An introduction to 'coaching'
We have over 20 years of cumulative experience in coaching a variety of professionals and individuals for a diverse set of situations. But it's about you, and it is wise to understand the phenomenon of coaching before you engage a coach, more so because it is often confused with mentoring, training or counselling. Reach out to us if you need a non-obligations session to better understand whether you need coaching, and if so, what can you expect from a coaching engagement.
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Here are top 10 questions which get asked most often.
Why get a coach?
You are a growth minded high achiever, hungry and ambitious for an even brighter future. It may be that you are torn between choices or struggling to build new habits (or stop limiting ones). Maybe that you want to be aware of your blind spots, or work on feedback received from family, friends or colleagues. A coach will offer you a safe, trust-based environment to appreciate the situation from a variety of perspectives, and help you come up with practical strategies and action plans for personal growth.
When is a coach most effective?
Get a trainer when you are kicking off your self-development journey. Seek out a coach when you when you want to unshackle your self-limiting beliefs and habits – when you want to unlock your innate potential. In short, when you feel ready to bring out your best self and you are committed to improving your future.
What is 'coaching'?
Built on the belief that you know yourself best, and hence you are in the best position to identify, prioritise and act on what is most crucial and impactful to your professional or personal life. Built on proven behavioural science concepts and neuroscience research, coaching uses a structured process for you to find your own solutions, and ways to stay on course to the self-development agenda. The coach uses the power of appreciative enquiry to help you delve deeper into your thoughts, beliefs and motivators, in a confidential and trusting environment, sans judgment and bias, and without any interference in your agenda.
What coaching 'is not'?
It's not ‘Mentoring’, which helps you develop a specific professional skill, based on wisdom gained through experience and rooted in expertise, generally in a specialised professional area.
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It's not ‘Counselling’, which uses behavioural science techniques to restore psychological well-being through an improved understanding of self.
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And it's certainly not ‘Training’, which provides specific instruction and guidance, generally for a task or skill.
What happens in a coaching engagement?
There are several coaching andragogy’s, such as GROW model, Brain-Based Coaching, etc., but four basics remain the same -
Goal orientation, through a deeper understanding of self
Honest assessment of the current state
Evaluation options and prioritisation
Action planning and progress monitoring to draw reflection-based insights & bring about the desired change
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Coaches are under a pledge to honour confidentiality, and the relationship is built on mutual trust and unconditional respect.
What does a typical engagement path like?
Pre-Engagement: Introductory meeting, to ascertain readiness and chemistry
Session 1: Level-set current state and ascertain desired state
Session 2: Finalise goals; strategies and action plans to get there
Session 3-11: Review agreed actions; guided reflection to draw insights; course correct; if needed
Session 12: Concluding session, to review change, celebrate and plan the future
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Some engagements may need lesser number of sessions, which is mutually decided between the coach and the coachee.
How do I know that the coach is professionally qualified and follows a defined code of ethics?
Our coaches are certified by global leaders in coaching, such as the NeuroLeadership Institute, which offers Results Coaching System™, a unique Brain-Based Coaching methodology that is neuroscience based, process focused and outcomes driven. Graduates of NeuroLeadership Institute are equipped with knowledge of the Core Competencies and Code of Ethics and core coaching skills of the International Coach Federation - the global authority on defining the method, process and ethics of coaching.
My organisation nominated me to get coached - does it mean that the management believes that I fall short in my performance, and I need professional help?
In fact, this means your organisation sees great potential in you, and is willing to make this investment to help you be even better. Take it as a compliment and revel in the privilege.
Should I wait for my organisation to assign a coach for me?
That is your call, but it would be worthwhile to consider that you did not wait for your organisation to send you to a good business school, when your income was a fraction of what it is today.
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Remember, coaching is for your benefit - to help you achieve everything you can, and perhaps some beyond you currently believe. The question to ask is - Who should be most interested in defining my destiny?
I have heard it is expensive to get coached.
You are the best judge on how much you are willing to invest in yourself and what it can mean for you to be your best self. As a thumb rule, you may dedicate small percentage (say, 5%) of your annual income - to arrive at the amount you are willing to invest in a coaching engagement, spread over a period of 6 months.
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To put this into perspective, you may have invested anywhere from 1,000% to 300% of your then annual income to secure an MBA from a reputed business school, and perhaps 100% of what you received as the first salary after you came out of that business school.