Coaching: What is it?
I like to use an expanded version of the current International Coaching Federation (ICF) definition* of coaching “...an interactive process that helps individuals and organizations to develop more rapidly and produce more satisfying results. Coaches work with clients in all areas including business, career, finances, health and relationships. As a result of coaching, clients set better goals, take more action, make better decisions, and more fully use their natural strengths.
Professional coaches are trained to listen and observe, to customize their approach to the individual client’s needs and to elicit solutions and strategies from the client. They believe that the client is naturally creative and resourceful and that the coach’s job is to provide support to enhance the skills, resources, and creativity that the client already has. While the coach provides feedback and an objective perspective, the client is responsible for taking the steps to produce the results he or she desires. Coaching does not focus directly on relieving psychological pain or treating cognitive or emotional disorders.”
As a certified coach I am committed to upholding their code of ethics defined by ICF, which you can review here.
* See online at http://www.coachfederation.org/ for most current definition (which is somewhat shorter and more concise)
"Success isn't permanent, and failure isn't fatal" - Mike Ditka