What is Coaching?
Coaching is a relatively new profession with almost limitless variations of a coach out in the world today, so it is easy for it to be ambiguous. It’s also a relatively new profession, and still in stages of development. This piece will help explain some ideas about coaching that are important for a someone to know what they are looking for a coach. Also, it must be said that most coaches like myself don’t even really love the term “coach.” However, no other term seems to fit as well (I am open to ideas!).
Types of Coaches:
- Those with very specific programs (“follow my x step program to get to y result”).
- In the moment coaches, working with whatever is arising in a given person’s life.
- Motivational and systems-based coaches who rely on data, check-ins and discipline.
- Former therapists who find coaching to work better for many types of people.
- Performance Coaches, Business Coaches, Leadership Coaches, etc.
This list is by no means comprehensive, as coaching continues to evolve, and styles can vary widely. If one really wants to get a feel for coaching, I highly recommend this paper, written by the founder of my coaching program Aletheia. It discusses the history and development of coaching, as well as specifics as to why he created this program coming from another methodology (and why I love it). Hint: because it works the best.
Societally, we are most familiar with an athletic coach. I.e., someone who has specific experience and know-how and use what they know to work with an individual or team. This may be helpful as a starting point to understand coaching, but it is inherently limiting due to the fact that one specific sport is very different than an individual’s life. Life has many obstacles, surprises, nuance, lacks specific rules of the game, and is not linear. A “life” coach can help you unfold inner resourcefulness and self-awareness, which will be beneficial to you in ALL instances…not just specific instances like an athletic coach would. In fact, even good athletic coaches bring in psychology to their systems, which help on and off the field.
~ Acorn Theory & Joe’s Style of Coaching ~
Famed Psychologist Carl Jung offered the idea of an acorn having its own innate being-ness within itself to evolve into a mature and unique oak tree. If we think of humans as being acorns, we see that we all have a distinctive story that we live out (or are destined to live out). The problem is, society does not teach us how to foster our own growth and so our personal oak trees might struggle to get enough sunlight, or plant itself in the wrong place. And just because one or more acorns thrive in a given area, does not mean that all acorns will.
With this metaphor in mind, one can see that “coaching” can be extremely nuanced. Ideally, we all live in line with our personal inner will (aka innate being-ness) in order to live our most meaningful life. A coach is someone who can help this, using a variety of skillsets and life experiences in order to bring forth someone’s true calling. This is done primarily through exploring the client’s inner knowing/resourcefulness and fostering awareness to recognize when they are out of this knowing. I bring a framework, personal experience and training, and most importantly, I do not hold a fixed view as to where you should be going; this makes it possible for you to arrive where you are meant to be.
~ Summary ~
As one can see, working with a coach can take many different forms, yet generally works towards helping someone pursue something they otherwise are having difficulty with. Most often this does not require the help of a motivator or task-giver, as those are generally proven not to provide lasting change (see the paper linked above). What a great coach does is help uncover that which is within yourself that is blocking you from what you are looking to achieve.
With all that said, ultimately the best coach is someone you have in your corner, no matter life brings to you.
Have any questions? Contact Joe today.
