Individuals and organizations utilize coaches for many different reasons. Athletes, entrepreneurs, and executives are among the various groups that have historically utilized coaches. Coaches are often engaged if individuals (or teams) are feeling ‘stuck’ or otherwise dissatisfied with their current situation AND they are willing to initiate change for the better. A coach provides a partner, someone on your side, to help you discover your best work or life.

Consultants will often offer specific guidance and instruction to their clients. They may be experts in the specific fields in which they work. While coaches may have specialization in certain fields, their true expertise is in the coaching process. The coach sees the client as the expert in his/her own life/industry and works to help the client tap into that expertise.

Therapists are often called on to help a client address issues that are challenging the client’s mental or emotional well-being and impacting the client’s ability to function within their daily life. The therapist may need to delve into the past in order to assist clients to live more functionally in the present. Coaches do not address diagnosable mental health issues and may refer to a therapist if this kind of support is required. While the coach may touch on the past, they do not generally focus on the past. The primary focus is on the present and the future.

Coaching can certainly provide clients with insights about themselves, and it can also help clients become more aware of what may be possible.  This is where the ‘transformation’ can take place. Consider the scenario of sitting in an optometrist’s chair and picking between ‘view 1’ or ‘view 2’. When you get to the clearest view, the one that allows you to see more clearly than any of the others, it can feel transformative, like you had no idea it was even possible to see so clearly – and that’s what can happen with coaching.

Coaching helps individuals and organizations shift from where they are to where they wish to be. If that destination isn’t clear – coaches can help bring clarity. Coaching is about partnership. It is goal-oriented and solution-focused. It assumes the client is highly capable and may also need support in order to achieve their desired change. Basically, coaching helps a person or organization shift from operating in a functional manner toward functioning in an optimal manner. If this sounds like something that might be helpful to you or your organization, then engaging a coach may be worth considering.

Coaching engagements should be tailored to specific clients and their needs. There are common elements in many coaching engagements that can include: establishing and creating a clear vision, setting goals and objectives, creating short- and longer-term action plans, and executing on those plans. This process will include identifying and addressing obstacles while providing support and accountability along the way.

Coaching cannot guarantee positive results. However, all change depends on one primary element – a true willingness to change. Coaches help clients identify those areas they truly wish to change. Coaches also help clients understand obstacles that may arise, as well as strengths/resources on which they can draw to create transformation in their life.

Coaching can take place in person or by phone. Sessions may also take place over technology platforms such as Skype or Zoom. Coaches can also travel to their client or to the client’s location. As you can see, one of the benefits of coaching is flexibility!

Generally, coaching engagements with individuals will last between three to six months. After all, change can be complex and often does take some time to accomplish. Management and organizational coaching may take from three months up to a year, depending on the goals and objectives of the engagement.