Coach. What does that even mean?

HELLO HELLO!

Clarity is key, so I wanted to clear up any confusion around…what exactly do you do, Debby J.?

As a relatively new industry (a little over 20yrs old), the title “Coach” can mean different things for different people in different roles. Within the field, there exist a variety of niches: Corporate Coaching, Business Coaching, Life Coaching, Professional Development Coaching, Career Coaching (to name a few). And within each niche, you'll find various approaches and philosophies to support a Client's desire to create change. No wonder people get confused.

What kind of Coach am I? I’m a Personal & Professional Growth Coach.

What does that mean? It’s almost easier to tell you what it’s NOT, so I’ll share a few distinctions to help you understand.

First, picture a Volleyball Coach on the sidelines. She’s trained her team for this moment, lead them through drills and motivated them through the tough conditioning. During the game, she’s telling her team what plays to make and how to improve performance, all based on the goal to win the game within the allotted amount of time. This is SPORTS COACHING.

What’s the VALUE in this type of Coaching? Sometimes, we all need a little kick in the pants and an external force to help us perform at a higher level, helping us to achieve results both mentally and physically.

Now, picture a Consultant in a board room. She’s hired to present valuable information based on the area for which she is known to be an expert. All eyes in the room are on her, as she delivers the exact steps on how to achieve results she has promised to deliver. And you better believe she’s going to do everything within her power to make sure you achieve those results, because her reputation (and contract/paycheck) depend on it. This is CONSULTING.

What’s the VALUE in Consulting? Sometimes, we need a quick fix and an experienced-someone to just tell us what to do. This is especially helpful when we’re feeling stuck and want to hear what someone else has done in a similar situation to get un-stuck. It saves time and energy. Whether or not their way will work for us, it seems worth a try to help us build momentum to achieve some kind of positive results. 

One potential challenge with Consulting is…there’s no guarantee the action you took or change you made will be long-lasting because it wasn’t your idea in the first place. (more on that next…)

Now, picture me- a Personal & Professional Growth Coach- on the phone having a conversation with a Client. I’ve been hired by a Woman who is overwhelmed, stressed and in a rut. She wants to move forward in life and in her business, but she’s out of ideas on how to make that happen FOR herself.

As a Coach, I help her get clear on what is the biggest obstacle in her way today, and the outcome she wants as a result of exploring that subject. I ask a series of questions to get curious about what’s behind the situation. I encourage her to become still and present, allowing her to access her inner wisdom for the answers that align with the best of WHO she is. There is no directive given, no advice she must follow. The conversation is absolutely confidential and free of judgment, allowing open and honest sharing for the Client’s own good.

At the end of the call, the Client has chosen what actions she’s willing to take moving forward. There is no timeline for progress. As her Coach, I remind that I am always here to support, yet not attached to results, as those are my Client’s to experience, to define and to own. The more connected a Client is to her own results, the more likely the shift will support her for the long-term.

What’s the VALUE in Coaching? The change takes time, yet the results are long-lasting and more likely to be sustainable. Coaching can help you create a shift in WHO you are, so that you can move forward in your way of being and doing as a more positive, confident and EMPOWERED version of you, even if nothing (or nobody) around you changes.

THIS is what I do. THIS is true and pure Coaching, as intended by the founder of the profession, Thomas Leonard. Coaching is the process of developing, nurturing and maximizing our potential as humans. It is the most rewarding work I’ve experienced in all of my careers.

Want to explore how the power of Coaching can help YOU create a positive shift in your life or business? Email me at d[email protected] to schedule a COMPLIMENTARY 60min Discovery Call.

Until next time, I’m sending you GOOD VIBES,

Debby j