Coaching has become a common topic and practice in the business arena. But, what is it exactly, and should you consider engaging a coach? 

A coach is a professional who is specially trained in helping business leaders maximize their talents to reach their highest potential. He or she will lead a client through a thought-provoking and creative process that is distinct from other service professions, such as counseling, mentoring, consulting, and training. 

To truly understand coaching and its benefits, you must first understand who it’s for. Coaching is for high-performing professionals with a desire for improvement. 

A client may be seeking to: 

• Become a more effective leader
• Increase the productivity of a team they work with
• Drive better results and outcomes
• Communicate more effectively
• Learn to manage conflict and obstacles more constructively

Without a true desire to be better, coaching can be an unproductive exercise and a waste of time and money. The client must be coachable and seeking tangible results and solutions to real-life issues, problems, and challenges. 

What Does a Coach Do? 

A key element in the coaching process is a dialogue that moves beyond simply talking. The coach isn’t there to only listen to problems and then provide answers or advice. Rather, the coach’s role is to clarify and understand the client’s challenges in order to uncover possible solutions. The goal is to help the client grow in his or her thinking. 

Coaching sometimes gets confused with consulting. While there may be some overlap, there are important distinctions. 

A consultant gives you specific advice and instructions on how to solve a problem. A coach asks how you might solve a problem and helps you explore ways to move forward. 

For example, if you’re implementing new software for your team, a consultant who specializes in that software can share knowledge and expertise on the best way to get the job done, including setup, integration with existing systems, training, and support. They will offer you specific actions to take. 

Coaching can also be instrumental in solving a problem. However, a coach’s job is to help you uncover a business solution by asking powerful questions, to help you dig deep for answers. For example, if your team is having difficulty delivering projects because of a lack of communication between team members, a coach can help uncover how they might improve communication and move forward. The key is to uncover how to move forward. 

If you identify as an introvert in an extroverted world, I can help quiet leaders like you excel and grow. I have an innate talent to identify what’s working for you and imagine how to make it better.