The Association for Coaching describes coaching as ” a purposeful and structured conversation between a coach and a client, which aims to empower and support the client in achieving their goals, exploring possibilities, and maximising their potential”. It is widely recognised a key developmental tool.
As Sir John Whitmore, a leading figure in the field of coaching, famously said skilled coaching involves “unlocking people’s potential to maximise their own performance.” The role of the coach, therefore, is to offer the space, the ears and the tools.
In this blog, we’re looking at the advantages of coaching, both personally and professionally, what coaching can help with, the process for coaching and how, at Think EQ, we work with people to emotionally connect to their goal to bring about lasting, transformational change.
What is coaching?
Coaching is a process in which a trained professional works with an individual or a group to help them set and achieve specific goals, improve their performance, and enhance their overall well-being. A 2018 ICF Global Consumer Awareness Study showed that 66% of employees who received coaching reported higher job satisfaction, while 80% reported improved self-confidence. It was also credited as having a positive impact on employee engagement and retention rates.
Working with a coach can help with:
Goal setting: Coaches help individuals clarify their goals, whether they are related to career, relationships, personal growth, or any other area of life. They assist in creating specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals, which provide a clear direction and focus for development efforts.
Accountability: Coaches help individuals stay accountable to their goals by providing support, encouragement, and feedback. They hold individuals responsible for their actions and help them overcome obstacles and challenges along the way.
Self-awareness: Coaches facilitate self-reflection and self-awareness, helping individuals gain a deeper understanding of their strengths, values, beliefs, and areas for improvement. This heightened self-awareness can lead to better decision-making, improved interpersonal relationships, and increased confidence.
Skill development: Coaches can assist individuals in identifying and developing the skills necessary to succeed in their chosen areas. They can provide guidance, resources, and strategies to enhance specific skills or competencies, such as leadership, communication, time management, or emotional intelligence.
Overcoming limitations: Coaches help individuals identify and overcome limiting beliefs, self-doubt, and fears that may hinder their growth and development. They provide a supportive environment for exploring and challenging these limitations, fostering personal and professional breakthroughs.
Performance improvement: Coaches work with individuals to improve their performance in various domains, such as career, sports, or creative endeavors. They help individuals identify areas for improvement, set action plans, and provide ongoing support to enhance performance and achieve desired outcomes.
Well-being and work-life balance: Coaches focus not only on professional development but also on overall well-being and work-life balance. They assist individuals in finding a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction in all aspects of life, helping them manage stress, set boundaries, and prioritise self-care.
What happens in coaching?
In coaching, you will work to identify aspects of your life or work that you wish to see change in. Your coach will use proven techniques to guide and support you to identify these areas and to help support you in creating goals to work towards. During your sessions, you may explore your ambitions and desires, as well as the areas that may be holding you back from moving forwards. When considering choosing a coach, check that they are trained and accredited with a professional body such as the Association for Coaching. This means that they adhere to a strict set of ethics and competencies, are trained to a high level and act with integrity and professionalism.
The first of your sessions will be ‘discovery’ – perhaps visioning and goal setting. Sessions thereafter will be focused around progress towards the achievement of the goal. On or around session 5, we’re talking about sustainability with clients. In essence, we are challenging them to consider how will they move forward and maintain their progress without the support of a coach. Goals are achieved by the client, not by the coach and therefore sustainability and autonomy really matter.
What is the Think EQ approach to coaching?
The Think EQ approach is one focused around emotional connection. We strongly believe that in order to make change, goals are triggered by both emotions and a desire to effect change from that feeling or emotion. That’s why we are huge fans of the EQ-i 2.0 – it is the only scientifically validated tool in the world that can accurately measure emotional intelligence. Self-awareness is the first step in creating lasting change and this tool really acts as the catalyst for goal setting.
How long should the coaching process take?
At Think EQ, our coaching programmes typically take six sessions, over a period of around six months. We believe that this is the optimum time to set and achieve goals in an accelerated timeframe. The overall purpose is to move the client towards the achievement of their goals. As such, a programme should have a defined end. We want change to happen and we want our clients’ to reach their goals.
Why coaching should matter to organisations:
Whilst there are a huge amount of studies available that outline the benefits and advantages to the individual, one very important piece of research identifies the benefits to the organisation. According to a study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), coaching resulted in a median ROI (Return on Investment) of seven times the initial investment, with 25% of coaching clients reporting a ROI of 10 to 49 times the cost. It is clear to see that coaching does not only benefit the individual, but the organisation and its performance too.
Coaching for all:
When we started Think EQ back in 2008, coaching was a perk reserved for leaders in big business. It was sometimes also used for remedial on punitive purposes. Thankfully, since then, we have seen the emergence of coaching as a positive tool for career development. The benefits are clear to see across all career stages, roles and sectors. We believe that coaching should be for everyone, regardless of occupation or career stage. We work with early careers and middle managers to experienced leaders tasked with driving the culture from the top. Through our Foundation, we also provide coaching opportunities to the third sector.