What is coaching?

Coaching is a professional relationship, between a coach and a client, that helps the client to achieve meaningful change in any aspect of his or her professional and personal life. Many clients begin coaching with a particular goal in mind. Most will go on to appreciate coaching as an invigorating, ongoing process of personal development that encourages and sustains increased self-awareness, confidence, and contentment.

Coaching differs from therapy, since it is premised on the core belief that clients are creative, resourceful, and whole. It is also different from mentoring, since coaches believe that clients, deep down, are capable of generating the best solutions for themselves. Coaches do not provide clients with answers or advice. Instead, they offer the powerful combination of extended, focused listening and perceptive questioning. Coaches listen for the values, needs, and aspirations that underlie what clients say, work with them to clarify these, and help clients to articulate and achieve goals that match. 

Not only will coaches assist clients in developing action plans for change, through regular meetings they will also hold their clients accountable for their commitments and help them troubleshoot and explore various options in times of difficulty. With the support of a strong coaching relationship, clients are often amazed at what they can accomplish.