the coach will assist in the referral process when possible.
When an individual has a fairly clear idea of the desired outcome, a coaching partnership can be a useful tool for developing a strategy for how to achieve that outcome with greater ease. Since coaching is a partnership - if you value collaboration, other viewpoints, and new perspectives, and if you are ready to devote time and energy to making real change - then coaching will be beneficial for your growth and development.
Therapy or Counseling: Therapy or counseling deals with healing pain, dysfunction and conflict within an individual or in relationships. The focus is often on resolving difficulties arising from the past that hamper an individual's functioning in the present, improving overall psychological functioning, or dealing with the present in more emotionally healthy ways.
Consulting: Consultants will diagnose problems and prescribe and, sometimes, implement solutions.
Mentoring: A mentor is an expert who provides wisdom and guidance based on his or her own experience. Mentoring may include advising, counseling and coaching.
Training: Training programs are based on objectives set out by the trainer or instructor.
