Paul G Bailey
What is Coaching?
A coach’s role is to support a client in achieving their goals in the shortest time possible. This is achieved by helping the client stretch outside their own comfort zones by challenging their limiting beliefs, such as being to slow or too old to achieve their dream. We are not there to teach, explain or hypothesise, but to shine a light on ideas that would normally be brushed aside as unrealistic or doomed to failure and therefore pointless to even attempt. The coach will work with the client to help them identify their goals and build up a step by step action plan to achieve them.
Careful use of effective open-ended questioning techniques will increase the clients own self awareness and understanding, enabling them to set clear and well constructed goals that will challenge them, whilst still being realistic and obtainable. Actively listening to the client and giving them time to think, will release deep rooted ideas that during a normal conversation may never have surfaced. Supporting them through their journey by being positive, honest and open where they will develop a trusting relationship that will allow the client to build their confidence. A coach must be non-judgemental, non-directional and above all, committed to total confidentiality at all times.
With the coach acting as a sounding board the client is able to explore their future options in the safety of the coaching environment which in turn allows them to be more innovative. This will produce powerful results that are wholly owned by the client from conception through to completion. After building a high level of rapport with the client, particularly through the use of targeted praise of their large and small successes, we are able to provide constructive feed back that will aid them to grow without feeling reprimanded.
The coach will ensure that the client is kept on track and does not wonder off into a story telling session or begin to dwell on a negative train of thought. They will also guide the client to review previous successes to help them realise that they are indeed progressing as often this can go unnoticed.
As the coach provides a safe, positive and motivational space for the client to work in, their helpful attitude, patience and understanding will result in the client’s achieving clarity of purpose that they have never experienced before.
