Let’s immediately say what Coach is NOT, in order to avoid any doubt.
A Coach is NOT a consultant, NOT a motivator, NOT a trainer, NOT a psychologist. His role is not to offer pre-packaged or personal solutions.
Having clarified this, let’s explain who a Coach is and what Coaching does:
A Coach is a highly professional figure whose role is to activate self-discovery in his or her clients, gaining knowledge and awareness of their own potential and objectives, in order to live reality in a more functional, constructive, and self-fulfilling way.
Coaching is a powerful method of development that is based on three characteristic elements:
- Establishment of a facilitating relationship between coach and coachee
- Development of the client’s potential
- Identification of concrete goals through self-determining action plans.
In other words, coaching is a method for the development of one’s own capacities and unexpressed potential. It tends to develop awareness by accompanying the client in the achievement of his/her goals through clear, short, high-value questions and with attentive listening, silence and feedback.
The relationship that is created between coach and coachee is the basis for the level of success of the coaching intervention. There must be a total focus on the client accompanying him/her towards his/her excellence, through:
– Welcoming (absence of judgment, serene and conscious relationship with time, empathic capacity)
– Listening (silence, questions, listening feedback)
– Alliance (positive attitude and unconditional trust)
– Authenticity
One of the most characteristic elements of the Coaching method is the use of questions. They are the main tool of the exploration and interaction strategy implemented by Coaches and can lead coachees towards new visions, new ideas.
The aim is to collect data and information, to lead to reflection and awareness, to stimulate creative thinking, to support and accompany the client in learning.
What can Coach and Coaching do in practice?
– Improvement of relationships, interpersonal and intrapersonal communication
– Increased decision-making and delegation skills
– Leadership development and motivational activation
– Recognition and development of one’s own potential
– Better management of conflicts and stress
– Increased productivity and spirit of belonging
– Development of problem-solving skills
– Achieving a greater sense of self-fulfillment and personal and professional well-being