Coaching is a personalized support process that, when practiced by true professionals, can bring significant benefits in terms of, for example, improving individual performance, achieving personal and professional goals, personal development, making informed decisions, increasing confidence and self-esteem.
Nevertheless, it is a growing field, and it is increasingly common to see individuals self-proclaiming as coaches, offering services that go beyond what professional coaches are supposed to do. It is therefore important to clarify what coaching really is and explain how it differs from other professions that are sometimes related to it.
According to the definition of the International Coach Federation (ICF), coaching is a partnership between the coach and the client in a creative and reflective process that inspires the client to maximize their personal and professional potential. It uses active listening, questioning, feedback, and planning skills to help the client achieve their goals. It respects ethical rules such as confidentiality, integrity, competence (the coach must possess the skills and knowledge necessary to practice their profession effectively), respect (respect for the client as a person and recognition of the diversity of cultures, values, and beliefs), and responsibility.
The coach is not a friend who will give advice or give their opinion on a situation. One of the key roles of a coach is to be a neutral and objective professional, without biases or judgments, to help the client explore their thoughts and emotions in an open and honest way. This impartiality allows them to ask questions and provide feedback that helps the client step back, see things from a different perspective, and identify possible solutions to the challenges they face. They will help the client develop their own self-reflection and problem-solving skills, rather than giving them ready-made answers.
Similarly, the coach is not a mentor, advisor who shares their experience and gives advice based on it. The coach does not provide ready-made solutions or specific advice. Instead, they use techniques to help the client find their own solutions. They do not coach a situation or event (the what), but rather the client’s emotions and energies (the who).
The coach is also not a therapist. Psychologists and psychiatrists work with patients (not clients) to treat psychological or emotional problems. The therapist typically works on psychological or emotional problems related to the past and present and helps their patient manage problems such as anxiety, depression, past traumas, behavioral disorders, etc., while the coach focuses on the personal and professional development of the client to achieve their future goals.
Finally, the coach is not a consultant. A consultant is an expert who provides recommendations and solutions to a client based on their expertise. The coach, on the other hand, works with the client to help them find their own solutions using techniques such as active listening, open questioning, reframing, etc.
Coaching is a process that uses specific methods and tools to help clients know themselves, understand themselves, and know what they want. The coach helps the client understand the importance of their choices and make informed decisions. They also help the client develop an action plan to achieve their goals. They never tell their client what to do, how to do it, when to do it, and why! It is important that the client goes through this journey themselves, with the help of a coach who knows the right techniques. If the answers to the questions and the plans are not developed by the client themselves, it is unlikely that they will follow them once the temporary and/or superficial support is gone.
Coaching is a serious profession that requires specific and sharp training. Just as taking a contraindicated medication prescribed by a charlatan can be dangerous, a coach who does not have the necessary skills can be dangerous for the client. Who would be treated by an untrained « practitioner »?
To conclude, it is essential to clearly distinguish between different professions and recognize the specific skills of each one in order to choose the one that best suits a given situation and desired outcome. Coaching is a unique and professional process that requires specific skills and training to be practiced ethically and effectively. Coaching is a profession practiced by professionals.