What is Coaching And How Can It Help You?

The objective of the coaching process is to enhance performance based on present conditions. There are various coaching models, but the purpose of this article is to have a look at a coach as a learning facilitator rather than an expert.

Helping someone to learn and teaching them are two very different things. Coaching involves assisting an individual to enhance their performance.

Professional coaches are of the opinion that an individual has the solution to issues affecting their performance, but they must be assisted. John Whitmore, in his publication, Coaching for performance, asserts that coaching unlocks the potential in a person for optimal performance.

The “Inner Game”

Timothy Gallwey made an essential contribution to the discussion about coaching through his “inner game” concept. Timothy’s book, “The Inner Game of Tennis,” brought a new dawn in the definition of coaching. He argued that internal, and not external factors were the most significant constraint to realizing one’s potential. He reasoned that coaches play a vital role in enhancing an individual’s performance by blocking negative internal monologue.

Usually, the body is decisive about the right course of action once negative internal monologue has been suppressed. Gallwey demonstrated this by asking tennis players to concentrate on the height at which each hit the ball during play. Focusing on the height at which to hit the ball distracted the negative inner voice giving room for the body’s ability to take over. The player relaxed, and their game instantly improved. Coaching is also about anticipating adverse outcomes and getting rid of fears within an individual.

The Competence Cycle Model of Learning

Competence Cycle Model of Learning has four stages that are useful in the identification of an individual’s competencies:

1. Unconscious Incompetence

You cannot be able to tell whether you do not know about something which is unknown to you.

For instance, a child who is yet to start speaking has no idea about the existence of language.

2. Conscious Incompetence

Here, your lack of a particular skill is known to you.

For example, a child who has heard other people speaking another language is desirous of learning the new language.

3. Conscious Competence

Here, you have acquired the skills of doing a thing, but your mind needs to comprehend about how it is done.

For instance, a child who knows how to ride a bicycle but accidentally falls off due to lack of looking at where they are headed.

4. Unconscious Competence

You have mastered the skill of doing something that it becomes evident in your brain. Giving too much thought about it might reduce your ability to do it successfully.

It is crucial for coaches to establish an individual’s competence level to be able to use the right language that will facilitate their transition into the next stage. Trying to improve a skill that is nonexistent is futile.

Differences Between Teaching, Coaching, Mentoring, and Counselling

There exist some similarities between teaching, coaching, mentoring and counseling. However, there are distinct differences between the same which are worth noting.

Teaching and Training

Teaching and training involve knowledge imparting by an expert teacher. Teachers use interactive and participative techniques such as coaching, but they command more experience compared to students under their watch.

Coaching

Coaching is founded on the belief that an individual has solutions to the challenges that they are facing.

The work of a coach is to help an individual unlock their potential. Much focus is given on an individual’s mental strength. Coaching can be done by anyone be it a peer, junior, or a subordinate.

Daniel Goleman identified coaching as one of the essential leadership styles. To excel in coaching, you have to ask an individual the right questions that will help them solve their challenges.

Mentoring

A mentor speeds up an individual’s performance than they would alone. There is a formal mentor relationship at workplaces based on experience and expertise. Unlike coaching which focuses on solving present challenges, mentoring is future-oriented and aims at career and personal development.

Counseling

Counseling deals with both the past and the present internal and external issues to help an individual move on to the future.

Conclusion

Coaching involves helping an individual to overcome inherent challenges that impede on their performance. Be it in sports, business, or personal life, individuals have solutions to issues that affect them. Support from other people is needed to unlock these answers.