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| Life Coaching Definition |
| does not offer either online services or medical advice. No therapeutic relationship is established by use of this site. If you have comments or questions, please contact: info@bodyandmindsolutions.com. |
Official International Coaching Federation Definition
Coaching is 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. People hire a coach when they are starting a new business,
making a career transition, reevaluating their life choices, or simply feeling ready for a personal or professional
breakthrough. We estimate that there are currently 10,000 part-time and full- time coaches worldwide.
Popular Definition "The Bicycle Story" (Michael Stratford)
This story is useful in explaining the difference between Coaching, Consulting, Mentoring, Parenting and Therapy.
Please know that this is a generalization, there are lots of gray areas in this and it is meant to be a very simple way to
explain the differences. Let's take the example of learning to ride a bicycle.
Consultant:
Studies the mechanics of riding the bike. Teaches you the laws of physics, how the bike is propelled, what is
necessary for balance, and laws of motion/propulsion. A consultant tells you where to sit and where to put your feet and
when to pedal. They may even offer or suggest a training program to upgrade your bike. Then he/she leaves.
Consultants are necessary experts.
Therapist:
Discusses the basis for your fears about riding and the consequences of falling. Discusses if your parents rode, and
why that might be important. Explains why it is important for your self-esteem or psyche, for you to learn this and be
successful. Therapists are very useful to unwire whatever baggage may be impeding your potential to ride.
Parent:
Buys bike for you. May put on training wheels, and take them off when they think you are ready. Runs by the bike holding
on until you have balance to continue, and then cheers you on as you go off riding into the sunset. Occasionally will
threaten to take away riding privileges if you don't comply with ground rules.
Mentor:
Shares with you their experience/expertise of bike riding. Gives you tips on "drafting" and the most effective way they've
found to ride. Models the way they think you should ride, gives you strategies about things like changing tires quickly in
a race, how to get the most speed for your effort, what the best bike is to buy in their opinion, and how to negotiate
gravel at the bottom of a hill. Teaches you their version of proper maintenance warns you of dangers of riding in traffic
and tells you how to avoid them. Sometimes holds an "I know better than you since I've been there before, so you'd
better listen to me" hierarchical position.
Coach:
Listens to your desire to try riding. Asks you if you need instructions on how to ride and asks where you might get them.
Asks if you like the color/kind of bike you're about to ride. May even help you pick the bike up and help you get onto it.
Runs along side the bike "checking in" to see if you're enjoying the experience and asks what might make it more fun.
Will help you discover what you need to take care of yourself when/if you fall. When you stop, the coach might ask about
your experience and what was valuable, and whether or not you want to pursue mastery of bike riding. If you do, the
coach asks you how you might devise a plan whereby you can attain that mastery. If you don't, then the coach may ask
you if you want to continue riding casually or if you want to devise a plan to sell the bike.
"A coach is someone who tells you what you
don't want to hear, who has you see what you
don't want to see, so you can be who you have
always known you could be."
~Tom Landry
don't want to hear, who has you see what you
don't want to see, so you can be who you have
always known you could be."
~Tom Landry